If you are a radiation therapists looking to find your perfect new home state, take a look into our list of the 25 best states for radiation therapists.
Becoming a radiation therapist requires extensive education and training. An Associates degree in Radiation Therapy or Radiology is generally sufficient to begin the process of studying for the Radiation Therapy Didactic and Clinical Competency Requirements exam. Alternatively, enrolling in a Bachelor’s degree radiation therapy program will encompass all of the requirements and examinations necessary to transition straight into a career as a radiation therapist. Once this basic level of education has been obtained, individuals must become certified with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (AART).
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Radiation therapists administer radiation treatment to help fight cancer, including monitoring patients’ progress and reporting this data to the proper medical professionals. They help patients to understand how radiation therapy works by providing explanation and answering questions. They must have the ability to perform X-rays, operate a variety of medical equipment, and report any equipment malfunctions.
If you are looking for a career in the medical field with a quicker educational track, check out our list of 25 best states for nursing assistants. You might also be interested in finding the list of highest paying countries for radiation therapists.
Deciding which states qualify as the “best” is not a simple task. Different factors matter more to different people. We decided to consult the Bureau of Labor Statistics for information on the average mean wage and the number of employed radiation therapists in each state. We then sourced information on the cost of living index from Missouri Economic Research And Information Center. Considering all of these factors, we were able to sort our list of best states for radiation therapists.
It is not enough for a state to simply have a high average salary for its radiation therapists. It must also be considered that the number of working radiation therapists in the state may affect the number of job positions that are open to newcomers. On the other side of that argument, more employed radiation therapists points to the possibility of more treatment centers, and thus, a more steady stream of work available. The cost of living index can also not be considered alone. It is great to have a low cost of living, but this only matters if your salary is also not super low. A low cost of living paired with a high salary is the most advantageous situation. States falling into this category made the top of our list.
Without further ado, here is our list of 25 best states for radiation therapists.
25. Arizona
Cost of living index: 98.1
Annual mean wage: $80,570
Hourly mean wage: $38.73
Number of employees: 470
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24. Montana
Cost of living index: 100.8
Annual mean wage: $83,110
Hourly mean wage: $39.95
Number of employees: 60
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23. Pennsylvania
Cost of living index: 102.8
Annual mean wage: $84,800
Hourly mean wage: $40.76
Number of employees: 710
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22. Tennessee
Cost of living index: 89.8
Annual mean wage: $74,170
Hourly mean wage: $35.65
Number of employees: 520
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21. Wisconsin
Cost of living index: 96.9
Annual mean wage: $80,540
Hourly mean wage: $38.72
Number of employees: 390
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20. New Mexico
Cost of living index: 95.7
Annual mean wage: $79,720
Hourly mean wage: $38.32
Number of employees: 30
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19. Utah
Cost of living index: 92.8
Annual mean wage: $77,380
Hourly mean wage: $37.20
Number of employees: 130
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18. California
Cost of living index: 134.8
Annual mean wage: $113,710
Hourly mean wage: $54.66
Number of employees: 980
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17. Oregon
Cost of living index: 115.4
Annual mean wage: $99,350
Hourly mean wage: $47.76
Number of employees: 220
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16. Michigan
Cost of living index: 88.2
Annual mean wage: $76,260
Hourly mean wage: $36.66
Number of employees: 420
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15. New Jersey
Cost of living index: 121
Annual mean wage: $104,700
Hourly mean wage: $50.33
Number of employees: 450
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14. Nebraska
Cost of living index: 91.3
Annual mean wage: $79,780
Hourly mean wage: $38.35
Number of employees: 130
13. Oklahoma
Cost of living index: 88.6
Annual mean wage: $77,800
Hourly mean wage: $37.40
Number of employees: 360
12. Alabama
Cost of living index: 91.2
Annual mean wage: $80,130
Hourly mean wage: $38.52
Number of employees: 360
We’re halfway through our list of best states for radiation therapists, and now, let’s see the other half.
11. Missouri
Cost of living index: 90.8
Annual mean wage: $79,940
Hourly mean wage: $38.43
Number of employees: 320
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10. Mississippi
Mississippi ranks 10th in our list of 25 best states for radiation therapists.
Cost of living index: 86
Annual mean wage: $75,780
Hourly mean wage: $36.43
Number of employees: 160
9. Colorado
Cost of living index: 102.1
Annual mean wage: $90,410
Hourly mean wage: $43.46
Number of employees: 250
8. Kentucky
Cost of living index: 90.8
Annual mean wage: $80,640
Hourly mean wage: $38.76
Number of employees: 210
7. Delaware
Cost of living index: 102.6
Annual mean wage: $91,160
Hourly mean wage: $43.82
Number of employees: 60
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6. Illinois
Cost of living index: 95.5
Annual mean wage: $85,700
Hourly mean wage: $41.20
Number of employees: 840
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5. Washington
Washington ranks 5th in our list of 25 best states for radiation therapists.
Cost of living index: 107.1
Annual mean wage: $97,670
Hourly mean wage: $46.95
Number of employees: 470
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4. Indiana
Cost of living index: 87.9
Annual mean wage: $81,400
Hourly mean wage: $39.13
Number of employees: 410
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3. Georgia
Cost of living index: 91.4
Annual mean wage: $84,970
Hourly mean wage: $40.85
Number of employees: 610
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2. Idaho
Cost of living index: 89.6
Annual mean wage: $88,360
Hourly mean wage: $42.480
Number of employees: 60
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1. Florida
Cost of living index: 99
Annual mean wage: $97,710
Hourly mean wage: $46.97
Number of employees: 1,190
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This was our list of 25 best states for radiation therapists. We hope we managed to show you some great options, and what you should expect from each state when deciding where to move.
