Share and intensity of work current AI systems can materially affect.
SOC 29-1124
Radiation Therapists AI displacement risk
Radiation therapists position patients and deliver prescribed radiation doses daily over multi-week courses, different work from radiologic and MRI technologists, who image rather than treat. Auto-contouring and automated planning compress the upstream physics work, while daily positioning, patient reassurance, and reaction monitoring stay at the machine.
Likely potential for exposed tasks to move to software after workflow integration.
Automation targets planning, not the treatment room: someone positions the patient to millimeter tolerance, watches for adverse reactions, and stops the beam when something is wrong. Certification requirements and daily patient contact keep the role licensed and human.
Distribution
Where Radiation Therapists sits across 620 tracked roles
Displacement pressure 28 — higher than 43% of the 620 occupations tracked on displacement.ai.
Score version
This page uses Seed model v0.4 (seed-v0.4-2026-05), last reviewed 2026-08-15. Directional occupation-level planning model using hand-reviewed public research, task exposure estimates, wage context, and transition-pathway assumptions.
22 O*NET task statements matched to SOC 29-1124. The displayed task profile combines these official task statements with the current public score model.
Median wage context: $105,310 (May 2025, US national). The latest BLS row matched SOC 29-1124.
Scores are planning signals, not forecasts. Local hiring demand, employer-specific workflows, licensing, and credentials must be validated before making career decisions.
2030 economic stress test
How Anthropic's scenarios classify Radiation Therapists
SOC 29-1124 places this role in the paper's cognitive occupation group. These group-level outcomes do not change the 28/100 role score and are not an occupation forecast.
+0.4% group wage
-0.5% cognitive employment since mid-2026; 2.9% cognitive unemployment.
Economy-wide: +1.6% GDP and 3.9% unemployment.
-0.3% group wage
-3.9% cognitive employment since mid-2026; 4.5% cognitive unemployment.
Economy-wide: +8.3% GDP and 4.6% unemployment.
-11.5% group wage
-21.5% cognitive employment since mid-2026; 17.9% cognitive unemployment.
Economy-wide: +32.4% GDP and 11.9% unemployment.
Compare the assumptions and limitations across all three scenarios. Source: The Anthropic Institute Working Paper No. 2026-02.
Official task evidence
O*NET task matches for Radiation Therapists
The current evidence import matched 22 task statements from Task Statements 31.0 (August 2026). These rows are used as a grounding layer for judging which parts of the occupation are repeatable, language-heavy, analytical, social, physical, or compliance-sensitive.
Dataset31.0 (August 2026)
Matched tasks22
SOC29-1124
- Core task / ID 4086
Position patients for treatment with accuracy, according to prescription.
- Core task / ID 4085
Administer prescribed doses of radiation to specific body parts, using radiation therapy equipment according to established practices and standards.
- Core task / ID 4088
Follow principles of radiation protection for patient, self, and others.
- Core task / ID 4090
Review prescription, diagnosis, patient chart, and identification.
- Core task / ID 4091
Conduct most treatment sessions independently, in accordance with the long-term treatment plan and under the general direction of the patient's physician.
- Core task / ID 4087
Enter data into computer and set controls to operate or adjust equipment or regulate dosage.
Source: O*NET Resource Center, Task Statements. Raw import target: data/raw/onet/task-statements-31-0.txt.
Task profile
Where AI changes the work
Position patients for treatment with accuracy
Exposure 24, automation 9%, augmentation 42%.
O*NET evidence: Position patients for treatment with accuracy, according to prescription. (ID 4086)
Administer prescribed radiation doses
Exposure 30, automation 14%, augmentation 48%.
O*NET evidence: Administer prescribed doses of radiation to specific body parts, using radiation therap... (ID 4085)
Observe and reassure patients during treatment
Exposure 16, automation 5%, augmentation 36%.
O*NET evidence: Observe and reassure patients during treatment and report unusual reactions to physicia... (ID 4093)
Maintain records of dosages and patient reactions
Exposure 54, automation 30%, augmentation 62%.
O*NET evidence: Maintain records, reports, or files as required, including such information as radiatio... (ID 4089)
TaskExposureAutomationAugmentation
Position patients for treatment with accuracy249%42%
Administer prescribed radiation doses3014%48%
Observe and reassure patients during treatment165%36%
Maintain records of dosages and patient reactions5430%62%
Transition pathways
Adjacent moves that preserve existing skills
credentialed transition
LowMedical Dosimetrist
Training horizon: 12-24 months. Skill overlap 62. Wage preservation signal 118.
- Complete dosimetry training
- Master planning systems
- Earn MDCB certification
role redesign
LowLead Radiation Therapist
Training horizon: 6-12 months. Skill overlap 68. Wage preservation signal 112.
- Run treatment schedules
- Own machine QA
- Mentor new therapists
Comparison guides
Compare the next move before you commit
12-24 months
Radiation Therapists to Medical Dosimetrist
Compare AI displacement pressure, wage preservation, skill overlap, training time, and first proof project for moving from Radiation Therapists into Medical Dosimetrist.
6-12 months
Radiation Therapists to Lead Radiation Therapist
Compare AI displacement pressure, wage preservation, skill overlap, training time, and first proof project for moving from Radiation Therapists into Lead Radiation Therapist.
What the AI risk score means for Radiation Therapists
The displacement pressure score for Radiation Therapists is 28. That score blends task exposure, automation pressure, augmentation potential, wage vulnerability, transition feasibility, and source confidence. It is designed to help workers and workforce teams decide where to act first, not to claim a specific date when a job will disappear.
For this role, the clearest risk pattern is visible at the task level. Maintain records of dosages and patient reactions carries 30% automation pressure, while Maintain records of dosages and patient reactions carries 62% augmentation potential. That means the best response is usually a targeted redesign of work: move away from repeatable production tasks and toward judgment, exception handling, coordination, stakeholder context, and accountable use of AI tools.
Labor-market context and wage risk
Median wage: $105,310 (May 2025, US national). Employment context: Treatment-delivery role distinct from imaging technologists. Typical education: Associate degree plus ARRT certification.
Wage vulnerability is 28, while transition feasibility is 66. A high wage-vulnerability score means workers should pay close attention to salary preservation before making a move. A high transition-feasibility score means there are adjacent paths that can reuse existing skills without requiring a complete career reset.
- Low displacement pressure
- Auto-contouring reshapes planning
- Daily delivery stays licensed and human
Upskilling priorities
Skills that make this role more resilient
The safest upskilling plan starts with skills already close to the work. For Radiation Therapists, the strongest near-term skill priorities are listed below. These are useful whether the goal is to stay in the role, move to a redesigned version of the role, or transition into an adjacent occupation.
Precision positioning
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
Treatment delivery
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
Radiation safety
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
Patient care
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
90-day transition plan
The most practical next step is not to wait for a layoff or a full role redesign. Use the next 90 days to create evidence that you can operate in a safer, more AI-augmented version of the work.
- In the first 30 days, document the repetitive tasks in your current work and identify where AI can reduce drafting, lookup, classification, or reporting time.
- By 60 days, complete one small project connected to Medical Dosimetrist, such as complete dosimetry training.
- By 90 days, compare internal openings and external postings for Medical Dosimetrist or Lead Radiation Therapist and update your resume around measurable workflow outcomes.
FAQ
Questions about AI and Radiation Therapists
Will AI replace Radiation Therapists?
Radiation therapists position patients and deliver prescribed radiation doses daily over multi-week courses, different work from radiologic and MRI technologists, who image rather than treat. Auto-contouring and automated planning compress the upstream physics work, while daily positioning, patient reassurance, and reaction monitoring stay at the machine. The better planning signal is not full replacement, but which tasks become automated, which tasks become AI-assisted, and which responsibilities still need human judgment.
Which parts of Radiation Therapists work are most exposed to AI?
Maintain records of dosages and patient reactions and Administer prescribed radiation doses show the strongest automation pressure in this model. Maintain records of dosages and patient reactions and Administer prescribed radiation doses are better treated as AI-augmented work.
What should Radiation Therapists learn next?
Start with Precision positioning, Treatment delivery, Radiation safety. The most practical adjacent paths in this model are Medical Dosimetrist and Lead Radiation Therapist.
How should this score be used?
Use it as a planning signal, not a prediction. Confirm local hiring demand, wages, licensing, credentials, and employer adoption before making a career move.
Sources
Evidence trail
OECD / 11 July 2023OECD Employment Outlook 2023: Artificial Intelligence and the Labour MarketO*NET Resource Center / Database 31.0 (August 2026)Occupation, Task, Skill, and Work-Activity DataUS Bureau of Labor Statistics / May 2025 estimates (released 15 May 2026)Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics