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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Radiation Therapists

Part of Health Science, in the Therapeutic Services pathway.

Job zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 29-1124.00

What the work is

Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiation oncologist according to established practices and standards. Duties may include reviewing prescription and diagnosis; acting as liaison with physician and supportive care personnel; preparing equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, and protection devices; and maintaining records, reports, and files. May assist in dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.

On a typical day

  • Administer prescribed doses of radiation to specific body parts, using radiation therapy equipment according to established practices and standards.
  • Position patients for treatment with accuracy, according to prescription.
  • Enter data into computer and set controls to operate or adjust equipment or regulate dosage.
  • Follow principles of radiation protection for patient, self, and others.
  • Maintain records, reports, or files as required, including such information as radiation dosages, equipment settings, or patients' reactions.
  • Review prescription, diagnosis, patient chart, and identification.

What it pays

$108,600
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $76,340
Experienced workers reach $128,110
  1. $76k10th
  2. $97k25th
  3. $109kMedian
  4. $117k75th
  5. $128k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $76,340, 25th $97,140, Median $108,600, 75th $117,350, 90th $128,110

About 50 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

Alamo region (Bexar and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034. U.S. figures from the BLS for comparison.

+9.7%

employment change in the Alamo region, 155 to 170 jobs · U.S. +2%

9

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 900

155

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 19,200

Typical entry education: Associate's degree

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Reading Comprehension3.9
  2. Active Listening3.9
  3. Critical Thinking3.8
  4. Social Perceptiveness3.6
  5. Operations Monitoring3.4
  6. Speaking3.5
  7. Monitoring3.4
  8. Service Orientation3.3

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. Certificate9%
  2. Some college3%
  3. Associate degree50%
  4. Bachelor's degree38%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

No Alamo program is mapped to this career yet. Many careers start from a transfer pre-major or a related program.

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