Jobs Similar to Radiation Therapists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to radiation therapists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, Nuclear Medicine Technologists and Respiratory Therapists.
Radiation Therapists: $105,310 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Radiation Therapists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | 83% | $74,310−29% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Nuclear Medicine Technologists | 82% | $101,370−4% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Respiratory TherapistsSame group | 80% | $82,280−22% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | 79% | $80,110−24% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 79% | $96,590−8% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Nurse AnesthetistsSame group | 79% | $236,590+125% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists | 78% | $95,480−9% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Anesthesiologist AssistantsSame group | 78% | $135,880Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 76% | $47,380−55% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | 76% | $45,570−57% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Neurodiagnostic Technologists | 76% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 12 | Surgical Technologists | 75% | $64,650−39% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Physical Therapist Assistants | 75% | $68,380−35% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 74% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 15 | Endoscopy Technicians | 74% | $48,430Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 16 | Critical Care NursesSame group | 72% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Dental HygienistsSame group | 72% | $98,100−7% | Training or associate |
| 18 | RadiologistsSame group | 72% | $420,860+300% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Surgical Assistants | 71% | $66,800−37% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Phlebotomists | 71% | $45,230−57% | Training or associate |
- 1Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
83% similar · $74,310 (−29%) · Training or associate
- 2Nuclear Medicine Technologists
82% similar · $101,370 (−4%) · Training or associate
- 3Respiratory Therapists
80% similar · $82,280 (−22%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 4Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
79% similar · $80,110 (−24%) · Training or associate
- 5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
79% similar · $96,590 (−8%) · Training or associate
- 6Nurse Anesthetists
79% similar · $236,590 (+125%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 7Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists
78% similar · $95,480 (−9%) · Training or associate
- 8Anesthesiologist Assistants
78% similar · $135,880 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 9Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
76% similar · $47,380 (−55%) · Training or associate
- 10Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
76% similar · $45,570 (−57%) · Training or associate
- 11Neurodiagnostic Technologists
76% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 12Surgical Technologists
75% similar · $64,650 (−39%) · Training or associate
- 13Physical Therapist Assistants
75% similar · $68,380 (−35%) · Training or associate
- 14Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
74% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 15Endoscopy Technicians
74% similar · $48,430 (broader group) · High school
- 16Critical Care Nurses
72% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 17Dental Hygienists
72% similar · $98,100 (−7%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 18Radiologists
72% similar · $420,860 (+300%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 19Surgical Assistants
71% similar · $66,800 (−37%) · Training or associate
- 20Phlebotomists
71% similar · $45,230 (−57%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for radiation therapists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where radiation therapists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians (93)
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists (92)
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (89)
- Radiologic Technologists and Technicians (89)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists (85)
- Neurodiagnostic Technologists (83)
- Physical Therapist Assistants (82)
- Surgical Technologists (82)
- Ophthalmic Medical Technicians (80)
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists (78)
Questions about jobs like radiation therapists
What jobs are most similar to radiation therapists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians (83% similar), Nuclear Medicine Technologists (82% similar), Respiratory Therapists (80% similar), Radiologic Technologists and Technicians (79% similar) and Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (79% similar).
Which jobs like radiation therapists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Radiologists ($420,860, +300%; usually a graduate degree) and Nurse Anesthetists ($236,590, +125%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with radiation therapists ($105,310).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.