Career comparison
Radiation Therapist vs. Registered Nurse
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. $97,550), while radiation therapists usually get to work faster (2–4 years of training). Radiation therapists deliver radiation treatments to patients with cancer. Registered nurses assess patients, give treatments, coordinate care and educate families.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Radiation Therapist | Registered Nurse | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $105,310 ($50.63/hr) | $97,550 ($46.90/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $80,560 – $156,710 | $68,940 – $137,470 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.8% (about as fast as average) | +5.6% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 700 | 180,800 |
| Typical entry education | Associate's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 2–4 years | 2–4 years |
| Key credential | ARRT Radiation Therapy certification | NCLEX-RN license |
| Work setting | Radiation therapists work in hospitals and cancer treatment centers.. | About half of RNs work in hospitals; others work in physician offices, home health, nursing homes, outpatient and ambulatory surgery centers, schools, government and the military. |
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
Registered Nurse
- Assess patients’ physical and emotional condition and record observations
- Administer medications, IV fluids and treatments as ordered
- Monitor patients, interpret vital signs and lab values and recognize deterioration
- Develop and update nursing care plans
- Coordinate care with physicians, therapists, case managers and families
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 registered nurse if…
- I want a career where I make a real difference in people’s health
- I can stay calm and think clearly in emergencies
- I’m willing to complete two to four years of rigorous study
Still torn? Take the Radiation Therapist fit quiz and the Registered Nurse fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, radiation therapist or registered nurse?
Radiation Therapists earn more at the median: $105,310 versus $97,550 for registered nurses, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Radiation Therapists typically train faster (2–4 years) than registered nurses (2–4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects registered nurses to grow +5.6% from 2025–35, compared with +2.8% for radiation therapists.