Radiation Therapist salary in the U.S.
Radiation Therapists in the U.S. earn a median of $105,310 a year ($50.63 an hour), based on BLS data for 17,070 workers.
Pay ranges from $80,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $156,710 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $114,990, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for radiation therapists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,560 | $38.73 |
| 25th percentile | $92,060 | $44.26 |
| Median | $105,310 | $50.63 |
| 75th percentile | $126,340 | $60.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $156,710 | $75.34 |
| Average (mean) | $114,990 | $55.28 |
Half of radiation therapists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,775.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,387.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,050.38 |
| Weekly | $2,025.19 |
| Hourly | $50.63 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Radiation Therapist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $166,450 | 1,720 |
| Oregon | $131,600 | 160 |
| New York | $129,620 | 820 |
| New Jersey | $129,460 | 600 |
| Washington | $125,880 | 540 |
| Hawaii | $125,520 | n/a |
| Illinois | $124,600 | n/a |
| Connecticut | $116,170 | 110 |
| Kansas | $108,830 | 240 |
| Arizona | $108,760 | 410 |
| Colorado | $108,020 | 320 |
| Utah | $107,660 | 70 |
| Maryland | $107,120 | 250 |
| Massachusetts | $106,300 | 330 |
| New Hampshire | $106,270 | 60 |
| Texas | $105,770 | 1,000 |
| Montana | $105,400 | 50 |
| Virginia | $103,310 | 500 |
| Maine | $101,980 | 140 |
| Vermont | $101,060 | 50 |
| Florida | $100,920 | 1,280 |
| South Carolina | $100,790 | 200 |
| Pennsylvania | $100,540 | 560 |
| District of Columbia | $100,250 | 70 |
| New Mexico | $100,010 | 100 |
| Missouri | $99,890 | 420 |
| Idaho | $99,660 | 100 |
| North Carolina | $99,250 | 710 |
| Nebraska | $98,670 | 120 |
| Ohio | $98,650 | 690 |
| Oklahoma | $98,390 | 120 |
| Minnesota | $98,000 | 210 |
| Kentucky | $97,760 | 170 |
| South Dakota | $97,470 | n/a |
| Indiana | $96,690 | 360 |
| Michigan | $95,890 | 450 |
| Louisiana | $94,710 | 230 |
| Georgia | $94,460 | 470 |
| Wisconsin | $93,600 | 550 |
| Nevada | $92,990 | 110 |
| Mississippi | $88,100 | 70 |
| Alabama | $87,330 | 120 |
| Tennessee | $83,520 | 350 |
| Iowa | $81,610 | 120 |
| Arkansas | $78,950 | 80 |
| West Virginia | $71,590 | 120 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,560 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for radiation therapists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $206,350 | 130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $205,670 | 220 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $182,240 | 110 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $171,500 | 140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $169,150 | 480 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $135,550 | 960 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $133,410 | 250 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $130,800 | n/a |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $128,650 | 130 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $125,520 | n/a |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $124,850 | n/a |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $119,960 | 390 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $117,280 | 220 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $117,050 | 220 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $110,510 | 50 |
Metro areas with the most radiation therapists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 960 | $135,550 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 480 | $169,150 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 390 | $119,960 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 360 | $99,250 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 350 | $105,770 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 350 | $108,770 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 310 | $92,060 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 280 | $99,860 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 270 | $108,450 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 260 | $106,300 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 250 | $133,410 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 220 | $117,050 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 220 | $117,280 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 220 | $205,670 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 200 | $105,310 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $97,550 | $46.90 |
| Physicians, All Other | $265,930 | $127.85 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 | $63.61 |
| Pharmacist | $140,910 | $67.75 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 | $49.40 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 | $47.16 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $97,870 | $47.05 |
| Occupational Therapist | $100,330 | $48.24 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 | $65.33 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $82,280 | $39.56 |
| Dentists, General | $170,950 | $82.19 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $244,180 | $117.39 |
| Veterinarian | $130,100 | $62.55 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $76,400 | $36.73 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1124. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a radiation therapist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for radiation therapists in the U.S. is $105,310 a year, or $50.63 an hour. Pay ranges from $80,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $156,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid radiation therapists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of radiation therapists in the U.S. earn at least $156,710 a year. The top 25% earn $126,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for radiation therapists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $80,560 a year, and a quarter of radiation therapists earn $92,060 or less.
How many radiation therapists work in the U.S.?
About 17,070 radiation therapists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.