Radiology Jobs Are Growing
There will be a strong need for qualified candidates to fill radiology jobs in the coming years.
Radiation therapists are among the most needed radiology jobs. These employees generally work with an oncology team to help people get rid of cancer. They use specific machines to administer radiation to patients, which can be the sole treatment for cancer, but is often used in conjunction with chemotherapy or surgery.
Most students preparing to become a radiation therapist choose to pursue a bachelor's degree, associate degree, or certificate in radiation therapy. The majority of states also require candidates to become licensed by a sate accrediting board or the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
There were about 15,200 radiation therapists throughout the nation during 2008, and that number is expected to grow by 27 percent by 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
About 70 percent of radiation therapists work in hospitals, while 18 percent work in the offices of physicians, and a small number work in outpatient care centers and medical and diagnostic laboratories.
The top industries that employed radiation therapists throughout Arizona during 2006, according to the Arizona Workforce Informer, include:
- Offices of physicians - 73.7 percent
- General medical and surgical hospitals - 13.8 percent
- Offices of other health practitioners - 7.3 percent
- Other ambulatory healthcare services - 4 percent
During 2007, the average wage for radiation therapists in Arizona was $32.14 per hour, while the average entry-level wage was $21.14 per hour and the average experienced-level wage was $37.64 per hour.
The median wage for radiation therapists across America during 2008 was $72,910 per hour. The middle 50 percent of employees earned between $59,050 and $87,910 per year, while the lowest 10 percent earned less than $47,190 per year and the highest 10 percent earned more than $104,350 per year.