Medical Dosimetrists

Summary

Quick Facts: Medical Dosimetrists
2023 Median Pay	$132,880 per year $63.88 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education	Bachelor's degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2023	4,200
Job Outlook, 2023-33	5% (As fast as average)
Employment Change, 2023-33	200

What Medical Dosimetrists Do

Medical dosimetrists calculate doses of radiation and design and oversee treatment plans for patients with cancer and other serious diseases.

Work Environment

Most medical dosimetrists work in healthcare settings, such as hospitals and physicians' offices. They may spend much of their time working at a computer.

How to Become a Medical Dosimetrist

To enter the occupation, medical dosimetrists typically need a bachelor's degree and must complete an accredited medical dosimetry program. Employers usually require workers to have certification.

Pay

The median annual wage for medical dosimetrists was $132,880 in May 2023.

Job Outlook

Employment of medical dosimetrists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 200 openings for medical dosimetrists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

State & Area Data

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Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of medical dosimetrists with similar occupations.

More Information, Including Links to O*NET

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What Medical Dosimetrists Do

Medical dosimetrists consult with other members of the oncology team to create patient treatment plans.

Medical dosimetrists calculate doses of radiation and design and oversee treatment plans for patients with cancer and other serious diseases.

Duties

Medical dosimetrists typically do the following:

• Review a patient’s documents, such as their CT and MRI scans
• Calculate the proper dose of radiation to be administered to a patient
• Consult with other members of the radiation oncology team and design the radiation-delivery plan for patients
• May assist in designing molds, casts, and other immobilization devices to position patients during treatment
• Document treatment provided to a patient
• Perform quality assurance checks of treatment equipment

Medical dosimetrists develop and manage the radiation plans for patients receiving treatment for cancer or other diseases. They may begin by reviewing patient records, such as computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Then, based on a dosage range prescribed by the physician, medical dosimetrists calculate the exact dose and angle of radiation to be administered. They make these calculations both manually and with computers.

Medical dosimetrists’ calculations may vary based on the type of radiation treatment a physician prescribes. For example, external beam radiation angled at a tumor from outside the body may be administered at a higher dose than brachytherapy, which involves placing a radioactive device near the tumor inside the body.

In addition to overseeing radiation treatment, medical dosimetrists’ other responsibilities include helping to design immobilization devices that ensure patients remain motionless during procedures. They also keep records of each patient’s treatment, load or receive shipments, use radiation monitoring devices to measure radioactivity levels in patients, and calibrate equipment to ensure accuracy.

Dosimetrists are part of a radiation oncology team that usually includes medical physicists, oncology nurses, radiation oncologists and other physicians, and radiation therapists.

Work Environment

Medical dosimetrists spend much of their time working at a computer.

Medical dosimetrists held about 4,200 jobs in 2023. The largest employers of medical dosimetrists were as follows:

Medical dosimetrists spend much of their time at the computer when calculating doses of radiation and designing treatment plans. Dosimetrists typically have less direct contact with patients compared with other members of the radiation oncology team. However, they occasionally interact with patients, such as to reposition them for procedures.

Injuries and Illnesses

Medical dosimetrists work with radiation and radioactive material, so they must follow procedures for safe handling. Safety protocol includes wearing a film badge dosimeter to track radiation exposure.

Work Schedules

Most medical dosimetrists work full time. They usually have a regular work schedule because radiation therapy procedures are often planned in advance.

How to Become a Medical Dosimetrist

Medical dosimetrists must complete an accredited medical dosimetry program.

To enter the occupation, medical dosimetrists typically need a bachelor's degree and must complete an accredited medical dosimetry program. Employers usually require workers to have certification.

Education

Medical dosimetrists typically need a bachelor’s degree in medical dosimetry or a related field, such as biology or physical science. Prospective dosimetrists whose degree is not in medical dosimetry may complete a certificate or master’s degree program in medical dosimetry. These programs usually last 1 to 2 years. A list of accredited medical dosimetry programs is available from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT).

Admission to medical dosimetry programs is often competitive. Applicants may be required to be a registered radiation therapist or have a bachelor’s degree that includes coursework in specific subjects, such as biology, medical terminology, and calculus.

Medical dosimetry programs include courses such as physics, anatomy, and radiology. Programs also include supervised clinical experience in which students work onsite with practicing dosimetrists.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Employers usually prefer to hire medical dosimetrists who have earned the Certified Medical Dosimetrist (CMD) credential from the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB). Certification requires that candidates have a bachelor's degree, graduate from an accredited medical dosimetry program, and pass an exam. Maintaining certification requires completion of a specified number of hours of continuing education.

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

Some medical dosimetrists work as radiation therapists before earning the credentials to become dosimetrists.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. To ensure proper treatment, medical dosimetrists must convey important information about a patient’s radiation dosage both orally and in writing.

Critical-thinking skills. Medical dosimetrists analyze a patient's needs and health-related data, along with other factors, to determine treatment plans.

Detail oriented. Medical dosimetrists must be precise when calculating the amount and location of radiation that a patient will receive.

Interpersonal skills. Medical dosimetrists collaborate with other members of the radiation oncology team throughout a patient’s treatment.

Math skills. Medical dosimetrists need a strong background in mathematics in order to calculate and verify the proper doses of radiation.

Technical skills. Medical dosimetrists use computers and must be comfortable working with a variety of specialized medical equipment.

Pay

The median annual wage for medical dosimetrists was $132,880 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $86,480, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $170,330.

In May 2023, the median annual wages for medical dosimetrists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Most medical dosimetrists work full time. They usually have a regular work schedule because radiation therapy procedures are often planned in advance.

Job Outlook

Employment of medical dosimetrists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 200 openings for medical dosimetrists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

As adults get older, their likelihood of being diagnosed with cancer rises. The expected increase in the number of older people will therefore increase the demand for cancer care. Because radiotherapy plays a vital role in treating this disease, medical dosimetrists will be needed to help develop treatment plans for patients.

Contacts for More Information

For more information about medical dosimetrists, visit

American Association of Medical Dosimetrists (AAMD)

For a list of accredited medical dosimetry programs, visit

Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

For more information about certification, visit

Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB)

O*NET

Medical Dosimetrists