Quick answer:Radiation Therapists in the San Diego area earn a median $171,500 per year, above the national median of $105,310, and the metro employs about 140 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Radiation Therapy Pay in San Diego, CA
Metric
San Diego metro
California
National
Median annual wage
$171,500
$166,450
$105,310
10th percentile
$132,470
$130,150
$80,560
25th percentile
$149,800
$131,570
$92,060
75th percentile
$176,670
$182,140
$126,340
90th percentile
$191,180
$208,100
$156,710
Employment
140
1,720
17,070
Location quotient
0.83
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The San Diego median of $171,500 is above the national median of $105,310, and above the California statewide median of $166,450 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 0.83 means radiation therapists are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Radiation therapy is delivered in cancer centers, so demand tracks the local oncology network rather than general hospital capacity.
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. The national framework is graduation from a JRCERT-accredited program and ARRT certification in radiation therapy. Most states license or otherwise regulate the practice on top of that, and the clinical component of the program happens in a cancer center in person - this is not a credential that can be completed at a distance.
See the California licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state radiologic health or medical imaging board.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 2 schools
within 85 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
2 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
How much do radiation therapists make in San Diego?
The median annual wage for radiation therapists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $171,500, above the national median of $105,310 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many radiation therapists work in the San Diego area?
The San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area employs about 140 radiation therapists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do radiation therapists in San Diego need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. The national framework is graduation from a JRCERT-accredited program and ARRT certification in radiation therapy. Most states license or otherwise regulate the practice on top of that, and the clinical component of the program happens in a cancer center in person - this is not a credential that can be completed at a distance. Confirm current requirements with your state radiologic health or medical imaging board.
Can I study radiation therapy online from San Diego?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state radiologic health or medical imaging board.
Is San Diego a better market than the rest of California?
The San Diego metro median is $171,500 against a statewide median of $166,450 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Radiation Therapists (SOC 29-1124), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
