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Radiation Therapists Salary

in California

Radiation Therapists in California make a median of $166,450 a year, or about $80.02 an hour. The range runs from $130K at the entry level to $208K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $156,821 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 25.1% of estimated take-home pay.

Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:

$166K
Median annual
$80.02/hr
Hourly rate
$130K
Entry level (10th %)
$208K
Senior level (90th %)

So what does $166K get you in California?

Estimated monthly take-home$9,409/mo
Median 2BR rent-$2,471/mo
Rent as % of take-home26.3% (within guideline)
Cost-of-living adjusted salary$156,821/yr
Monthly remaining after rent$6,938/mo

About radiation therapists

Education: Bachelor's degree
U.S. employed: 17,070
California employed: 1,720
Category: Healthcare

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What this looks like in California

California sits well above the national pay line for radiation therapists, local pay runs about 58% higher than the U.S. median of $105K. Rent runs $2,471/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.

Compensation breakdown

Annual earnings by percentile, California

Bar chart showing Radiation Therapists salary percentiles in California: 10th percentile $130,150, 25th percentile $131,570, median $166,450, 75th percentile $182,140, 90th percentile $208,100. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.10th$130K25th$132KMedian$166K75th$182K90th$208K
Bar chart showing Radiation Therapists salary percentiles in California: 10th percentile $130,150, 25th percentile $131,570, median $166,450, 75th percentile $182,140, 90th percentile $208,100. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Entry-level radiation therapists (10th percentile) start around $130K. Mid-career wages sit at $166K. Top earners bring in $208K or more, a $78K spread from bottom to top.

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Radiation Therapists salary by metro in California

6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay

Metro areaMedian salaryvs. stateEmployment
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$206K+24%130
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$206K+24%220
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom$182K+9%110
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad$172K+3%140
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$169K+2%480
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$131K-21%N/A

Compare to other states

Track radiation therapists salary changes

BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.

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Frequently asked questions

Can a radiation therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?

Yes — at the median salary of $166K, rent takes 26.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.

What’s the entry-level salary for radiation therapists in California?

The 10th-percentile wage — what new radiation therapists typically earn — is $130K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,809/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 32% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.

Is radiation therapist a high-paying job in California?

Local pay is 58% above the national median — $166K here vs. $105K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.

How does California compare to the national average for radiation therapists?

California pays $166K median vs. the U.S. average of $105K — that’s +58%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $157K — still ahead of the national median.

How much do radiation therapists make in California?

The median is $166,450 a year, that works out to about $80 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $130,150, and experienced radiation therapists can clear $208,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.

Is $166K enough to live in California?

On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,409/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 26.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.

How far does a radiation therapists salary go in California?

California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median radiation therapists salary is worth about $156,821 in national-average purchasing power.

Where do radiation therapists get paid the most?

The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.

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