Radiation Oncologist
Impact: Direct Patient Care
Treat cancer using radiation therapy by assessing patients, confirming diagnoses, developing personalized treatment plans, and overseeing the entire treatment process while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team and managing potential side effects.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Extensive
- Team vs solo
- Team-oriented
- Client facing
- Always
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- Low
- Schedule flexibility
- Rigid
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- 50-60
- Stress level
- High
At a glance
- Median salary
- $585,000
- Entry-level
- $450,000
- Senior
- $750,000
- Growth by 2033
- 5%
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- None
- Salary growth potential
- High
- Typical student debt
- $200,000 - $300,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Radiation Therapy Techniques
- Diagnostic Imaging Interpretation
- Treatment Planning Software
- Medical Physics
- Oncology
Soft skills
- Communication
- Empathy
- Problem-solving
- Attention to Detail
- Teamwork
Technical complexity: High
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Doctorate or Professional Degree
- Licensing
- Yes
- Years to mid-career
- 8
- Years to senior
- 15
- Career switching
- Very Hard
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Fellowship, Research, Department Head, Academic Positions
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- Low
- AI disruption risk
- Moderate
- Demand trend
- Stable
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 4/10
- Meaning
- 4/10
- Work-life balance
- 3/10
- Prestige
- 9/10
- Social perception
- Moderate