Healthcare Recruiting
Radiation Therapist Salary 2026: RTT Pay by State, Setting & Certification
Radiation Therapist Salary 2026: RTT Pay by State, Setting & Certification
The average radiation therapist (RTT) salary in 2026 is $88,000–$108,000/year — making radiation therapy one of the highest-paying allied health professions in the country, exceeded in median pay only by MRI technologists in some markets. Radiation therapists administer precisely calibrated doses of ionizing radiation to cancer patients under the supervision of a radiation oncologist, operating linear accelerators (LINAC) and other treatment delivery systems including proton therapy machines. Therapists specializing in proton beam therapy, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) earn $100,000–$125,000+.
Radiation Therapist Salary by State (2026)
| State | Avg Annual Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| California | $120,000 | Highest nationally by significant margin; union contracts; UCSF proton center, Cedars-Sinai SBRT; Bay Area premium |
| Washington | $112,000 | SEIU contracts; UW Medicine proton therapy (SCCA), Swedish, Providence; Seattle metro |
| Hawaii | $108,000 | Island shortage; COL premium; Queens Medical, Hawaii Pacific Health; radiation oncology scarce on neighbor islands |
| Massachusetts | $107,000 | Mass General proton center, Dana-Farber/Brigham; academic oncology density; Boston metro premium |
| New York | $105,000 | Memorial Sloan Kettering proton/SBRT, NYP radiation oncology; 1199SEIU; NYC premium |
| Oregon | $99,000 | OHSU radiation oncology, Legacy, PeaceHealth; Portland metro; proton expansion ongoing |
| Nevada | $98,000 | Shortage market; no income tax; Nevada Cancer Center, Sunrise radiation oncology; rapid growth |
| Minnesota | $97,000 | Mayo Clinic proton beam therapy nationally ranked; M Health Fairview; Rochester above average |
| Texas | $92,000 | No income tax; MD Anderson proton center (globally recognized), UT Southwestern; Houston Medical Center |
| Ohio | $90,000 | Cleveland Clinic, Ohio State James Cancer Center, Nationwide Children's; academic oncology premium |
| Florida | $88,000 | Moffitt Cancer Center (proton/SBRT), NCH, AdventHealth; no state income tax; high cancer patient volume |
| Georgia | $86,000 | Emory Winship, Piedmont Cancer Institute; Atlanta metro; Proton Therapy Institute expansion |
| Alabama | $76,000 | UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center; Birmingham metro; rural AL $62K–$70K |
ARRT Radiation Therapy Credentials & Salary Impact
- ARRT(T) — Radiation Therapy: Primary ARRT credential; required at all radiation oncology centers. Entry point for all RTT positions. Requires accredited radiation therapy program + ARRT(T) exam.
- ARRT(CMD) — Medical Dosimetry: Dosimetrist credential; treatment planning rather than patient care; highest-earning radiation oncology allied health role ($95K–$130K); separate career track from RTT but starts from radiologic science base.
- CMD (Certified Medical Dosimetrist): MDCB credential; dosimetry planning specialty; 2 years experience + exam; pays $100K–$130K nationally and is distinct from RTT work.
- ARRT(CT) add-on: RTTs who add CT credential can perform treatment planning CTs and simulation scans; adds $4K–$8K and cross-covers CT department for staffing flexibility.
Radiation Therapist vs. Radiologic Technologist Salary: Why the Gap?
Radiation therapists consistently earn $20,000–$30,000 more than general radiologic technologists. The key reasons:
- Radiation therapists administer therapeutic doses of radiation (not diagnostic); this requires precise treatment delivery and is directly tied to patient cancer outcomes
- Treatment is typically delivered in daily fractions over 3–9 weeks — the RTT builds a sustained relationship with patients, requiring communication and emotional support skills
- LINAC operation, patient immobilization, image-guided RT (IGRT), and respiratory gating are specialized skills with no overlap with diagnostic radiology
- The RTT workforce is significantly smaller than the rad tech workforce — fewer programs, fewer graduates, persistent vacancy rates above 12% at most cancer centers
Travel Radiation Therapist Salary 2026
- Weekly gross pay: $2,200–$3,000 (13-week contracts)
- Tax-free stipend: $900–$1,400/week (qualifying tax home required)
- Top travel RTT markets: California ($2,600–$3,000/wk), Washington, Hawaii, Nevada
- Requirements: ARRT(T), 1–2 years RTT experience, BLS, state license where required
Data from BLS, ARRT annual salary surveys, and Ava Health placement data. Ranges reflect 25th–75th percentile of 2026 active RTT job postings.
Hiring in this space?
Browse 1.4M+ verified providers across all 50 states
NPI-sourced, free, no account required. Filter by specialty + state in seconds.
Search the directory →Free tool
2026 Healthcare Salary Calculator
Estimate comp by specialty, state, experience, and practice setting. Based on MGMA, AMGA, and BLS benchmarks.
Try the salary calculator →Be on the launch list
Salary data, hiring plays, and market trends. We'll email you when issue 1 ships. Free, unsubscribe anytime.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. We never share your email.