Medical dosimetrists plan radiation treatment for cancer patients. They review CT and MRI scans, calculate the right radiation dose, design the delivery plan with the radiation oncology team, help with devices that hold patients in position, document treatment and run quality checks on equipment. The BLS notes that they spend much of their time working at a computer. The plan they sign off still has to be right for each patient.
The short answer: low exposure, with growth projected. The ILO's 2025 index rates the closest groups as not exposed, 0.22 for medical imaging and therapeutic equipment technicians and 0.20 for health professionals not elsewhere classified. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, faster than average, with about 200 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed medical dosimetrists are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Equipment Technicians | Not exposed | 0.22 |
| Health Professionals Not Elsewhere Classified | Not exposed | 0.20 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so these are the closest groups for medical dosimetrists, not a score for the job title itself.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Medical dosimetrists | Grow 5% | About 200 |
The BLS ties growth to an aging population and more cancer diagnoses. Because radiotherapy plays a vital role in treating cancer, it says dosimetrists will be needed to help develop treatment plans. Many projected openings come from replacing workers who leave or retire.
Where AI is helping
- Producing draft treatment plans in planning software for a dosimetrist to review and adjust.
- Outlining organs and targets on scans as a starting point.
- Flagging plans or equipment checks that need a closer look.
What stays with medical dosimetrists
- Dose decisions: making sure the dose reaches the tumor while protecting healthy tissue.
- Teamwork: designing each plan with the radiation oncology team.
- Quality assurance: checking equipment and plans before treatment.
- Checking AI help: generated plans and outlines can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Dosimetrists already do much of their work at a computer, so as AI tools spread the job centers on reviewing, adjusting and taking responsibility for each plan. Demand for cancer care supports the field. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace radiation therapists?, will AI replace nuclear medicine technologists? and will AI replace radiologists?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for medical dosimetrists at $147,470 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: bachelor's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace medical dosimetrists?
Not on current projections. The BLS projects 5 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 200 openings a year.
How exposed are medical dosimetrists to AI?
The closest ILO groups are not exposed, with scores of 0.22 and 0.20.
What drives demand?
The BLS points to an aging population and more cancer diagnoses, with radiotherapy playing a vital role in treatment.
What do medical dosimetrists do?
They review scans, calculate radiation doses, design treatment plans with the oncology team and check equipment.