Radiation therapists
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Radiation therapists in the United States earn a median salary of $105,310 per year — about $51 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 19K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +2%.
AI & Automation Risk
The role requires a significant physical presence to position patients, operate heavy machinery, and provide empathetic interpersonal care during serious illness. While AI will heavily automate the digital aspects of the job—such as tumor localization, treatment planning, and dosage calculations—the physical and clinical safety requirements create a substantial barrier to full automation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CABEST VALUE | $206,350 | Above avg (110.4) | $186,872 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $205,670 | Above avg (115.6) | $177,895 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $182,240 | Above avg (106.7) | $170,845 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $171,500 | Above avg (111.9) | $153,280 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $169,150 | Above avg (113.6) | $148,944 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $117,280 | Below avg (92.5) | $126,730 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $130,800 | Above avg (106.4) | $122,884 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $128,650 | Above avg (105.4) | $122,035 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $124,850 | Above avg (103.6) | $120,517 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $135,550 | Above avg (112.6) | $120,421 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $133,410 | Above avg (111.1) | $120,045 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $119,960 | Average (102.6) | $116,973 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $108,600 | Below avg (94.7) | $114,659 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $117,050 | Above avg (103.1) | $113,542 |
| Wichita, KS | $100,900 | Below avg (88.9) | $113,440 |