Cancer centers use software to plan radiation doses, outline organs on scans and check that a patient is in the right position. Radiation therapists still position patients, run the treatment machines, watch for problems and support people through weeks of treatment.
The short answer: current evidence points to AI helping with planning, not replacing the therapist at the machine. The ILO's 2025 index rates medical imaging and therapeutic equipment technicians as not exposed, with a score of 0.22. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3 percent growth for radiation therapists from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as average, with about 700 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed radiation therapists 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 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so this is the closest group for radiation therapists, not a score for the job title itself. The ILO index measures generative AI, not robots or automated machines.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Radiation therapists | Grow 3% | About 700 |
The BLS says radiation therapy remains central to cancer care and an aging population will drive demand. It adds that more efficient treatment techniques, which need fewer patient visits, may limit growth. Its outlook does not mention AI.
Where AI is helping
- Outlining organs and tumors on scans for treatment planning.
- Drafting and checking dose plans for the care team to review.
- Checking patient position with imaging before each session.
- Scheduling and treatment records.
What stays with radiation therapists
- Positioning: setting the patient up precisely, every session.
- Running treatment: operating the machine and stopping it if something is wrong.
- Patient care: watching for side effects and supporting people through treatment.
- Checking AI help: automated outlines and plans can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Planning software and imaging checks are speeding up preparation, and shorter treatment courses mean fewer visits per patient. The work at the machine and with the patient stays with trained therapists. This page is general information, not medical or career advice.
See also will AI replace nuclear medicine technologists?, will AI replace sonographers? and will AI replace radiologists?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for radiation therapists at $105,310 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: associate's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace radiation therapists?
Not on current evidence. The closest ILO group is not exposed, and the BLS projects 3 percent growth from 2025 to 2035.
What could slow radiation therapist hiring?
The BLS says more efficient treatment techniques that need fewer patient visits may limit growth.
How many radiation therapist openings are expected?
The BLS projects about 700 openings a year.
What radiation therapy work stays human?
Positioning patients, running and stopping treatment, patient care and checking automated plans.