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SOC 29-1124
Radiation therapists deliver radiation therapy to patients according to radiation oncologists' prescriptions and established operating procedures: they verify prescriptions, diagnoses and medical records, position patients precisely, operate radiation therapy equipment to deliver prescribed doses, follow radiation protection principles, maintain records of doses, equipment settings and patient responses, and assist with dosimetry and tumor localization. This page uses the exact U.S. O*NET occupation Radiation Therapists (29-1124.00); U.S. wage and employment figures are reported separately for this exact occupation. No verifiable occupation-specific wage data were obtained for China, so the insufficient-evidence label is retained.
Model impact index for three equally weighted representative core tasks; not a measured share of working time or a job-loss probability. floor((75+0+75)/3+0.5)=50; fermatmind-ai-impact-v1; 2026-10-18.
If you are willing to care for cancer patients over the long term under strict procedures and safety constraints, and regard accuracy and documentation at every treatment as your responsibility, this work is worth exploring. When evaluating a position, first clarify three matters: whether you can independently perform routine treatments, who can modify prescriptions and treatment plans, and to whom you escalate equipment abnormalities or adverse patient reactions.
This card's conclusions come from public occupational task information and editorial synthesis. They are not your personal assessment results and do not predict employment outcomes. Radiation therapists' actual scope of work depends on their institution, equipment and authorization system; the same Chinese title may involve different duties and authority in different hospitals.
Signals worth considering include willingness to repeat positioning and dose checks under radiation protection procedures, patience with patients and accurate recording. Reasons for caution include treating standard procedures as something you can simplify at will, or changing prescriptions, doses and treatment plans without authorization. Such boundary violations can have serious consequences in radiation therapy and should be clarified before taking a job.
Radiation therapists deliver radiation therapy to patients according to radiation oncologists' prescriptions and established operating procedures: they verify prescriptions, diagnoses and medical records, position patients precisely, operate radiation therapy equipment to deliver prescribed doses, follow radiation protection principles for patients, themselves and others, maintain records of doses, equipment settings and patient responses, and assist with dosimetry and tumor localization. This page uses the exact U.S. O*NET occupation Radiation Therapists (29-1124.00); U.S. wage and projection data use the separate category for this exact occupation and do not represent all positions sharing the Chinese title.
Career direction comparison
The table below compares five adjacent occupations: radiologic technologists, medical dosimetrists, nuclear medicine technologists, diagnostic medical sonographers and respiratory therapists. The final row covers simulation and imaging within radiation therapy. Each row compares core work and outputs, responsibility boundaries and conditions for choosing the direction, to help check positions; it does not represent an automatic transfer or promotion path.
| Career direction | Core work and output | Key differences | Best-fit choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radiologic Technologist | Operate diagnostic imaging equipment such as X-ray and CT systems to examine patients, obtain clear images according to medical orders and image quality standards, and produce examination images and procedure records. | The responsibility is diagnostic imaging examinations, requiring imaging equipment operation and image quality judgment. Some radiation therapy equipment and radiation protection experience transfers, but the purposes and quality standards of diagnostic imaging examinations require separate learning. | More suitable for people interested in diagnostic imaging and examination workflows who are willing to check each case against image quality standards. Use caution if you only want to deliver treatment and are unwilling to take responsibility for diagnostic imaging examinations. |
AI impact on this career
This page has not obtained generative AI exposure rankings or measurements of clinical adoption for individual tasks under 29-1124. Record organization, scheduling and drafts are editorial candidates for trials. Imaging algorithms, plan optimization and general-purpose text generation must be distinguished; cross-occupation research cannot establish that text work is affected more and on-site treatment less. AI Impact Score 50% is an editorial estimate. Model impact index for three equally weighted representative core tasks; not a measured share of working time or a job-loss probability. floor((75+0+75)/3+0.5)=50; fermatmind-ai-impact-v1; 2026-10-18.The three tasks, ratings and sources are listed in the FermatMind method source record on this page.
FermatMind AI Impact Score estimation method v1
FermatMind / 费马测试 · 2026-10-18
Editorial ratings use the existing occupational responsibilities and AI task analysis on this page. They are not adoption rates, measured effects, job-disappearance or personal-unemployment probabilities, or official scores from Stanford or another external institution. No measured time weights or future robot deployment are assumed.
Chinese mainland salary reference
The same title covers widely differing positions in mainland China, from radiation therapy technical execution roles to combined roles involving planning participation, equipment quality control and mentoring. Check duties and authorization rather than titles alone.
This page has not obtained current Chinese recruitment wage samples matched to duties, equipment and authorization. This is a search gap, not proof that the market has no postings; industry statistics are not used as substitutes.
This round did not obtain original Chinese recruitment pay information with verified posting status and matching duties, radiation therapy equipment and authorization scope. The gap remains; samples from adjacent levels or health-sector averages are not substitutes.
As above: no verifiable original public recruitment pay information for this occupation was obtained. Pay offers for positions unrelated to radiation therapy are not cited.
U.S. Pay Reference
Radiation therapists are a healthcare technical occupation in the United States. In May 2025, their median annual wage was 105,310 USD (50.63 USD / hour). Official projections indicate about 3% growth during 2025—2035 (a net increase of about 500 workers and about 700 annual openings on average). All figures use the separate, exact occupation of radiation therapists.
| Position in Wage Statistics | Annual Wage Reference | Conversion Limits | How to Interpret This Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | Below 80,560 USD / year | Official annual wages, not personal monthly income | The lowest-paid 10% marks the lower end of the statistical distribution: when annual wages of wage and salary employees nationwide in this occupation are ordered from lowest to highest, 10% earn less than 80,560 USD. |
| Median (50%) | 105,310 USD / year | Official annual wages, not personal take-home pay |
Career Suitability Guide
Relevant behaviors include following procedures for positioning and dose checks, recording accurately, taking abnormalities through reporting and correction, and accepting that authorized roles decide prescriptions and plans. Assessments can raise questions, not provide conclusions.
You May Be More Suited： You may be more suited if you are willing to execute consistently under strict procedures, record accurately and proactively report abnormalities.
Situations Requiring Caution： Use caution if you treat standard procedures as freely simplifiable or change prescriptions or treatment parameters without authorization.
Try an Entry Exercise： Try an entry exercise: use R1—R5 to review a fictional treatment record and compare it with the reference deliverables.
Work Pressure, Risks and Professional Boundaries
Radiation therapists should assess three boundaries in advance: who has authority to modify and approve prescriptions and treatment plans; whether treatment and dose records may be overwritten, transferred or cleared; and which function should handle equipment failures, radiation protection and abnormal patient reactions.
O*NET and BLS support the tasks and U.S. work background; risk scenarios are editorial fiction. The full Chinese radiological diagnosis and treatment provisions have been checked for institutional, staffing, protection and treatment requirements. Assess institutional licensing, professional titles and work authorization separately; do not treat templates as clinical operating guidance.
Typical scenario：A patient requests an adjustment because of discomfort, and the therapist changes the dose or treatment site without physician approval.
Roles most affected：Positions Responsible for Prescription Verification and Treatment Delivery
Entry, Qualifications and Career Development
The typical U.S. route is an associate or bachelor's degree and licensure or certification in most states. China requires separate checks of institutional licensing, position qualifications, protection, health training and work authorization. Editorial development directions are not mutual recognition, practice permission or promises of promotion.
Career Outlook and Related Career Directions
The exact, separately reported U.S. occupation of radiation therapists is projected to grow 3% during 2025—2035 (a net increase of about 500 workers), with about 700 annual openings on average including replacements. The median wage of 105,310 USD / year is for May 2025; the measures and periods differ. No occupation-specific wage data were obtained for China.
United States · U.S. Radiation Therapists (SOC 29-1124)
3% growth, net increase of about 500 workers
Employment Growth Rate and Official Net Change
Growth of 3% is an official projection, not a promise. Net growth, growth rate and average annual openings are three distinct indicators.
Does not establish：Only the exact U.S. occupation; no estimates of Chinese employment or recruitment numbers.
A typical cycle is to verify prescriptions and identity, position patients according to plan, set and verify equipment parameters, deliver prescribed doses, observe patient responses, and document and hand over. Therapists also follow radiation protection principles and maintain dose and equipment records. O*NET 29-1124.00 uses U.S. scope; actual duties are determined by institutional procedures and authorization.
This occupation focuses on cancer radiation therapy delivery and patient safety. Radiologic technologists focus on diagnostic imaging examinations, while medical dosimetrists focus on dose calculation and planning; the subjects and responsibilities differ.
Choose a real task from this page for a small practice project or a conversation with someone in the field. Use the planning guides to set a date, an output and feedback questions before deciding whether to continue.
The checklists on this page are prompts for self-reflection only; they are not hiring criteria, personality evaluations or conclusions about ability. Authorization and safety boundaries for radiation therapists vary considerably: authority to modify prescriptions, approve treatment plans, shut down malfunctioning equipment and manage patients is divided among radiation oncologists, medical physicists, therapists and other roles. No checklist can replace checking the actual authority and operating procedures of the target position.
First observe whether you can position patients precisely according to prescriptions and treatment plans, verify identity and dose at every treatment, and immediately report or stop equipment when patients have abnormal reactions. Then complete a full exercise using the fictional materials R1—R5 in the entry module: verify prescriptions and identity, record equipment and doses, and flag items requiring confirmation or escalation. The exercise requires only paper and text files, with no real patients, real equipment or license needed.
The same person often connects several aspects of radiation therapy work, but these differ in nature: some involve positioning according to prescriptions and treatment plans, some depend on equipment and dose data, and others follow radiation protection and documentation rules. Considering them separately helps you identify which abilities a position actually requires.
Therapists carry out prescriptions and plans; verify prescription changes, plan approval and equipment return to service against professional responsibilities. O*NET also lists shutting down equipment and reporting to the physician when unexpected adverse reactions occur. Emergency stopping must not be confused with a plan change that requires prior approval.
Check against radiation therapy equipment operating procedures and radiation protection procedures. Radiation oncologists or medical physicists are responsible for prescription changes, treatment plan approval and clinical judgments.
The table below primarily compares this occupation with the adjacent occupation of radiologic technologist, examining core purpose, subject and basis of work, core process, main outputs, responsible roles, approval authority and limits of conclusions row by row. Both use radiation technology in medical settings, but this occupation delivers radiation therapy for cancer, whereas radiologic technologists perform diagnostic imaging examinations. Similar titles in China's current public occupational standards catalog concern different work subjects and do not establish interchangeable qualifications or authority.
| Dimension | Primary track | Comparison track |
|---|---|---|
| Core Purpose | Radiation therapist: deliver radiation therapy as prescribed, ensuring treatment precision and patient safety. | Radiologic technologist: operate diagnostic imaging equipment to obtain clear images for clinical diagnosis. |
| Main Subject and Basis of Work | Radiation therapist: cancer radiation therapy prescriptions and plans, based on prescriptions, treatment plans and radiation protection procedures. | Radiologic technologist: diagnostic imaging examinations, based on medical orders and image quality standards. |
| Core Process | Radiation therapist: verify prescription and identity—position and immobilize—set and verify equipment parameters—deliver dose—observe reactions—document and hand over. | Radiologic technologist: verify medical orders—position patient—set equipment—expose—process images—document. |
| Main Outputs | Radiation therapist: treatment records, dose data, equipment settings and patient response records. | Radiologic technologist: diagnostic images, examination records and procedure reports. |
| Responsible Role | Radiation therapist: responsible for accurate and safe treatment delivery; authorized physicians and physicists determine prescriptions and treatment plans. | Radiologic technologist: responsible for image quality and examination safety within the imaging technology professional track. |
| Authority and Approval | Radiation therapist: verify the distinct responsibilities for plan changes, emergency stopping during abnormalities and resuming treatment; emergency stopping does not mean approving a new prescription or plan. | Radiologic technologist: examination requests and imaging methods follow medical orders and departmental procedures; they are not determined by the title. |
| Limits of Conclusions | Radiation therapist: used to choose a direction, not to determine hiring or promotion. | Radiologic technologist: some experience in imaging equipment operation and radiation protection transfers, but planning and dose judgments for cancer radiation therapy require separate learning. |
Position patients according to prescriptions and treatment plans, operate radiation therapy equipment to deliver prescribed doses to designated sites, and verify patient identity, treatment site and equipment parameters at every treatment.
Use shielding and monitoring devices according to protection procedures, control exposure time and distance, wear a personal dosimeter and record readings.
Check radiation therapy equipment and immobilization and protection devices, confirm that parameters and interlocks function properly, and take equipment out of service and report abnormalities.
Observe patient responses during treatment, report abnormalities to the physician or shut down equipment, and explain treatment reactions and precautions to patients and families.
Record the dose, equipment settings and patient responses for every treatment, calculate or verify the dose actually delivered each time, and keep records traceable.
Assist physicians and medical physicists in preparing the physical and technical aspects of treatment plans, participate in dosimetry and tumor localization, and schedule and coordinate treatment times.
Use the following items to check each point during interviews or before starting work. Answers should come from the target institution, not from inferences on this page.
Check whether the institution explains this position's authority over positioning, dose changes and treatment plan approval, and the request process for matters beyond that authority.
Check whether the role requires participation in treatment planning and tumor localization, and who approves the final treatment plan.
Check the division of responsibilities and reporting contacts for radiation protection, dose monitoring and emergency response.
Check the specific procedures for verifying patient identity and treatment site, documenting treatment and reporting adverse reactions.
| Medical Dosimetrist | Collaborate with physicians and medical physicists to calculate doses and design and optimize radiation therapy plans, producing dose distributions, treatment plans and planning records. | The responsibility is dose calculation and treatment planning, requiring dosimetry, anatomy and planning system skills. Treatment delivery experience helps, but dose calculation and plan design require separate learning and usually specialized training. | More suitable for people interested in dose calculations, plan design and planning systems. Treating experience in treatment positioning as a direct qualification for dosimetry underestimates the professional entry requirements. |
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| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | Prepare and administer radiopharmaceuticals and operate imaging equipment, producing radionuclide images, dose records and procedure records. | The responsibility is radiopharmaceuticals and radionuclide imaging, requiring radionuclide handling and imaging equipment skills. Some radiation protection knowledge from radiation therapy transfers, but radiopharmaceuticals and imaging interpretation require separate learning. | More suitable for people willing to work with radionuclides and imaging who are interested in handling radiopharmaceuticals. Those highly sensitive to radionuclide safety concerns should try a small-scale practical experience before deciding. |
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| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | Operate ultrasound equipment to examine patients, acquire images in real time and make preliminary interpretations, producing ultrasound images and examination records. | The responsibility is ultrasound imaging examinations, requiring ultrasound equipment operation and real-time image interpretation. Radiation therapy experience does not transfer directly; separate training is required. | More suitable for people interested in real-time ultrasound imaging and precise operation. Treating radiation therapy experience as direct experience qualifying you for ultrasound work underestimates the training requirements. |
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| Respiratory Therapist | Assess respiratory function and operate respiratory support and treatment equipment, producing treatment records and patient response records. | The responsibility is respiratory function assessment and treatment, requiring respiratory support equipment and airway management skills. Radiation therapy experience does not transfer directly; separate training and assessment are required. | More suitable for people willing to handle airway management and respiratory support who can bear emergency care pressure. Those who find acute-care situations highly draining should first try a limited experience. |
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| Simulation and Imaging Direction | Make immobilization devices for patients, perform CT simulation and verify images and treatment extent, producing localization images and immobilization records. | The responsibility is simulation and imaging before treatment, requiring CT simulation, immobilization device and image interpretation skills. This is a preparatory stage for treatment delivery. | More suitable for people interested in imaging anatomy, positioning accuracy and immobilization devices. Without taking responsibility for treatment plans and equipment parameters, long-term development may be limited. |
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The occupations compared above share a foundation in medical technology but have different subjects of responsibility: radiologic technologists focus on diagnostic imaging, medical dosimetrists on dose calculations and treatment plans, nuclear medicine technologists on radiopharmaceuticals and radionuclide imaging, diagnostic medical sonographers on ultrasound imaging, and respiratory therapists on respiratory support. This occupation focuses on cancer radiation therapy delivery and patient safety. Compare differences in inputs, outputs and approval authority rather than titles.
Start by choosing a direction for low-cost validation: practice an actual task from that direction, then check the target position's authorization and training requirements. Avoid treating the direction's name as an established pathway.
Possible assistance: retrieval, classification, summaries, scheduling and first drafts of records. Technical demonstrations do not mean institutions have adopted them.
Adoption requirements: data permissions, system integration, verifiable outputs and audit records. Technical capability does not mean clinical adoption.
This page has not obtained generative AI exposure rankings or measurements of clinical adoption for individual tasks under 29-1124. Record organization, scheduling and drafts are editorial candidates for trials. Imaging algorithms, plan optimization and general-purpose text generation must be distinguished; cross-occupation research cannot establish that text work is affected more and on-site treatment less.
| Work area | Task | Current change | Human control point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment Preparation | Prescription and Treatment Plan Verification | Trial use may include summarizing prescription and plan fields and flagging discrepancies, without modifying prescriptions or plan parameters. | Check prescription versions, dose limits and patient identity; have the physician confirm abnormalities. |
| Treatment Delivery | Patient Positioning and Immobilization | Trial use may include prompts about positioning parameters and historical records; therapists decide positioning and immobilization on site. | Check positioning against anatomy and localization images, and confirm immobilization devices. |
| Doses and Records | Treatment Dose Recording and Verification | Trial use may include organizing dose data and equipment settings and flagging items requiring verification. | Recalculate each dose and reconcile it with equipment logs. |
| Equipment and Quality Assurance | Equipment Checks and Quality Control Logs | Trial use may include summarizing equipment logs and upcoming quality control deadlines; authorized roles decide on withdrawal from service and return to service. | Check equipment status, interlocks and quality control records, and take abnormal equipment out of service. |
| Imaging and Localization | CT Simulation and Image Verification | Trial use may include assistance with image annotation and discrepancy prompts; people confirm localization conclusions. | Check localization images and treatment extent, and confirm immobilization. |
| Patient Communication | Patient Education and Response Records | Trial use may include drafting patient explanations; people remain responsible for clinical judgments and reporting. | Check patient responses and determine whether to report them to the physician. |
| Scheduling and Records | Treatment Scheduling and Record Management | Trial use may include organizing schedules and record checklists; people remain responsible for record authenticity and retention. | Check record completeness and traceability, and retain records according to institutional rules. |
Potential exposure, employer expectations, employment projections and actual adoption measure different things. This page does not use them to provide efficiency or layoff figures for this occupation.
Break radiation therapy work into supporting tasks suitable for trials and tasks that require human responsibility, to avoid treating tool outputs as treatment procedures or clinical conclusions.
AI primarily changesEditorial trial candidate: summarize items awaiting verification in localization records within authorized systems; image annotation requires checking validation of the specialized system and the actual position.
Human responsibility remainsPeople confirm localization conclusions, immobilization devices and treatment extent.
AI primarily changesEditorial trial candidate: draft a checklist for verifying prescription parameters, without writing to or modifying treatment equipment.
Human responsibility remainsTherapists are responsible on site for positioning, dose delivery and patient observation.
AI primarily changesEditorial trial candidate: organize discrepancies in dose records and logs, without automatically concluding that treatment meets requirements.
Human responsibility remainsPeople are responsible for verifying doses and equipment parameters and for the authenticity of records.
Before using any supporting tool, define scope, review and responsibility in the following order to avoid treating generated results as confirmed conclusions.
Before entering information into a tool, confirm the patient and prescription concerned, treatment plan version, dose parameters, equipment status and usage permissions.
Use only authorized information and systems, retaining source locations and versions. Do not automatically fill in unspecified conditions as facts.
Manually recalculate doses, units and equipment parameters, and check patient responses before submitting for authorized confirmation.
Keep original records, inputs, tool versions, drafts, discrepancies and confirmation records.
The appropriate professional roles are responsible for prescription changes and treatment plan approval. Handle emergency stopping during abnormalities immediately according to procedures and report it; resuming treatment requires professional confirmation. Tools do not bear clinical responsibility.
Generated content cannot prove the underlying data are true. Incorrect positioning or doses directly affect patient safety.
Control: Locate each item in prescriptions, plans and equipment records, list unknown conditions separately, and do not deliver treatment without human and authorized confirmation.
Patient information and images are sensitive personal information; sending them externally may violate regulations and institutional rules.
Control: First check institutional permission and the intended use of information, limit the input scope, and ask the responsible role when uncertain.
Records are not traceable if the plan version and equipment parameters used at the time cannot be identified.
Control: Record tool versions, equipment identifiers and plan versions, and retain original records and review trails.
Errors in values or units directly affect dose delivery and treatment safety.
Control: Recalculate doses and units, check equipment parameters and plan versions, and do not enter zero for unknown items.
Without a person confirming the work, operational and approval responsibilities cannot be defined.
Control: Identify who confirms drafting, review, operation and approval, and retain evidence for every item.
First practice prescription verification, positioning, dose recording and radiation protection procedures. Tools provide assistance only and do not replace operation or judgment.
Use tools to organize records and schedules in authorized settings, manually recalculate doses and retain original records.
Compare manual records with tool outputs, document omissions and recalculation errors, and identify who confirms the results.
Clarify information uses and version control, and define the permitted trial scope and division of responsibilities.
This page has not obtained generative AI exposure rankings or measurements of clinical adoption for individual tasks under 29-1124. Record organization, scheduling and drafts are editorial candidates for trials. Imaging algorithms, plan optimization and general-purpose text generation must be distinguished; cross-occupation research cannot establish that text work is affected more and on-site treatment less.
Source: ILO Working Paper 140 / WEF 2025 (task exposure and employer expectations)Original source ↗
You do not need to start by coding. Everyday work more often involves reading prescriptions and treatment plans, checking dose data, recalculating and leaving an audit trail. Whether digital tools are used depends on institutional permission and data boundaries.
Source: O*NET 29-1124.00 (task scope)Original source ↗
This page has not obtained generative AI exposure rankings or measurements of clinical adoption for individual tasks under 29-1124. Record organization, scheduling and drafts are editorial candidates for trials. Imaging algorithms, plan optimization and general-purpose text generation must be distinguished; cross-occupation research cannot establish that text work is affected more and on-site treatment less.
Source: ILO Working Paper 140 / GPTs are GPTsOriginal source ↗
BLS projects 3% growth and a net increase of about 500 workers for this exact occupation in 2025—2035; projections cannot establish AI adoption or employment causation.
Source: BLS 2025—2035 employment projectionsOriginal source ↗
No. Radiation oncologists and medical physicists approve prescriptions and treatment plans. Treating generated results as approved plans would bypass clinical and safety responsibilities.
Source: O*NET 29-1124.00 (tasks and authorization boundaries)Original source ↗
The sources provide no year when this occupation will disappear, and this page does not estimate one. Refer to official statistics and institutional job descriptions.
Source: BLS 2025—2035 employment projections (no disappearance year)Original source ↗
Prioritize positioning and immobilization, radiation protection, dose recording and equipment verification. In authorized settings, observe tool omissions and data errors.
Source: O*NET 29-1124.00 (tasks and work context)Original source ↗
Check prescription and plan versions, equipment status, patient identity and institutional authorization before discussing tool uses. This page has not obtained evidence of AI adoption rates, layoff rates or wage effects for this occupation; these gaps remain.
As above: without verifiable samples, this page does not show specific pay offers, to avoid misleading readers.
The table offers editorial suggestions for exploration. The 2026 health qualification catalog includes Radiological Technology 104 / 206 / 376; the catalog does not establish which radiation therapy positions people at each education level usually enter, nor is it a verified recruitment sample on this page.
| Educational Background | Directions the Editors Suggest Checking | Notes and Checking Suggestions |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary Vocational / Associate Degree Background: Check the Target Position's Major and Examination Eligibility Requirements | Radiation therapy technologist and radiation therapy technology positions (appointed as junior technician / technician) | The junior health professional technical qualification levels (junior technician / technician) include Radiological Technology. Entry points are often technical execution roles; independent operation depends on institutional authorization and assessment. |
| Bachelor's Degree Background: Check the Target Institution's Specific Requirements | Radiation therapist, core radiation therapy technology team member, and localization and dosimetry support roles | Check target postings, professional training and institutional authorization to determine whether the qualification is accepted and participation in treatment or planning collaboration is allowed. |
| Postgraduate or Higher Education or Degree | Radiation therapy physics and technical management roles, and teaching and research roles | These conditions are requirements of specific institutions, not universal entry requirements for this occupation. |
| Other Entry Routes (Non-Academic) | Internal transfers from medical imaging or radiological technology roles, and transfers by technical professionals in related fields | Education, major and experience requirements for Chinese positions are specified in each institution's postings and must be checked individually. A single posting cannot establish universal requirements. |
The education levels and job directions in the table are editorial summaries for organizing checks. Actual institutional requirements are governed by the original recruitment postings.
Radiation therapy equipment and patients are concentrated here; positions are often tied to radiation diagnosis and treatment licensing, equipment quality control and radiation protection requirements.
Primarily outpatient radiation therapy and day treatment, with scheduling linked to equipment utilization efficiency. Check institutional qualifications and equipment conditions.
Editorial advice is to check technical service platforms' actual projects and qualifications. This page has not obtained a time series establishing stable demand for this direction in China.
There is no quantified evidence for this occupation on AI's impact on pay. This page does not estimate pay increases or decreases or treat tool adoption rates as pay changes.
| The median is the 50% percentile, the midpoint of the distribution: half of wage and salary employees earn more annually and half earn less. This page uses the officially published median and does not substitute an average. |
| Highest 10% | Above 156,710 USD / year | Official annual wages, not personal take-home pay | The highest-paid 10% marks the upper end of the statistical distribution: 10% of wage and salary employees earn more than 156,710 USD annually. The percentile table gives only distribution values, without identifying these workers' positions or institutions. |
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Pay · 10th Percentile：Below 80,560 USD / year；May 2025: the lowest-paid 10% in this occupation earn below this value (the official occupational outlook gives the lower cutoff). This is a position in a statistical distribution, not an entry-level wage. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook (Radiation Therapists, SOC 29-1124)
Pay · 25th Percentile：92,060 USD / year；May 2025: the 25th-percentile annual wage for this occupation, from BLS-derived wage statistics. O*NET National Wages (derived from BLS 2025 wages)
Pay · Median：105,310 USD / year；May 2025: median annual wage. The median is the midpoint of the distribution, not an individual's or newcomer's income. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook (Radiation Therapists, SOC 29-1124)
Pay · 75th Percentile：126,340 USD / year；May 2025: the 75th-percentile annual wage for this occupation, from BLS-derived wage statistics. O*NET National Wages (derived from BLS 2025 wages)
Pay · 90th Percentile：Above 156,710 USD / year；May 2025: the highest-paid 10% in this occupation earn above this value (the official occupational outlook gives the upper cutoff). High percentiles should be interpreted in the context of industry, location and position. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook (Radiation Therapists, SOC 29-1124)
The median is the midpoint of the wage distribution, not a pay offer for newcomers. It cannot determine an individual's income or establish every newcomer's starting point.
No. Official annual wages are calculated from the statistical program's hourly wages using a standard working year. They provide a comparable statistical measure, not a particular person's annual salary. Individual income depends on actual hours, bonuses and the employer contract.
The data come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which summarizes wage distributions for wage and salary employees by occupation. Its wage measure includes base pay, commissions and production bonuses.
Industry, location, position level, employer type and whether bonuses are included all affect income. This page shows only officially published industry medians and does not estimate individual levels.
| Industry | Median Annual Wage / Statistical Status | How to Interpret This Value |
|---|---|---|
| Outpatient Care Centers | 127,680 USD / year | May 2025: median wage for this industry category, covering only members of this occupation working in outpatient care centers. |
| Offices of Physicians | 110,610 USD / year | Same period and scope as above; the industry classification comes from the officially published table of industries with the highest employment. |
| Hospitals (State, Local and Private) | 104,260 USD / year | Same period and scope as above; hospitals are this occupation's largest employer, accounting for about 60% of its employment in 2025. |
| Other Industries (No Separately Published Median for This Occupation) | Insufficient evidence: no separately published median for this occupation in other industries | This OOH page shows medians for only three major industries. This page has not obtained corresponding values for other industries; that does not mean no official channel publishes other industry data. |
Official statistics cover wage and salary employees and exclude the self-employed. Wage and employment statistics have different scopes and cannot be converted into one another.
Annual wages are calculated from hourly wages in the same statistical program using a standard working year. Official conversion assumptions are not each person's actual paid hours.
Industry, location, position level and employer type can substantially affect wages. This page shows only officially published industry differences in the industry table.
About 700 annual job openings on average during the 2025—2035 projection period, including replacement needs caused by occupational transfers and labor force exits；this is not net growth. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections Table 1.2
O*NET occupational interest baseline
RSIEditorial observation suggestion: can you explain items awaiting confirmation in positioning, doses and patient responses, and hand over clearly to physicians and physicists? Do not infer ability from type.
For interest exploration, observe willingness to check prescriptions, patient codes, treatment sites and plan versions, and to retain records and escalate when inconsistencies arise.
Which Holland Interest Types Are Closer to Radiation Therapy?
The O*NET 29-1124.00 interest code is RSI (Realistic > Social > Investigative). It describes occupational characteristics only, does not predict individual performance and is not a hiring criterion.
Do not use it this way: Interest codes are for exploring directions only; do not use RSI as a screening requirement.
Test My Holland Career InterestsWhich Big Five Traits Are More Relevant to This Work?
This page does not identify a best personality type. Observable behaviors relevant to radiation therapy delivery include following procedures, being patient with patients and recording accurately; these are editorial summaries.
Do not use it this way: This page has not verified a model in which Big Five scores predict treatment delivery or patient safety performance in this occupation. It sets no score thresholds; observe authorized simulation tasks and records instead.
View My Big Five Personality TraitsCan MBTI Tell Me Whether Radiation Therapy Suits Me?
MBTI is not used to judge suitability. The role requires following procedures, verification and communication, all of which are trainable behaviors.
Do not use it this way: Do not explain or predict treatment delivery performance through type membership.
Understand My MBTI PreferencesCan the Enneagram Indicate Whether This Occupation Suits Me?
The Enneagram is not a basis for suitability judgments. More relevant behaviors are preserving evidence during abnormalities, taking suspect equipment out of service and reporting.
Do not use it this way: Do not explain errors or omissions through type membership.
Explore My Enneagram PatternsCan I Become a Radiation Therapist if I Struggle With Math?
This occupation does not use IQ tests as an entry requirement, but it requires dose and parameter verification, unit conversion and process sequencing. These are work methods that can be practiced.
Do not use it this way: Quantitative scores cannot replace verification skills. If you persistently avoid numbers, use exercises for initial observation.
Understand My Intelligence and Reasoning PerformanceDoes Radiation Therapy Require High Emotional Intelligence?
Specific communication and collaboration situations include reassuring patients, explaining treatment reactions and checking information with physicians and physicists. These are work behaviors, not emotional intelligence scores.
Do not use it this way: Do not attribute all communication problems to personal traits.
Understand My Emotional Intelligence AbilitiesFits better when: Interest in radionuclide handling and imaging equipment
Watch for: Requires additional learning in radiopharmaceuticals and imaging interpretation; radiation therapy experience does not automatically confer nuclear medicine qualifications.
Explore related career: Nuclear Medicine TechnologistFits better when: Interest in dose calculations, planning systems and imaging anatomy
Watch for: Requires additional dosimetry and planning system skills; treatment delivery experience does not automatically confer dosimetrist qualifications.
Explore related career: Medical DosimetristFits better when: Interest in magnetic resonance imaging and equipment safety
Watch for: Requires additional knowledge of magnetic resonance safety and imaging; radiation therapy experience does not automatically confer MRI qualifications.
Explore related career: MRI TechnologistFits better when: Interest in diagnostic imaging and equipment operation
Watch for: A shared medical technology foundation does not make positions directly interchangeable; diagnostic imaging requires separate learning.
Explore related career: Radiologic TechnologistFits better when: Interest in real-time ultrasound imaging and precise operation
Watch for: Requires additional ultrasound operation and image interpretation skills; radiation therapy experience does not transfer directly.
Explore related career: Diagnostic Medical SonographerFits better when: Willingness to handle airway management and respiratory support and bear emergency care pressure
Watch for: Requires additional airway management and respiratory support skills; radiation therapy experience does not transfer directly.
Explore related career: Respiratory TherapistThe work is more suitable for people willing to execute over the long term under strict procedures and safety constraints, record accurately and accept that authorized roles determine prescriptions and plans. This page provides no personality conclusion.
Introversion is not a barrier: the role includes independent execution and documentation as well as daily communication with patients, physicians and physicists.
Extraversion is not required. What matters is clarifying issues, retaining records, and reporting and escalating abnormalities.
There is no best MBTI type. MBTI is not used to judge suitability; validate through real tasks.
The O*NET interest code is RSI, with Realistic strongest. Interests are for exploration only and do not predict individual performance.
This page has not verified a model in which Big Five scores predict treatment delivery or patient safety performance in this occupation. It sets no score thresholds; observe authorized simulation tasks and records instead.
Check anatomy, physics, algebra, dose calculation and unit conversion requirements against target courses and positions. Do not broadly claim low mathematical and scientific demands; use simulated data for recalculation to identify learning needs.
More relevant is the ability to explain treatment reactions and items awaiting confirmation and to escalate. Do not attribute all communication problems to personal traits.
The Enneagram is not a basis for judgment. Observe using real treatment records and paper exercises.
Compare deliverables: positioning and dose verification records, equipment quality control records and patient response reports. Use R1—R5 for validation.
Possible consequence：Bypassing prescriptions and treatment plans can cause dose or site deviations that harm patients and leave responsibility unclear.
How to reduce risk：Submit recommendations within your authority. Escalate matters beyond it in writing to an authorized role and retain the basis.
Evidence：O*NET 29-1124.00 occupational profile (tasks and work activities) · Provisions on the Administration of Radiological Diagnosis and Treatment (Ministry of Health Order 46, full text published by the government)
Typical scenario：An outdated or unapproved plan version is used during treatment, and the record does not identify the version.
Roles most affected：Treatment Delivery and Planning Collaboration Positions
Possible consequence：Dose and site deviations occur, treatment records become untraceable, and review loses its basis.
How to reduce risk：Check the plan version and approval status before treatment. If versions differ, use the controlled version and escalate.
Evidence：O*NET 29-1124.00 occupational profile (tasks and work activities) · Provisions on the Administration of Radiological Diagnosis and Treatment (Ministry of Health Order 46, full text published by the government)
Typical scenario：Treatment continues despite overdue equipment quality control or abnormal interlocks.
Roles most affected：Equipment Users and Quality Control Staff
Possible consequence：Dose output deviations increase radiation exposure risks for patients and staff.
How to reduce risk：Check equipment quality control and interlock status before treatment, take abnormal equipment out of service and escalate, and reconfirm after retesting.
Evidence：O*NET 29-1124.00 occupational profile (tasks and work activities) · Provisions on the Administration of Radiological Diagnosis and Treatment (Ministry of Health Order 46, full text published by the government)
Typical scenario：Patient identity and treatment site are not verified at every treatment as required by procedures.
Roles most affected：Positioning and Treatment Delivery Positions
Possible consequence：Treatment at the wrong site is a serious safety incident, with high costs for tracing and corrective action.
How to reduce risk：Verify identity, site and plan at every treatment according to institutional procedures and document the checks. Chinese provisions also require at least 2 radiological diagnosis and treatment workers at the treatment site; staffing numbers do not replace verification procedures.
Evidence：O*NET 29-1124.00 occupational profile (tasks and work activities) · Provisions on the Administration of Radiological Diagnosis and Treatment (Ministry of Health Order 46, full text published by the government)
Typical scenario：A long-term single-person treatment post without backup has no one to take over during leave or equipment failures.
Roles most affected：Positions Responsible for Treatment Scheduling and Continuity
Possible consequence：Patient treatment is interrupted, schedules are delayed, and continuity of patient care and documentation is affected.
How to reduce risk：Check actual treatment staffing, backup and handover arrangements. China's requirement for at least 2 radiological diagnosis and treatment workers at the treatment site cannot be omitted because of leave or scheduling pressure.
Evidence：O*NET 29-1124.00 occupational profile (tasks and work activities) · Provisions on the Administration of Radiological Diagnosis and Treatment (Ministry of Health Order 46, full text published by the government)
Typical scenario：A personal dosimeter is not worn, or exposure time and distance are not controlled according to procedures.
Roles most affected：Therapists and Radiation Protection Management Staff
Possible consequence：Occupational exposure may exceed limits, with no monitoring records to demonstrate compliance.
How to reduce risk：Wear and use dosimeters according to procedures, record readings, and report abnormalities and review protection measures.
Evidence：O*NET 29-1124.00 occupational profile (tasks and work activities) · Provisions on the Administration of Radiological Diagnosis and Treatment (Ministry of Health Order 46, full text published by the government)
| Entry-Level Position | Main Tasks Early in the Job | Ability Evidence Suggested for Checking by the Editors | How to Demonstrate Ability Without Experience | Differences From Other Directions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radiation Therapy Technical Delivery Role | Under supervision, position patients according to prescriptions and plans, operate equipment to deliver doses, record doses and equipment parameters, and report abnormalities. | Can you follow procedures for positioning, identity and parameter checks, and accurate recording? When questioned, can you identify the equipment and plan version? | Use treatment records and verification notes from the exercise to explain your approach, labeling information that was unconfirmed at the time. | Focused on execution and operation, generally without responsibility for prescription changes or plan approval; institutional procedures determine authorization. |
| Simulation and Imaging Role | Make immobilization devices for patients, perform CT simulation, and verify images and treatment extent. | Can you recognize imaging anatomy, use immobilization devices correctly and explain the basis for localization? | Use the R1—R3 exercise to explain how you verify localization images and immobilization. | The focus is localization and imaging, differing from treatment delivery positions. |
| Dosimetry and Planning Support Role | Assist medical physicists and physicians in checking treatment plan parameters and calculating or recalculating doses. | Can you recalculate doses and check units and plan versions? | Use a fictional plan and dose table to explain your verification approach. | Focused on dosimetry and planning, generally without direct treatment delivery or patient care. |
| Equipment Quality Control Support Role | Assist with managing equipment quality control registers and logs, and record and report abnormalities. | Can you explain quality control intervals and how abnormal equipment is taken out of service? | Use a fictional equipment register to explain how you identify and handle overdue items. | Focused on equipment and records, generally without direct patient treatment. |
| Patient Services and Scheduling Role | Assist with treatment scheduling, patient reception and guidance, and organizing treatment-related records. | Can you record accurately and identify the escalation contact? | Use communication and documentation from the exercise to explain how you retain evidence and report. | Focused on communication and scheduling, with narrower technical operating responsibilities. |
Typical U.S. entry education is an associate or bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 3, about 50% associate degrees and 38% bachelor's degrees), and most states require licensure or certification. This is a typical U.S. background, not a uniform Chinese entry requirement or the combination required by a particular institution.
How to check: match every requirement in the target posting to a demonstrable ability or experience.
Most U.S. states require radiation therapists to be licensed or certified, usually requiring a national certification examination. Specific arrangements and authorization differ by state and institution.
How to check: confirm the institution's license or certification requirements and the authorized scope of independent operation.
The O*NET interest code is RSI. Work context data show about 90% consider accuracy extremely important, about 71% experience daily time pressure, and about 55% have daily radiation exposure. These are all U.S. self-reported measures.
How to check: match posting requirements to demonstrable verification and documentation skills.
Editorial advice is to prepare a fictional treatment and dose verification record, labeling equipment and plan versions and the basis for authorization.
How to check: ask someone to judge whether the verification basis is complete using only the materials, rather than just looking at the conclusion.
You are a radiation therapist at the fictional Heguang Cancer Center. Review the treatment record for fictional patient T-2401 and recommend continuing treatment, deferring it or conducting a review. All materials and values below are entirely fictional, not real prescriptions, doses or patient data.
R1 Patient and prescription record: patient code T-2401, prostate cancer diagnosis, prescribed dose 2.0 Gy per treatment for 39 treatments, treatment site prostate, with daily localization verification ordered. R2 Equipment and parameter record: linear accelerator LA-03 passed the morning check; treatment couch and immobilization devices are normal. R3 Dose and settings data: treatment 12 recorded a dose of 2.0 Gy; energy and radiation field match the plan, but the plan version number is not recorded. R4 Abnormality and response record: patient reports a mild skin reaction, recorded for observation; a positioning deviation of 0.3 cm was corrected by repositioning and remeasured. R5 Review and approval section: the draft says Continue treatment, but the review field is blank.
Check R1—R5 item by item and state which items match the plan, which require review or deferral, which lack sufficient information, and which unconfirmed items and approver must be included in a recommendation to continue treatment.
Do not add dose, diagnosis or authorization information absent from the scenario; list unknowns separately.
Matches the plan: treatment 12 dose of 2.0 Gy, energy and radiation field consistent with the plan, morning equipment check passed, and immobilization devices normal. Needs review: the record lacks a plan version number; check the controlled plan version before adding it. The 0.3 cm positioning deviation was corrected by repositioning and remeasured; confirm whether it is within the institution's tolerance. For observation: the patient's skin reaction is recorded for observation; check grading criteria and decide whether to report it to the physician.
A recommendation to continue treatment must state that the plan version awaits verification and the skin reaction awaits confirmation, and must be approved by an authorized physician. The therapist only submits the recommendation.
This exercise involves no real patients, real prescriptions or operation of real equipment. Actual treatment, doses and responses follow the institution's procedures and authorization. If you cannot judge, you may write Insufficient basis to judge and explain what evidence is missing.
Use R1—R3 to complete a comparison table of patient and prescription, equipment, dose and plan version, flagging unknowns and questions requiring clarification.
Review method: another person should be able to identify which information is insufficient and why from this table alone.
For each item in R2—R3, state the data, units and conclusions from comparison with the plan, and indicate equipment and plan version status.
Review method: conclusions match original records and the plan version, with their basis identified.
Use R4 to write an abnormality record covering the event, impact, open questions and escalation contact. The record must be traceable to the patient code and equipment, with response responsibilities clear.
Review method: the observation scope and next step are clear.
Use R5 to recommend continuing treatment, listing matching items, items requiring review, unconfirmed items and the approver. Do not approve it yourself or sign on another's behalf.
Review method: the recommendation matches the evidence and does not exceed authority.
| Stage | What May Be Assessed | Observable Evidence | Limits of Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verify Patient Identity and Prescription | Can you identify inconsistent identity or prescription information? | Identify the inconsistency and explain that positioning should stop before reporting | One institution's verification method cannot be generalized into an industry-wide examination |
| Check Plan Version and Parameters | Can you identify a missing plan version in the record? | Explain that the controlled plan version should be checked before adding it to the record | Plan version requirements vary with institutional systems |
| Check Equipment and Quality Control Status | Can you identify morning equipment check and interlock status? | Explain that abnormalities require withdrawal from service and escalation | Equipment and quality control requirements vary by institution and equipment model |
| Check Doses and Units | Can you recalculate doses and determine whether they match the plan? | Read records and judge consistency of units and values | Dose limits and prescriptions vary by disease and physician |
Read R1—R5 and write a role boundary card: permitted actions (treating according to plan and documenting), actions requiring review (doses and responses to abnormalities), and prohibited actions (independently modifying prescriptions or plans). Confirm that no real treatment will be performed.
Use R1 to check the patient code, diagnosis, prescribed dose and treatment site, and flag missing verification requirements.
Use R2 to check the morning equipment check and immobilization device status, and state which item needs reconfirmation before treatment.
State the dose, energy and radiation field item by item, marking matches with the plan and items lacking a version number.
Use R4 to write an abnormality record: event, impact, open questions and escalation contact.
List matching items, items requiring review, unconfirmed items and the approver; do not approve it yourself.
Compare the outputs from the first six days with the reference deliverables and revise them. Record the step most easily overlooked and your next exercise.
| Qualification / Status | Who It Mainly Suits | Practical Role in Job Seeking | Whether It Is a Common Entry Requirement | Examination / Registration Conditions | Level of Commitment | Key Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate or Bachelor's Degree (Related to Radiation Therapy / Radiological Technology) | Job seekers aiming to enter radiation therapy technical roles | Typical U.S. entry education requirement, but no guarantee of independent operating authority | Common in the United States; official guidance notes other routes | Follow target school and institution announcements | Check actual commitment against the specific school, certification body, authority or institution's requirements | A degree itself does not grant independent treatment or plan approval authority |
| National Certification Examination (Such as ARRT Radiation Therapy Certification) | People who need certification | Most states require licensure or certification to practice | Whether it is mandatory depends on the state and institution | Follow certification body and state requirements | Check actual commitment against the specific school, certification body, authority or institution's requirements | Certification is not employer authorization, and its scope is geographically limited |
| State License (United States) | People practicing in a particular state | A prerequisite for lawful practice and independent operation | Required in most states; specific conditions vary by state | Follow state authority conditions | Check actual commitment against the specific school, certification body, authority or institution's requirements | Valid only within that state; does not constitute a Chinese qualification |
| Institutional Work Authorization | Employees who need to operate independently | Internal authorization determines whether treatment and documentation may be completed independently | An internal requirement specified by institutional procedures | Follow institutional training, assessment and authorization records | Check actual commitment against the specific school, certification body, authority or institution's requirements | Internal authorization is valid only within that institution and cannot be generalized as an industry qualification |
| Chinese Health Professional Technical Qualification (Radiological Technology) | Technical personnel working in China's health system | The catalog lists Radiological Technology 104 / 206 / 376; check notices and institutions for specific examination eligibility and appointment requirements | Examination replaces evaluation; this is a competency evaluation, not an entry-to-practice qualification | Follow education and years-of-work requirements | Check actual commitment against the specific school, certification body, authority or institution's requirements | Check examinations, professional titles and institutional treatment authorization separately; they do not confer prescription or treatment plan approval authority |
| Chinese Requirements for Radiation Workers (Occupational Health and Protection) | Workers exposed to radiation | Chinese provisions require personal dose management, occupational health examinations and protection training records | Specified by competent authorities and varying by position and institution | Follow competent authority conditions | Check actual commitment against the specific school, certification body, authority or institution's requirements | Check institutional radiological diagnosis and treatment licensing, personnel appointment and protection requirements together; do not claim no qualifications are needed because an individual license was not verified |
Typical scope：Under supervision, position patients, operate equipment and record doses and reactions.
Readiness evidence：Labeled as editorial advice: show original records and verification trails from supervised treatment.
Credential boundary：Follow institutional procedures and supervisory authorization; most U.S. states require licensure.
Next moves：Learn positioning, immobilization and radiation protection, starting with supervised routine treatment.
Typical scope：Independently complete and document routine treatment, escalating abnormalities.
Readiness evidence：Labeled as editorial advice: show independently completed treatment records and abnormality reports.
Credential boundary：Follow institutional procedures and position authorization; most U.S. states require licensure or certification.
Next moves：Work toward independently completing routine treatment and participating in localization checks.
Typical scope：Handle nonroutine treatment and participate in abnormality investigations.
Readiness evidence：Labeled as editorial advice: show records of participation in localization or abnormality investigations.
Credential boundary：Follow institutional and position requirements; localization work may require specialized training.
Next moves：Participate in nonroutine treatment and localization, and learn abnormality investigation.
Typical scope：Lead complex treatment, train others and provide technical liaison.
Readiness evidence：Labeled as editorial advice: show records of leading localization or training.
Credential boundary：Follow institutional authorization; mentoring ability is a common requirement.
Next moves：Lead complex treatment or localization, or develop further in dosimetry and quality control.
Typical scope：Assist with checking plan parameters and dose records.
Readiness evidence：Editorial advice: show examples of plan and dose verification.
Credential boundary：Train within the institutional system.
Next moves：Learn treatment plan structure, dose units and parameter meanings.
Typical scope：Recalculate doses and verify plan versions.
Readiness evidence：Editorial advice: show dose recalculation records.
Credential boundary：Follow institutional and position requirements.
Next moves：Participate in dose recalculation and plan version verification.
Typical scope：Participate in plan optimization and localization image verification.
Readiness evidence：Editorial advice: show plan optimization or image verification records.
Credential boundary：Follow institutional and training requirements; the dosimetry direction may require specialized training.
Participate in plan optimization and localization image verification.
Typical scope：Assist with recording equipment quality control and protection monitoring.
Readiness evidence：Editorial advice: show sample quality control records.
Credential boundary：Train within the institutional system.
Next moves：Learn equipment quality control records and radiation protection basics.
Typical scope：Perform equipment quality control measurements and track abnormalities.
Readiness evidence：Editorial advice: show quality control measurement records.
Credential boundary：Follow institutional and position requirements.
Next moves：Participate in equipment quality control measurements and abnormality tracking.
Typical scope：Apply quality control methods to analyze deviations and support improvement.
Readiness evidence：Editorial advice: show records of quality control methods or improvements.
Follow institutional and training requirements.
Under supervision, complete routine positioning and treatment records according to prescriptions and plans, including identity verification and dose and equipment parameter recording.
Independently complete routine treatment, recalculate doses and check equipment status, and verify the plan version before treatment.
Handle nonroutine treatment and localization, participate in abnormality investigations and write records; authorized physicians must still approve prescriptions and plans.
Lead complex localization or equipment quality control, train others and provide technical liaison; authorized roles still approve prescriptions and plans.
United States · U.S. Radiation Therapists (SOC 29-1124)
Median 105,310 USD / year
Wage Percentiles and Median
Percentiles indicate distribution positions, not job levels; the median is 105,310 USD / year.
Does not establish：Exact occupational scope; no estimate of individual income.
Mainland China · Chinese Urban Employer Industry Scope
Insufficient evidence: occupation-specific wages not obtained
Industry Average Wage Background
Industry average wages provide statistical background only, not wages for this occupation.
Does not establish：No exact national or city wages for this occupation were verified; industry averages and U.S. figures are not converted into substitutes.
These are capability relationships, not automatic promotions or credential waivers.
Transfers：Positioning, imaging and radiation protection
Build next：Requires additional diagnostic imaging and equipment operation skills
View career profileTransfers：Dose and plan parameter verification
Build next：Requires additional dosimetry and planning system skills
View career profileTransfers：Protection and equipment operation
Build next：Requires additional radionuclide handling and imaging interpretation skills
View career profileTransfers：Patient communication and imaging
Build next：Requires additional ultrasound operation and image interpretation skills
View career profileTransfers：Patient care and equipment
Build next：Requires additional airway management and respiratory support skills
View career profileTransfers：Imaging and equipment operation
Build next：Requires additional magnetic resonance safety and imaging knowledge
View career profileTransfers：Aseptic technique and monitoring records
Build next：Requires additional cardiac catheterization and circulatory monitoring skills
View career profileTransfers：Aseptic technique and teamwork
Build next：Requires additional aseptic technique, surgical assistance and target-position qualifications; radiation therapy experience does not demonstrate existing aseptic procedure experience
View career profileLook at observable behaviors: following procedures for positioning and dose checks, recording accurately, taking abnormalities through reporting and correction, and accepting that authorized roles decide prescriptions and plans. Use the R1—R5 exercise and O*NET RSI interests for exploration; assessments and a single performance cannot determine appointment eligibility or suitability.
Research supports greater effects on text, data and documentation tasks, not replacement of the entire occupation. ILO, GPTs are GPTs and WEF provide potential exposure and employer expectations; these cannot be used to calculate job replacement for this occupation.
This round did not obtain national or city wages for the exact occupation of radiation therapist in mainland China. National Bureau of Statistics industry and job-category averages provide statistical background only; U.S. figures are not converted into substitutes.
The U.S. radiation therapist median of 105,310 USD / year in May 2025 is the distribution midpoint, not newcomer income. The 10th-percentile figure below 80,560 and 90th-percentile figure above 156,710 do not correspond to job levels either.
O*NET lists Job Zone 3, with an associate or bachelor's degree as typical entry education and licensure or certification required in most states. This is a typical U.S. background; in China, follow target institution postings.
Most U.S. states require licensure or certification. China primarily uses the health professional technical qualification examination (Radiological Technology) and professional title system; this page has not verified a uniform mandatory practice qualification. Training certificates, hiring eligibility and independent operating authority are three different things; a certificate is not signing authority.
Key boundaries include unauthorized prescription or plan changes, loss of control over plan versions and records, failed equipment quality control, missed identity and site checks, interruptions at single-person posts and inadequate radiation protection. See the risks section.
The exact U.S. occupation is projected to grow 3% during 2025—2035, with a net increase of about 500 workers and about 700 annual openings on average. Explore radiologic technology, medical dosimetry, nuclear medicine technology, diagnostic medical sonography, respiratory therapy and MRI technology. Shared skills do not make positions interchangeable.
FermatMind Career Content Team (Editorial Compilation, Not Reviewed by Practicing Radiation Therapists)
Original source compilation checked on 2026-09-30; this round rechecked O*NET, BLS, qualification notices and full government-published provisions on 2026-10-12. Other sources retain their original access records; current original recruitment postings are still missing.
Occupational identity and tasks are based on O*NET 29-1124.00 and public U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics information. The China section uses National Bureau of Statistics information and the health professional technical qualification examination subject catalog, retaining insufficient-evidence labels.
Limitations：O*NET 29-1124.00 is the exact record for this occupation. Its tasks, interests, Job Zone and U.S. self-reported work context do not establish Chinese qualifications, authorization, employer entry requirements or wages.
Limitations：The OOH page provides median wages, employment and outlook for the exact occupation of radiation therapists; no individual income or Chinese wages are inferred.
Limitations：Employment changes over the projection period do not establish AI causation or individual job-search outcomes.
Limitations：OEWS summarizes wage distributions for wage and salary employees, excluding the self-employed; percentiles do not estimate individual income.
Limitations：Industry and job-category average wages are not this occupation's wages and do not cover the exact occupation; self-employed workers are excluded.
Limitations：Examination subject arrangements and professional title evaluation assess competency; they are not entry-to-practice qualifications or institutional authorization.
Limitations：Used for purpose limitation and security measure requirements in personal information processing; not medical compliance advice from this page.
Limitations：Used for adjacent occupations' responsibility boundaries; does not establish mutual recognition of qualifications for this occupation.
Limitations：Used for adjacent occupations' responsibility boundaries; does not establish mutual recognition of qualifications for this occupation.
Limitations：Used for adjacent occupations' responsibility boundaries; does not establish mutual recognition of qualifications for this occupation.
Limitations：Used for adjacent occupations' responsibility boundaries; does not establish mutual recognition of qualifications for this occupation.
Limitations：The index measures potential task exposure, not adoption rates, automation rates or unemployment probability; it provides no separate score for this occupation.
Limitations：Exercise materials, portfolio suggestions and the seven-day plan are editorially designed and do not represent real institutional standards or patient data.
Limitations：Voluntary risk framework; this page's checking sequence is an editorial application, not a regulatory requirement.
Limitations：Estimates potential task impacts, not on-site adoption or employment outcomes.
Limitations：Employer expectations, not job changes that have already occurred.
Limitations：Recruitment requirements are individual employer postings, not industry-wide entry standards. Historical postings with unverified status are not treated as active openings.
Limitations：Used for adjacent occupations' responsibility boundaries; does not establish mutual recognition of qualifications for this occupation.
Limitations：No original recruitment pay information with verified status and matching duties and radiation therapy equipment was obtained.
Limitations：No verifiable original public recruitment pay information for this occupation was obtained.
Limitations：Without verifiable samples, no specific pay offers are shown on this page.
Limitations：Industry background only; does not support wage or employment claims for this occupation.
Limitations：Work context uses U.S. self-reported data; duties must be checked again when describing Chinese positions.
Limitations：Derived from BLS OEWS; percentiles do not estimate individual income.
Limitations：Used for adjacent occupations' responsibility boundaries; does not establish mutual recognition of qualifications for this occupation.
Limitations：Editorial ratings use the existing occupational responsibilities and AI task analysis on this page. They are not adoption rates, measured effects, job-disappearance or personal-unemployment probabilities, or official scores from Stanford or another external institution. No measured time weights or future robot deployment are assumed.
The Chinese content on this page explains the official U.S. occupational scope and does not establish mutual recognition of domestic and foreign qualifications. All fictional exercise materials are editorially designed and do not represent institutional standards or legal provisions. Patient information is not included on public pages.
MBTI (English) · Big Five (English) · MBTI (Chinese) · Big Five (Chinese)
Check whether the institution has written rules on storing clinical patient information, access authorization and retention.
Check whether there are long-term single-person treatment posts without backup, and what coverage is arranged for leave dates.
Typical scope：Lead plan and dose verification and provide technical liaison.
Readiness evidence：Editorial advice: show specialized planning and dosimetry records.
Credential boundary：Follow institutional and professional requirements (dosimetrists are often a separate occupation).
Next moves：Develop further toward dosimetry or medical physics.
Next moves：Learn quality control methods and dose measurement to support quality improvement.
Typical scope：Maintain quality control systems, organize training and manage dose trends.
Readiness evidence：Editorial advice: show quality control system improvement or training records.
Credential boundary：Determined by institutional and competent authority requirements; do not invent specific certificates.
Next moves：Develop further toward medical physics or radiation therapy technology management.
