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Hourly Wage for Radiation Physicist Salary in the United States

How much does a Radiation Physicist make hourly?

As of October 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Radiation Physicist in the United States is $103, which translates to an annual salary of about $213,469.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $127 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $91 to $116 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $81 per hour
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Radiation Physicist Salaries

A Radiation Physicist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Radiation Physicist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Radiation Physicist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $202,833
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $204,606
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $208,151
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $213,469
  • Expert (over 8 years): $223,464
Levels Salary
Entry Level Radiation Physicist$202,833
Intermediate Level Radiation Physicist$204,606
Senior Level Radiation Physicist$208,151
Specialist Level Radiation Physicist$213,469
Expert Level Radiation Physicist$223,464
View as Graph

How Do Radiation Physicist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Radiation Physicists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $236,353.
  • California: $235,456.
  • Massachusetts: $232,318.

Top Paying Cities for Radiation Physicists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $269,248
  • San Francisco: $266,300
  • Oakland: $260,688

What Skills Can Increase a Radiation Physicist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 7.35% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Acceptance Testing (Mentioned in 4.06% Job Postings): Acceptance testing is the testing of the requirements of a specification. It may involve chemical tests, physical tests, or performance tests, and is typically found in engineering.
  • Cybersecurity (Mentioned in 1.35% Job Postings): Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 7.35%
Acceptance Testing 4.06%
Cybersecurity 1.35%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Radiation Physicist's salary.

  • Installation: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Research and Development: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Program Management: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Installation $249,759
17%
Research and Development $243,355
14%
Program Management $243,355
14%
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Radiation Physicist Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Radiation Physicist salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $239,778. While startup companies pay approximate $203,766.

Radiation Physicist Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $203,766
Growth Stage 51~500 $215,257
Established 501~5000 $231,716
Enterprise 5000+ $239,778

Radiation Physicist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Radiation Physicist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Radiation Physicist positions in Biotechnology or Pharmaceuticals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Radiation Physicist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Radiation Physicist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$256,163$123.020%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$234,816$113.010%

How Education impacts a Radiation Physicist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Radiation Physicist enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Radiation Physicist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $212,143 and $224,700.

Radiation Physicist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Radiation Physicist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 1.1%
Associates 1.1%
Bachelors 10.2%
Masters 58.0%
Doctorate 29.5%
View as Graph

Radiation Physicist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Radiation Physicist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$189,715
Average $213,469/year
$240,256
$15,810
Average $17,789/month
$20,021
$3,648
Average $4,105/week
$4,620
$91
Average $103/hour
$116
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $240,256 $20,021 $4,620 $116
Average $213,469 $17,789 $4,105 $103
25th Percentile $189,715 $15,810 $3,648 $91

Most common benefits for Radiation Physicist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Radiation Physicist

Here are companies hiring for Radiation Physicist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Radiation Physicist

1. What are the responsibilities of Radiation Physicist?

Ensures the quality of care in the use of radiation-producing sources and imaging equipment and the protection of patients and staff from radiation. Calibrates all radiation therapy equipment, conducts X-ray machine performance surveys, and implements procedures to ensure quality control for electronic imaging devices. Recommends radiation safety procedures. Informs staff in radiation safety practices. May require an advanced degree of radiation physics. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Typically requires 4 to 7 years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Radiation Physicist

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Planning: An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.

2.)

Acceptance Testing: Acceptance testing is the testing of the requirements of a specification. It may involve chemical tests, physical tests, or performance tests, and is typically found in engineering.

3.)

Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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