Radiation Therapists Salary
Radiation Therapists in Tennessee make a median of $83,520 a year, or about $40.15 an hour. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $93,027 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 21.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $84K get you in Tennessee?
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for radiation therapists in Tennessee runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $105K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 21.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Tennessee can be a reasonable trade-off for radiation therapistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level radiation therapists (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Radiation Therapists salary by metro in Tennessee
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $97K | +16% | 50 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $81K | -3% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track radiation therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a radiation therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 21.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for radiation therapists in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new radiation therapists typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,664/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is radiation therapist a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $84K here vs. $105K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for radiation therapists?
Tennessee pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $105K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — below the national median.
How much do radiation therapists make in Tennessee?
The median is $83,520 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,730, and experienced radiation therapists can clear $101,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,595/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 21.7% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median radiation therapists salary is worth about $93,027 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.