Radiation Therapist Salary Calculator

Radiation therapist salary calculator is a BLS-anchored modeling tool that estimates annual compensation for ARRT R.T.(T)-certified professionals in U.S. oncology settings, factoring in experience tier, work setting, geographic region, certification level, position type, and shift differential. National pay for SOC 29-2037 occupations spans a median of $98,300, with the middle 50% earning between $77,000 and $116,000 annually. [BLS OES, 2024]

Radiation therapists plan and deliver ionizing radiation treatments — operating linear accelerators, brachytherapy equipment, and image guidance systems — under the supervision of radiation oncologists. Their specialized technical training commands salaries well above the $52,000 median for all healthcare support occupations. [BLS OES, 2024] The field is governed by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), which awards the R.T.(T) credential as the entry-level requirement for practice in most states.

Who uses this calculator? Radiologic technology students comparing imaging specialties, ARRT-certified therapists benchmarking job offers, hiring managers validating compensation bands, workforce planners modeling regional staffing costs, and experienced therapists building data-backed raise requests. Each result includes an estimated annual salary, monthly pay, hourly rate, and a side-by-side comparison against the BLS national median, plus a step-by-step factor breakdown so you can see exactly how each variable affects your modeled radiation therapist salary.

Employment of radiation therapists is projected to grow 6% from 2023 to 2033 — faster than the average for all occupations — driven by aging population demographics, rising cancer incidence, and expanding adoption of advanced radiation techniques such as proton therapy, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), and adaptive radiation therapy. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–34]

Calculating radiation therapist pay with this tool takes under 60 seconds and produces a modeled estimate anchored to BLS occupational wage data for SOC 29-2037.

1. Select your ARRT certification level. ARRT R.T.(T) is the primary credential and the baseline factor (1.00×). If you hold a secondary ARRT credential — Certified Medical Dosimetrist (CMD), Medical Radiation Therapy (MRT), or Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRT) — select the "Additional Credential" option, which applies a 4% pay premium consistent with ASRT wage survey findings.
2. Choose your work setting. VA and federal facilities carry the highest setting factor (1.10×), reflecting GS pay scale locality adjustments. Academic medical centers follow (1.08×), then hospital cancer centers (1.05×). Freestanding radiation oncology clinics serve as the reference point (1.00×). Standalone outpatient centers fall slightly below (0.97×).
3. Pick your U.S. region. Pacific states pay the most (1.22×); Northeast states follow (1.15×). Southeast states are the lowest-paying major region (0.93×). See the regional table in the Formula Reference section for all seven region factors.
4. Enter your years of clinical experience. Pay advances through five tiers: entry (0–2 yrs, ×0.84), early career (3–5 yrs, ×0.95), mid-career (6–10 yrs, ×1.03), experienced (11–15 yrs, ×1.10), and senior (16+ yrs, ×1.17). Each tier boundary represents a step-change in market value based on O*NET and BLS percentile distributions.
5. Optional — set advanced inputs. Under Advanced Options, choose position type: permanent (1.00×), per diem (1.12×), or travel assignment (1.22×). Then set shift differential: standard (1.00×), evening/night (1.08×), or weekend (1.05×). These factors stack on top of your base result.
6. Click Calculate. The tool multiplies BLS base ($98,300) by all six factors and displays your estimated annual salary, monthly pay, hourly rate (assuming 2,080 annual hours), and a ±12% confidence range. Click "Show calculation breakdown" to see each multiplication step.

Use the preset pills for instant scenario comparisons: Entry Level (0–2 yrs, Midwest clinic), Mid-Career (8 yrs, Mid-Atlantic hospital), Senior (18 yrs, Northeast academic center, additional credential), and Travel RT (6 yrs, Pacific hospital, travel assignment with evening differential).

The Share button generates a URL with your inputs encoded as ?prefill= parameters, so colleagues can load your exact scenario instantly.

Radiation therapist salary estimates use a multi-factor multiplicative model anchored to BLS OES annual wage data for SOC 29-2037. Each factor is derived from BLS state-level OES tables, O*NET compensation profiles, and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) annual wage survey.

Worked example: a certified radiation therapist with 8 years of clinical experience works at a hospital cancer center in Boston (Northeast region), holds ARRT R.T.(T) only, works a standard day shift as a permanent employee.

1. BLS Base: $98,300 (SOC 29-2037 national median, BLS 2024)
2. Experience Factor — 8 years = mid-career tier (6–10 yrs): $98,300 × 1.03 = $101,249
3. Setting Factor — Hospital Cancer Center: $101,249 × 1.05 = $106,311
4. Region Factor — Northeast: $106,311 × 1.15 = $122,258
5. Certification Factor — ARRT R.T.(T) only: $122,258 × 1.00 = $122,258
6. Position Factor — Permanent employee: $122,258 × 1.00 = $122,258
7. Shift Factor — Standard / Day: $122,258 × 1.00 = $122,258

Result: Estimated Annual Salary ≈ $122,300 (modeled; ±12% confidence range: $107,600–$137,000) [BLS OES; ASRT Wage Survey, 2024]

Derived metrics: Monthly pay ≈ $10,192 · Hourly rate ≈ $58.78 · vs. National median: +$24,000 (+24.4%)

Now consider the same therapist moving to a travel assignment in the Pacific region with an evening shift:

• Replace Northeast (1.15×) with Pacific (1.22×): $101,249 × 1.05 × 1.22 = $129,597
• Apply travel assignment factor (1.22×): $129,597 × 1.22 = $158,108
• Apply evening shift premium (1.08×): $158,108 × 1.08 ≈ $170,800

The $48,500 gap between the permanent Boston role and the Pacific travel scenario illustrates why experienced therapists in high-demand markets can approach $170,000+ total compensation through a combination of regional premium, travel contract, and shift differential — without changing certification level or years of experience.

Adding the ARRT additional credential to either scenario adds another 4% ($4,900 on the base Boston role; $6,800 on the travel scenario), making secondary ARRT credentials one of the highest-ROI career investments available to radiation therapists.

Radiation therapist salaries vary by clinical setting due to differences in patient acuity, case complexity, equipment investment, on-call requirements, and institutional pay structures — all of which this calculator captures through the setting factor.

Why VA and Academic Centers Pay a Premium

VA and federal facilities offer structured General Schedule (GS) pay scales with locality adjustments that consistently push radiation therapist compensation above private-sector peers. [OPM GS Schedule, 2024] GS-11 and GS-12 grades with major metro locality pay are the most common ladders for experienced therapists. Academic medical centers add a research mission premium and often require advanced credentials such as medical dosimetry (CMD), justifying the 8% setting factor in this model. [ASRT Wage Survey, 2024]

Hospital Cancer Center vs. Freestanding Clinic

Hospital cancer centers consistently pay 5–8% above freestanding radiation oncology clinics per ASRT survey data. This gap reflects on-call coverage requirements, higher patient acuity, union representation at many hospital systems, and the administrative overhead of integrating with inpatient services. Freestanding clinics often compensate with better schedule predictability and fewer emergency interruptions — making the 5% gap a genuine quality-of-life tradeoff rather than simple market inefficiency.

Advanced Modalities and Specialty Pay

Radiation therapists operating emerging modalities — proton therapy, MR-linac adaptive radiation therapy, or robotic radiosurgery (CyberKnife) — command informal premiums that this model partially captures through the academic and hospital setting factors. Dedicated proton centers, most affiliated with academic health systems, typically pay 8–12% above freestanding linear accelerator centers, consistent with the academic center factor used here. [ASRT; Salary.com, 2024]

Expert salary negotiation for radiation therapists requires understanding how each compensation factor interacts — experience tiers, credential premiums, regional benchmarks, and position-type premiums are all negotiable levers when you know how to use them.

Radiation therapist salary calculator delivers the most value at career inflection points where a single data-backed estimate can anchor a negotiation, justify a relocation, or validate an employer's offer against documented market benchmarks.

Primary Use Cases

• Evaluating a job offer: Compare the offered base against this tool's modeled output for your specific setting, region, and experience tier. A documented gap of 8%+ provides clear numerical grounds for a counter-offer.
• Choosing between work settings: The calculator quantifies the financial difference between a VA facility and a freestanding clinic — information rarely provided during the hiring process but critical for long-term compensation planning.
• Planning a geographic relocation: Model your current salary at the target region to understand the regional premium before factoring in cost-of-living changes. A Pacific or Northeast premium of 15–22% often more than offsets higher rent in secondary metro markets.
• Benchmarking a travel contract offer: Use the Travel RT preset to calculate what a travel assignment should pay for your experience and region before speaking to a staffing recruiter. Recruiters negotiate; knowing your market floor prevents accepting below-market rates.
• Annual performance review preparation: Run the calculator with your current inputs, then model the next experience tier or an additional credential to build a quantified case for your next raise or reclassification.

Radiation therapy consistently ranks among the top-paying non-physician clinical roles in allied health, driven by radiation safety oversight responsibilities, specialized linear accelerator operation, and the oncology patient acuity that demands higher-skill practitioners with ongoing continuing education requirements. [BLS OES; ASRT, 2024]

What is the average radiation therapist salary?

Radiation therapist average salary is approximately $98,300 annually per BLS 2024 data for SOC 29-2037. The middle 50% of U.S. practitioners earn between $77,000 and $116,000 per year. [BLS OES, 2024]

How much do radiation therapists earn in hospital cancer centers?

Radiation therapists in hospital cancer centers typically earn 5–8% above the national median—roughly $103,000–$106,200 annually—due to higher acuity, on-call requirements, and institutional pay structures. [ASRT Wage Survey, 2024]

Which U.S. region pays radiation therapists the most?

Pacific states (California, Oregon, Washington) pay radiation therapists the most, with median wages approximately 22% above the national baseline, reflecting high cost of living and strong oncology workforce demand. [BLS OES State Data, 2024]

How does ARRT certification affect radiation therapist salary?

ARRT R.T.(T) certification is the baseline credential for radiation therapists; adding a secondary ARRT credential such as CMD or SRT typically adds 3–5% to annual salary at most hospital and clinic settings. [ASRT, 2024]

What is the starting salary for a radiation therapist?

Starting salary for a radiation therapist with 0–2 years of experience ranges from approximately $70,000 to $84,000 annually, depending on work setting and U.S. region. [BLS OES, 2024]

How does experience affect a radiation therapist's pay?

Experience significantly affects radiation therapist pay: entry-level positions average $82,600 while therapists with 16 or more years of experience can earn $115,000 or more annually. [BLS, ASRT, 2024]

Is radiation therapy a well-paying allied health career?

Radiation therapy is one of the highest-paying allied health careers, with a median salary of $98,300 — well above the $52,000 median for all healthcare support occupations nationally. [BLS, 2024]

How do per diem and travel radiation therapist positions compare to permanent roles?

Per diem radiation therapist positions pay approximately 12% more per hour than permanent roles; travel assignments pay 22% or more, though both typically exclude standard employer-sponsored benefits. [ASRT, 2024]

Key terms used in radiation therapist salary calculations, credentialing, and career benchmarking — from licensing bodies to compensation structures specific to radiation oncology practice.

ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists)

Primary U.S. credentialing body for radiologic technologists. The R.T.(T) credential denotes the radiation therapy specialty and is required for clinical practice in most states. Secondary ARRT credentials (CMD, MRT, SRT) command salary premiums of 3–5%. [ARRT.org, 2024]

BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) OES

U.S. federal agency publishing annual occupational wage data via the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The primary anchor for radiation therapist salary benchmarks at national, state, and metropolitan levels. [BLS.gov/oes, 2024]

SOC Code 29-2037

Standard Occupational Classification code assigned by BLS to radiation therapists. Used to locate national, state, and metro area wage tables in the OEWS database for direct salary verification.

Setting Premium

Percentage pay differential associated with a specific facility type. VA and academic centers carry positive premiums (8–10%) above freestanding radiation oncology clinics (the reference point), while outpatient standalone centers carry a modest discount (−3%).

Per Diem Position

As-needed, non-benefit employment arrangement. Per diem radiation therapists are called in to cover staffing gaps; hourly rates run 12–20% above permanent equivalents to compensate for income variability and absence of health, retirement, and PTO benefits.

Travel Assignment

Short-term contract (typically 13 weeks) placing a radiation therapist at an understaffed facility. Tax-free housing stipends, meal allowances, and travel reimbursements can increase total compensation 22–35% above a comparable permanent role. [ASRT, 2024]

Shift Differential

Additional pay for working non-standard hours. Evening and night shifts at hospital cancer centers typically carry 7–10% premium rates; weekend differentials range from 5–8%. Applied as a multiplier on top of all other salary factors.

CMD (Certified Medical Dosimetrist)

Advanced credential awarded by the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board for professionals specializing in radiation dose calculation and treatment planning. Radiation therapists with CMD credentials typically earn 3–6% above ARRT-only peers at academic and hospital settings. [MDCB.org, 2024]

Authoritative sources anchoring the radiation therapist salary model. All figures in this calculator are modeled estimates derived from methodology-level data; verify with primary sources for current exact wages before making employment decisions.

All figures are modeled estimates for general guidance, not official data.