Career Explorer Healthcare (clinical)
Human edge, steady
Radiation therapists
Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiation oncologist according to established practices and standards. Duties may include reviewing prescription and diagnosis; acting as liaison with physician and supportive care personnel; preparing equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, and protection devices; and maintaining records, reports, and files. May assist in dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.
More resilient than most: more resilient than 63% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is low (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it moderate), and US jobs are projected to change by +2.8% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on emotional intelligence and ethical judgement.
AI struggles with much of this work. Hiring is expected to grow slower than average, or to shrink.
- Median pay (2025)
- $105,310
- Job growth to 2035
- +2.8%
- Openings a year
- 700
- People doing it (2025)
- 17,400
- Usual route in
- Associate's degree
Where people already use AI for this work
- Explain medical information to patients or family members
- Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance
- Provide support or encouragement to others
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Operate medical equipment
- Confer with healthcare or other professionals about patient care
- Assist healthcare practitioners during medical procedures
What the work looks like
- Position patients for treatment with accuracy, according to prescription.
- Administer prescribed doses of radiation to specific body parts, using radiation therapy equipment according to established practices and standards.
- Follow principles of radiation protection for patient, self, and others.
- Review prescription, diagnosis, patient chart, and identification.
- Conduct most treatment sessions independently, in accordance with the long-term treatment plan and under the general direction of the patient's physician.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects
- Fewer of these jobs, as increased adoption of radiotherapy techniques that deliver higher doses of radiation over fewer fractions allows radiation therapists to treat a greater number of patients.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- ParamedicsHuman edge, growing, Index 88, +5.7%
- Radiologic technologists and techniciansHuman edge, growing, Index 68, +5.0%
- Licensed practical and licensed vocational nursesHuman edge, steady, Index 82, +3.0%
- Veterinary technologists and techniciansHuman edge, growing, Index 95, +9.4%
Also known as: Dosimetrist, Radiation Therapist (RT), Registered Radiation Therapist, Staff Radiation Therapist, Computed Tomography Simulation Therapist (CT Simulation Therapist), Radiation Therapy Technologist (RTT).
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.