How to become a Medical Physicist

Undertakes research and provides advice on the safe and effective delivery of radiation as prescribed in patient care for radiation oncology, medical imaging and image-guided medical procedures.

Main tasks

• Conducts research and development in radiation oncology, medical imaging, image-guided medical procedures, or medical radiation safety
• Designs and performs ongoing quality assurance testing and evaluation for radiation oncology and diagnostic imaging equipment and systems
• Consults with medical professionals on individual patients' radiation treatment using external radiation beams, internally placed radioactive sources, and radioactive substances
• Provides advice on balancing image quality, personnel and patient radiation dose, and associated risks in radiology and nuclear medicine imaging
• Applies knowledge of physics to the development and use of medical radiation treatments, devices and technologies that may be used for diagnosis and treatment of human diseases
• Provides scientific and technical advice on the design of radiation facilities and the safe handling, storage and disposal of radioactive materials

Ways in

• University: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 34 universities in Australia
• Licence or registration: Registration or licensing may be required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $96,096 a year
• About 14,900 people work in this job group now, and about 18,500 are projected by 2035. (+24.7%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Medical Physicist?

Ways in include: Medicine & Dentistry degrees.

How much does a Medical Physicist earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $96,096 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Medical Physicist a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 25% by 2035, from about 14,900 to about 18,500 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Medical Physicist?

Usually. 95% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Medical Physicist?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04