Radiation therapists operate the machinery that delivers concentrated radioactive energy to specific parts of the body to treat medical conditions such as cancerous tumors. The Alabama Department of Industrial Relations estimates that the demand for radiation therapists in the state will increase by more than 28 percent from 2008 through 2018. The average wages for radiation therapists in Alabama vary based on geographic location.
Statewide Wages
Radiation therapists employed in Alabama made an average of $76,400 per year as of May 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nationwide, radiation therapists received an average of $77,340 annually, a rate around 1 percent above the Alabama average. In comparison to the rest of the country, Alabama served as the 20th highest-paying state for radiation therapists. Therapists typically receive their pay on an hourly basis. In Alabama, hourly wages averaged $36.73.
Regional Wages
As of May 2009, Montgomery served as the highest-paying area in which radiation therapists worked, explains the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Therapists in the city made an average of $101,800 per year, a rate approximately 33 percent above the statewide average. In Birmingham, radiation therapists earned an average of $71,560 annually, making wages roughly 6 percent below the statewide mean. Radiation therapists who worked in the rural areas of southwestern Alabama received average annual salaries of $96,330.
Benefits
Nationwide, radiation therapists typically receive benefit packages from their employers. In addition to health care coverage, life and disability insurance policies are often included in these packages. Radiation therapists often receive retirement benefits as well, such as 401(k) plans and company pensions. Paid time off for holidays, sick leave and vacations are also common, according to data reported on Payscale.com. Employers may also pay for all or part of the continuing education coursework necessary to maintain licensing as a radiation therapist.
Education
To prepare for a career in radiation therapy, a minimum of an associate degree is generally necessary. In Alabama, only two schools have radiation therapy programs that carry national accreditation from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. These schools are the University of Alabama in Birmingham and the University of South Alabama in Mobile. Both colleges grant Bachelor of Science degrees in radiation therapy, which require four years of full-time study to complete. Students in either program complete both classroom-based coursework as well as mandatory internship experience in Alabama hospitals and medical centers.
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