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Medical dosimetrist: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $111,670lowest 10% earn less
- $132,08025th percentile
- $147,470median
- $167,03075th percentile
- $185,450top 10% earn more
Medical dosimetrists had a median pay of $147,470 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects employment to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035[2].
How much do medical dosimetrists make?
The median wage for Medical Dosimetrists was $147,470 a year, or $70.90 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $148,500 a year, or $71.40 an hour[7].
The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[4]. The median for this job was well above that figure.
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $111,670 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $185,450[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8].
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th[3][9] | $111,670 | $53.69 |
| 25th[3][9] | $132,080 | $63.50 |
| 75th[3][9] | $167,030 | $80.31 |
| 90th[3][9] | $185,450 | $89.16 |
These wages cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[10]. About 3,410 people held these jobs in May 2025, so it is a small occupation[11].
Pay by state and city
Washington had the highest median wage at $189,280, followed by Oregon at $183,990 and New Jersey at $170,650[12]. Some states have few jobs. Washington had 60 and Oregon 40[12]. West Virginia had the lowest median on the published list at $45,350, far below the next lowest, Mississippi at $115,490[12].
Texas had the most jobs with 330, then Florida with 320 and New York with 300[13].
Three metro areas with at least 100 jobs had published pay[14]. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ was highest at $176,030, then Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN at $165,620 and Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX at $133,240[14]. New York also had the most jobs among metro areas, at 280[15].
Show median pay in 27 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Washington[12] | $189,280 | 60 |
| Oregon | $183,990 | 40 |
| New Jersey | $170,650 | 90 |
| New York | $166,540 | 300 |
| Illinois | $163,860 | 140 |
| Georgia | $155,390 | 140 |
| Florida | $153,490 | 320 |
| Ohio | $150,900 | n/a |
| Kansas | $150,670 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $147,830 | 140 |
| Maryland | $147,470 | 40 |
| Indiana | $144,320 | 60 |
| Oklahoma | $143,120 | 30 |
| Pennsylvania | $142,850 | 160 |
| Virginia | $142,830 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $142,300 | 80 |
| Arizona | $142,090 | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $140,990 | 60 |
| South Carolina | $140,530 | 60 |
| California | $140,380 | 240 |
| Arkansas | $138,260 | 30 |
| Michigan | $137,970 | 130 |
| Tennessee | $135,530 | 60 |
| Texas | $134,680 | 330 |
| Missouri | $129,610 | 80 |
| Mississippi | $115,490 | 40 |
| West Virginia | $45,350 | 60 |
How to become a medical dosimetrist
- First: earn a bachelor's degree. BLS lists it as the typical entry level[6]. The usual degree fields are medical dosimetry or a related area like biology or physical science[16].
- Next: complete an accredited medical dosimetry program[17]. If your degree is in another field, a certificate or master's program in medical dosimetry is an option[16].
- Know the entry bar. Admission is often competitive. Applicants may need to be a registered radiation therapist or hold a bachelor's degree with certain coursework, such as biology, medical terminology and calculus[18].
- Then: get certified. Employers usually require certification[17]. The Certified Medical Dosimetrist credential requires a bachelor's degree, an accredited program and an exam, and renewing it takes continuing education hours[19].
Programs include physics, anatomy and radiology courses plus supervised clinical work with practicing dosimetrists[20]. Some dosimetrists work as radiation therapists first[21]. In an O*NET survey of 20 workers, 40% said a bachelor's degree was required, 35% a post-baccalaureate certificate and 15% a master's degree[22].
What medical dosimetrists do
They create radiation treatment plans, work out dose calculations, and consult with the radiation oncology team[23]. Typical tasks include:
- Arranging radiation fields to limit exposure of organs and other critical structures[24].
- Planning devices that shape the beam, such as shields and wedge filters[24].
- Outlining body structures on imaging such as CT, MRI or PET scans[24].
- Calculating or checking the radiation dose for each session[24].
- Supervising or performing simulations to locate tumors[24].
- Recording doses and other patient details in records[24].
- Advising team members on beam-shaping and immobilization devices[24].
Math, attention to detail, critical thinking and communication skills matter[25][26][27][28].
Where they work
Hospitals, including state, local and private ones, were the largest employer, at 58% of jobs in 2025[29]. Dosimetrists spend much of their time at a computer, with less patient contact than other members of the team[30]. They work with radiation, so they follow safety procedures, including wearing a badge that tracks exposure[31]. Most work full time, usually on a regular schedule because treatments are often planned ahead[32].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 3,500 to 3,700 jobs[2]. For all occupations, the projected growth is 3.5%[33]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].
About 200 openings a year are projected[5]. Openings also come from workers who retire or change occupations, not only from new jobs[5]. Each year 1.9% of workers leave the labor force and 2% move to a different occupation[34].
Is it a good fit?
The pay is high compared with all occupations[1][4]. The path asks for a bachelor's degree, an accredited program and usually certification, and program admission is often competitive[17][18]. The field is small and growth is only a little above the all-occupations rate[11][2][33]. Related jobs include radiation therapists, with a median of $105,310 and an associate's degree as typical entry education[35].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a medical dosimetrist make an hour?
- The median was $70.90 an hour in May 2025 and the average was $71.40[1][7].
- What degree do you need to be a medical dosimetrist?
- BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education, plus an accredited medical dosimetry program[6][17].
- Is medical dosimetrist in demand?
- BLS projects 5% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 200 openings a year[2][33][5].
- What is the highest paying state for medical dosimetrists?
- Washington, with a median of $189,280, then Oregon at $183,990[12].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Medical Dosimetrists in the US was $147,470 per year and $70.90 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Medical Dosimetrists is projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 3,500 to 3,700 jobs (a change of +200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Medical Dosimetrists: 10th percentile $111,670, 25th percentile $132,080, 75th percentile $167,030, 90th percentile $185,450. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 200 openings for Medical Dosimetrists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Medical Dosimetrists: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Medical Dosimetrists was $148,500 per year and $71.40 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Medical Dosimetrists: 10th percentile $53.69, 25th percentile $63.50, 75th percentile $80.31, 90th percentile $89.16. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 3,410 people were employed as Medical Dosimetrists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Medical Dosimetrists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Medical Dosimetrists jobs: Texas 330; Florida 320; New York 300; California 240; Pennsylvania 160. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Medical Dosimetrists (areas with at least 100 jobs): New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $176,030; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $165,620; Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $133,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Medical Dosimetrists jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 280 (median $176,030); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 130 (median $133,240); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 110 (median $165,620); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 90 (median $159,570); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 80 (median $156,040); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 80 (median $156,290). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 29-2036.00 survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 40%, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate 35%, Master's Degree 15%, Post-Secondary Certificate 5%, First Professional Degree 5% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Medical Dosimetrists. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Medical Dosimetrists. O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of medical dosimetrists in 2025: Hospitals; state, local, and private 58%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Medical Dosimetrists: 1.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.