Career comparison
Radiation Therapist vs. Radiologic Technologist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Radiation therapists earn more at the median ($105,310 vs. $80,110), while radiation therapists usually get to work faster (2–4 years of training). Radiation therapists deliver radiation treatments to patients with cancer. Radiologic technologists take the X-rays and diagnostic images doctors use to find fractures, disease and injuries.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Radiation Therapist | Radiologic Technologist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $105,310 ($50.63/hr) | $80,110 ($38.52/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $80,560 – $156,710 | $55,980 – $118,660 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.8% (about as fast as average) | +5.0% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 700 | 13,000 |
| Typical entry education | Associate's degree | Associate's degree |
| Training time | 2–4 years | 2 years |
| Key credential | ARRT Radiation Therapy certification | ARRT Radiography (R) |
| Work setting | Radiation therapists work in hospitals and cancer treatment centers.. | Technologists work in hospital radiology departments, emergency departments, imaging centers and clinics. |
What each job does
Radiation Therapist
- Position patients for treatment
- Use imaging to verify setup
- Operate linear accelerators
- Deliver prescribed radiation doses
- Monitor patients during treatment
Radiologic Technologist
- Review imaging orders and confirm patient identity
- Explain procedures and answer patient questions
- Position patients and equipment for the correct views
- Set exposure factors and capture diagnostic images
- Apply radiation protection for patients, staff and yourself
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, high-pay, indoor work, and teamwork. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose radiation therapist if…
- I want to help cancer patients
- I’m precise
- I like technology
Choose radiologic technologist if…
- I’m interested in anatomy and how the body works
- I like technology and equipment
- I can stay calm with patients in pain
Still torn? Take the Radiation Therapist fit quiz and the Radiologic Technologist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, radiation therapist or radiologic technologist?
Radiation Therapists earn more at the median: $105,310 versus $80,110 for radiologic technologists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Radiation Therapists typically train faster (2–4 years) than radiologic technologists (2 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects radiologic technologists to grow +5.0% from 2025–35, compared with +2.8% for radiation therapists.