Health Technologists and Technicians

How to become a Medical Dosimetrist

Official title: Medical Dosimetrists

Also called: CMD (Certified Medical Dosimetrist), Dosimetrist, Medical Dosimetrist, Medical Physicist, Radiation Oncology Medical Physicist

Generate radiation treatment plans, develop radiation dose calculations, communicate and supervise the treatment plan implementation, and consult with members of radiation oncology team.

Main tasks

Design the arrangement of radiation fields to reduce exposure to critical patient structures, such as organs, using computers, manuals, and guides.
Plan the use of beam modifying devices, such as compensators, shields, and wedge filters, to ensure safe and effective delivery of radiation treatment.
Identify and outline bodily structures, using imaging procedures, such as x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, or positron emission tomography.
Calculate the delivery of radiation treatment, such as the amount or extent of radiation per session, based on the prescribed course of radiation therapy.
Calculate, or verify calculations of, prescribed radiation doses.
Develop radiation treatment plans in consultation with members of the radiation oncology team.
Supervise or perform simulations for tumor localizations, using imaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, or positron emission tomography scans.
Create and transfer reference images and localization markers for treatment delivery, using image-guided radiation therapy.

How to become one

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.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

College: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 23 universities in the US
Licence: A licence is required in 38 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $147,470 a year The middle half earn $132,080 to $167,030.
About 3,500 people work in this job now, and about 3,700 are projected by 2035. (+5%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I 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.

How much does a Medical Dosimetrist earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $147,470 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $132,080 to $167,030.

Is a Medical Dosimetrist a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 3,500 to about 3,700 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Medical Dosimetrist?

Usually. 73% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Medical Dosimetrist?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.