Physician who treats cancer with radiation therapy, designing and overseeing courses of external beam radiation, brachytherapy and radiosurgery. Doximity Physician Compensation Report 2025 puts typical pay at $588,678 a year (2024). BLS does not publish separate figures for radiologists; it counts them within radiologist (SOC 29-1224), whose median pay is $420,860 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
- SOC 29-1224
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Radiation Oncologist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $420,860a year, or $202.34/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $89KTop 10% $594K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.4%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 70028,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202528.7K
- Projected 203529.6K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 28.7K Projected 2035 29.6K - Typical education
- Doctorateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Certificate3%
- Associate's11.1%
- Doctorate28%
- Post-doctoral training57.9%
Highest education held by radiologists Segment Value Certificate 3% Associate's 11.1% Doctorate 28% Post-doctoral training 57.9%
Also advertised as: Radiation Oncology Physician, Radiation Therapist Physician, Radiotherapy Physician, Therapeutic Radiologist.
Pay
How much do Radiologists make?
Industry-reported pay
$588,678
Average annual compensation, US physicians in radiation oncology, all practice settings (survey of full-time physicians).
Source: Doximity Physician Compensation Report 2025, 2024 (published compensation survey). This is not a BLS figure: BLS counts radiologists within radiologist, whose pay is shown below. Doximity Physician Compensation Report 2025
Every radiation oncologist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$420,860
Middle half earn $216,800 to $506,010
- 10th
- $89,010
- 25th
- $216,800
- 75th
- $506,010
- 90th
- $594,410
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $89,010 |
| 25th | $216,800 |
| Median | $420,860 |
| 75th | $506,010 |
| 90th | $594,410 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $420,860
- Median hourly wage
- $202.34/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $381,530
- People employed
- 26,770
Versus all US occupations
At $420,860, Radiologists earn 726% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $369,880 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $102,760, this is 310% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $594,410 or more while the bottom 10% earn $89,010, a gap of 6.7×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 100% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Minnesota pays the most at $708,340, and still leads at $718,245 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Radiologists 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Minnesota | $708,340 | $718,245 | 440 |
| 2South Dakota | $586,010 | $661,515 | 70 |
| 3Maryland | $581,510 | $554,035 | N/A |
| 4Maine | $555,750 | $572,643 | N/A |
| 5North Dakota | $553,140 | $621,792 | 120 |
| 6New Hampshire | $506,010 | $485,777 | 210 |
| 7Michigan | $485,920 | $505,025 | 360 |
| 8New Jersey | $482,700 | $443,638 | N/A |
| 9West Virginia | $471,650 | $527,001 | 360 |
| 10Arizona | $470,640 | $467,475 | N/A |
Job outlook
Is Radiation Oncologist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.4% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Radiologists | +3.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Radiologists to change 3.4% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 1,000 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 700 openings are projected each year, 2.4% of the 28,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Radiation Oncologist
After medical school, radiation oncologists complete a clinical internship year and then a four-year ACGME-accredited radiation oncology residency, which includes radiation physics, radiobiology and clinical oncology.
The American Board of Radiology certifies radiation oncologists through qualifying exams in physics, radiobiology and clinical radiation oncology, followed by an oral exam. The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is the main professional society. Some physicians add fellowship training in proton therapy, brachytherapy or research.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Doctoral or professional degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Internship/residency
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable 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 radiologists.
- Post-Doctoral Training57.9%
- Doctoral Degree28%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree11.1%
- Post-Secondary Certificate3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Post-Doctoral Training | 57.9% |
| Doctoral Degree | 28% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 11.1% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Radiation Oncologist do?
Radiation oncologists use precisely targeted radiation to cure cancer, control its growth or relieve symptoms. They decide whether radiation is right for a patient, choose the technique and dose, and outline the tumor and surrounding healthy organs on CT, MRI and PET scans so that dosimetrists and medical physicists can build a treatment plan.
During treatment they see patients weekly to manage side effects and check progress, and they perform procedures such as brachytherapy, where radioactive sources are placed inside the body, and stereotactic radiosurgery for brain and spine tumors. They work closely with surgeons, medical oncologists, physicists and radiation therapists.
Day-to-day tasks
- Evaluate patients with cancer and recommend whether and how to use radiation
- Outline tumors and healthy organs on imaging for treatment planning
- Prescribe radiation dose and approve treatment plans with medical physicists
- Perform brachytherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery procedures
- Monitor patients weekly during treatment and manage side effects
- Present cases at tumor boards with surgeons and medical oncologists
- Follow patients after treatment for response and late effects
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Radiation oncologists work in hospital radiation departments, cancer centers and freestanding radiation clinics. Hours are more regular than in most procedural specialties, with little overnight call. Work happens in clinics and at planning workstations, with strict radiation safety rules around treatment machines.
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 timeStanding
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 importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
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.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.3
- Active Listening4.3
- Speaking4.3
- Writing4.1
- Critical Thinking4.1
- Monitoring4.0
- Active Learning3.9
- Science3.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.3 |
| Active Listening | 4.3 |
| Speaking | 4.3 |
| Writing | 4.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.1 |
| Monitoring | 4.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.9 |
| Science | 3.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Judgment and Decision Making4.1
- Social Perceptiveness4.0
- Complex Problem Solving4.0
- Service Orientation3.6
- Time Management3.5
- Instructing3.4
- Coordination3.3
- Operations Monitoring3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 |
| Service Orientation | 3.6 |
| Time Management | 3.5 |
| Instructing | 3.4 |
| Coordination | 3.3 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Medical software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Electronic mail software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Internet browser software
“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 Radiation Oncologist?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ISR) built on O*NET's Radiologist profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Radiation Oncologist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 7 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 5 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
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 hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Investigative6.6
- Realistic5.0
- Social4.5
- Conventional4.5
- Enterprising2.2
- Artistic1.4
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 Radiation Oncologist
O*NET related occupations
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with radiologists highlighted
- Radiation Oncologist$420,860
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- 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 |
|---|---|
| Radiation Oncologist | $420,860 |
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| 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 Radiation Oncologist appears on
Questions
Radiation Oncologist: frequently asked questions
How much do Radiologists make?
Doximity Physician Compensation Report 2025 reports $588,678 (average annual compensation, US physicians in radiation oncology, all practice settings (survey of full-time physicians), 2024). BLS does not publish a separate wage for radiologists. It counts them within radiologist, whose median pay is $420,860 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $216,800 and $506,010, and the top 10% earn $594,410 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Radiation Oncologist?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Radiologists. BLS also lists internship/residency as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 57.9% hold post-doctoral training.
Is Radiation Oncologist a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.4% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 700 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Radiation Oncologist do?
Radiation oncologists use precisely targeted radiation to cure cancer, control its growth or relieve symptoms. A typical task: evaluate patients with cancer and recommend whether and how to use radiation. Employers most often ask for Medical software, Spreadsheet software, Word processing software.
Which states pay Radiologists the most?
The highest state medians for Radiologists are Minnesota ($708,340), South Dakota ($586,010), Maryland ($581,510) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Radiation Oncologist?
O*NET scores Radiologists highest on the Investigative, Realistic and Social interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. 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.