Radiation Therapist Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Radiation Therapists — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$105,310
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$50.63
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$156,710
entry level starts ~$80,560
Pay Grade
A
excellent pay · 17,000 employed

How much does a Radiation Therapist make?

A Radiation Therapist earns a median annual salary of $105,310 in the United States, which works out to roughly $50.63 per hour for full-time work. Most Radiation Therapists earn between $80,560 at the entry level and $156,710 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $92,060 and $126,340 a year.

That is $43,920 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Radiation Therapist salary range by percentile

Half of all Radiation Therapists earn between $92,060 and $126,340 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$80,560$38.73
25th percentile (early career)$92,060$44.26
50th percentile (median)$105,310$50.63
75th percentile (experienced)$126,340$60.74
90th percentile (top earners)$156,710$75.34

Highest-paying states for Radiation Therapist

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Radiation Therapist pay at $166,450 a year, followed by Oregon ($131,600) and New York ($129,620). At the other end, West Virginia posts the lowest median at $71,590 — a gap of $94,860 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1California$166,450$80.02+58%
2Oregon$131,600$63.27+25%
3New York$129,620$62.32+23%
4New Jersey$129,460$62.24+23%
5Washington$125,880$60.52+20%

Workforce and education

About 17,000 people work as Radiation Therapists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $114,990 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Radiation Therapist make in the United States?
The median Radiation Therapist salary in the United States is $105,310 per year, or about $50.63 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $80,560, while the top 10% of earners make $156,710 or more.
How does Radiation Therapist pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A (excellent pay), the Radiation Therapist median of $105,310 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Radiation Therapists the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Radiation Therapists, with a median salary of $166,450 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Radiation Therapist?
Becoming a Radiation Therapist typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Radiation Therapists work in the United States?
About 17,000 people were employed as Radiation Therapists in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.