Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

Radiation Physicist Salary in the United States

How much does a Radiation Physicist make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Radiation Physicist in the United States is $213,338 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $103.

However, a Radiation Physicist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $264,507
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $189,595 to $240,122
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $167,978
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): $202,707
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $204,479
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $208,022
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $213,338
  • Expert (over 8 years): $223,332
Levels Salary
Entry Level Radiation Physicist$202,707
Intermediate Level Radiation Physicist$204,479
Senior Level Radiation Physicist$208,022
Specialist Level Radiation Physicist$213,338
Expert Level Radiation Physicist$223,332
View as Graph

How Do Radiation Physicists 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: $236,208.
  • California: $235,312.
  • Massachusetts: $232,176.

Top Paying Cities for Radiation Physicist

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: $269,083
  • San Francisco: $266,137
  • Oakland: $260,528

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 $249,605
17%
Research and Development $243,205
14%
Program Management $243,205
14%
Get Latest Data

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 $240,055. While startup companies pay approximate $203,894.

Radiation Physicist Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $203,894
Growth Stage 51~500 $215,411
Established 501~5000 $232,024
Enterprise 5000+ $240,055

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$256,006$123.020%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$234,672$113.010%

How Education impacts an 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 August 01, 2026
$189,595
Average $213,338/year
$240,122
$15,800
Average $17,778/month
$20,010
$3,646
Average $4,103/week
$4,618
$91
Average $103/hour
$115
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $240,122 $20,010 $4,618 $115
Average $213,338 $17,778 $4,103 $103
25th Percentile $189,595 $15,800 $3,646 $91

Radiation Physicist Salary Growth & Career Path

Radiation Physicist

Next Role

For a Radiation Physicist, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Radiology Director role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $154,421 - a projected growth of -28% over your current level.

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.

Find Your Next Radiation Physicist Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Radiation Physicist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Radiation Physicist

1. Where can a Radiation Physicist earn the most?

A Radiation Physicist's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Radiation Physicist earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Radiation Physicist is $269,083.

2. What is the highest pay for Radiation Physicist?

The highest pay for Radiation Physicist is $264,507.

3. What is the lowest pay for Radiation Physicist?

The lowest pay for Radiation Physicist is $167,978.

4. 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.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Radiation Physicist?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Radiation Physicist roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst