Medical Dosimetrists

Career Overview

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

Also Known As

• CMD (Certified Medical Dosimetrist)
• Dosimetrist
• Medical Dosimetrist
• Medical Physicist

Alternate Job Titles

• CMD (Certified Medical Dosimetrist)
• Dosimetrist
• Medical Dosimetrist
• Medical Physicist
• Medical Radiation Dosimetrist
• Radiation Dosimetrist
• Radiation Oncology Medical Physicist
• Radiation Therapy Dosimetrist (RT Dosimetrist)

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

• 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.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

• Mathematics
• Physics
• Computers and Electronics
• Biology
• Medicine and Dentistry
• English Language

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

1. Critical Thinking
2. Reading Comprehension
3. Active Listening
4. Speaking
5. Writing
6. Complex Problem Solving
7. Judgment and Decision Making

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

• Written Comprehension
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Written Expression
• Near Vision
• Problem Sensitivity
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

• Attention to Detail
• Dependability
• Cautiousness
• Integrity
• Cooperation

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree

Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month

Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

• Eclipse IDE
• Epic Systems
• MEDITECH software

Work Environment

• Time Pressure
• Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
• Telephone Conversations
• E-Mail
• Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

Salary & Job Market

Salary Percentile	Annual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)	$103,760
Median	$138,110
Top Earners (90th percentile)	$176,360

Workers Employed Nationally: 3,970

Related Careers

If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:

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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.