The median pay for Medical Dosimetrists is $147,470 a year ($70.90/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 5.0% through 2035, with about 200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 29-2036
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Medical Dosimetrist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $147,470a year, or $70.90/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $112KTop 10% $185K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.0%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2003,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20253.5K
- Projected 20353.7K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 3.5K Projected 2035 3.7K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Certificate5%
- Bachelor's40%
- Post-bacc certificate35%
- Master's15%
- Professional degree5%
Highest education held by medical dosimetrists Segment Value Certificate 5% Bachelor's 40% Post-bacc certificate 35% Master's 15% Professional degree 5%
Also advertised as: CMD (Certified Medical Dosimetrist), Dosimetrist, Medical Dosimetrist, Medical Physicist, Radiation Oncology Medical Physicist.
Pay
How much do Medical Dosimetrists make?
Every medical dosimetrist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$147,470
Middle half earn $132,080 to $167,030
- 10th
- $111,670
- 25th
- $132,080
- 75th
- $167,030
- 90th
- $185,450
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $111,670 |
| 25th | $132,080 |
| Median | $147,470 |
| 75th | $167,030 |
| 90th | $185,450 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $147,470
- Median hourly wage
- $70.90/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $148,500
- People employed
- 3,410
Versus all US occupations
At $147,470, Medical Dosimetrists earn 189% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $96,490 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $102,760, this is 44% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $185,450 or more while the bottom 10% earn $111,670, a gap of 1.7×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 92% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Washington posts the highest raw median ($189,280), but once local prices are taken into account Oregon leads at $178,007 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Medical Dosimetrists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Washington | $189,280 | $176,876 | 60 |
| 2Oregon | $183,990 | $178,007 | 40 |
| 3New Jersey | $170,650 | $156,840 | 90 |
| 4New York | $166,540 | $154,317 | 300 |
| 5Illinois | $163,860 | $163,929 | 140 |
| 6Georgia | $155,390 | $161,372 | 140 |
| 7Florida | $153,490 | $148,423 | 320 |
| 8Ohio | $150,900 | $162,653 | N/A |
| 9Kansas | $150,670 | $167,285 | 40 |
| 10North Carolina | $147,830 | $156,722 | 140 |
Job outlook
Is Medical Dosimetrist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Medical Dosimetrists | +5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Medical Dosimetrists to change 5.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 200 openings are projected each year, 5.7% of the 3,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
As adults get older, their likelihood of being diagnosed with cancer rises. The expected increase in the number of older people will therefore increase the demand for cancer care. Because radiotherapy plays a vital role in treating this disease, medical dosimetrists will be needed to help develop treatment plans for patients.
Getting in
How to become a Medical Dosimetrist
To enter the occupation, medical dosimetrists typically need a bachelor's degree and must complete an accredited medical dosimetry program. Employers usually require workers to have certification.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as medical dosimetrists.
- Bachelor's Degree40%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate35%
- Master's Degree15%
- Post-Secondary Certificate5%
- First Professional Degree5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 40% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 35% |
| Master's Degree | 15% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 5% |
| First Professional Degree | 5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Medical Dosimetrist do?
Generate radiation treatment plans, develop radiation dose calculations, communicate and supervise the treatment plan implementation, and consult with members of radiation oncology team.
Medical dosimetrists calculate doses of radiation and design and oversee treatment plans for patients with cancer and other serious diseases.
Day-to-day tasks
- Design the arrangement of radiation fields to reduce exposure to critical patient structures, such as organs, using computers, manuals, and guides.
- Plan the use of beam modifying devices, such as compensators, shields, and wedge filters, to ensure safe and effective delivery of radiation treatment.
- Identify and outline bodily structures, using imaging procedures, such as x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, or positron emission tomography.
- Calculate the delivery of radiation treatment, such as the amount or extent of radiation per session, based on the prescribed course of radiation therapy.
- Calculate, or verify calculations of, prescribed radiation doses.
- Develop radiation treatment plans in consultation with members of the radiation oncology team.
- Advise oncology team members on use of beam modifying or immobilization devices in radiation treatment plans.
- Supervise or perform simulations for tumor localizations, using imaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, or positron emission tomography scans.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most medical dosimetrists work full time. They usually have a regular work schedule because radiation therapy procedures are often planned in advance.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where medical dosimetrists work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Hospitals; state, local, and private58%
- Offices of physicians27%
- Outpatient care centers3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 58% |
| Offices of physicians | 27% |
| Outpatient care centers | 3% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking3.9
- Writing3.8
- Mathematics3.5
- Monitoring3.5
- Science3.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.8 |
| Mathematics | 3.5 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 |
| Science | 3.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Time Management3.5
- Social Perceptiveness3.4
- Service Orientation3.3
- Coordination3.1
- Systems Analysis3.1
- Instructing3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 |
| Time Management | 3.5 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.4 |
| Service Orientation | 3.3 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.1 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Development environment software · in demand
- Medical software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Medical Dosimetrist?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Medical Dosimetrist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Investigative5.3
- Conventional5.0
- Realistic4.6
- Social3.6
- Enterprising2.2
- Artistic1.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Medical Dosimetrist
O*NET related occupations
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$74,310median a year
Most earn $39K to $121K
+3.7%Associate's
More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with medical dosimetrists highlighted
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- Medical Dosimetrist$147,470
- Physician Assistant$135,880
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Physical Therapist$102,760
- Dental Hygienist$98,100
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$96,590
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110
- Surgical Technologist$64,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Medical Dosimetrist | $147,470 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 |
| Radiologic Technologist and Technician | $80,110 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Medical Dosimetrist appears on
Questions
Medical Dosimetrist: frequently asked questions
How much do Medical Dosimetrists make?
Medical Dosimetrists earn a median of $147,470 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 189% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $70.90/hr. The middle half earn between $132,080 and $167,030. The top 10% earn $185,450 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Medical Dosimetrist?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Medical Dosimetrists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 40.0% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Medical Dosimetrist a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.0% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Medical Dosimetrist do?
Medical dosimetrists calculate doses of radiation and design and oversee treatment plans for patients with cancer and other serious diseases. A core O*NET task: design the arrangement of radiation fields to reduce exposure to critical patient structures, such as organs, using computers, manuals, and guides. Employers most often ask for Development environment software, Medical software.
Which states pay Medical Dosimetrists the most?
The highest state medians for Medical Dosimetrists are Washington ($189,280), Oregon ($183,990), New Jersey ($170,650) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Oregon moves to the top at $178,007.
What personality type suits a Medical Dosimetrist?
O*NET scores Medical Dosimetrists highest on the Investigative, Conventional and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.