high quality static

High Quality

The best examples from thousands of real-world resumes

designed to score static

Expert Approved

Handpicked by resume experts based on rigorous standards

component

Diverse Examples

Tailored for various backgrounds and experience levels

Find out what is the best resume for you in our Ultimate Resume Format Guide.

Icon

Dosimetrist Duties and Responsibilities

The duties of dosimetrists depend on their specific employer, but based on job postings that we analyzed, they all share the following core responsibilities:

Develop a Treatment Plan Dosimetrists are primarily responsible for designing radiation treatment for oncology patients. After taking the necessary patient measurements, they map out the affected organs using 3D simulations, perform calculations to determine the most effective dose, and generate a treatment plan to be evaluated by the physician.

Supervise Radiation Therapists In most cases, dosimetrists work with radiation therapists to implement treatment plans. Aside from supervising therapists to ensure that both the dosage and use of equipment are correct, they also examine the patient afterwards using imaging tests such as CT scans or X-rays to assess the impact of treatment.

Provide Technical Support Dosimetrists assist physicians in brachytherapy or internal radiation, where radioactive implants are placed inside the body. This involves setting up equipment for the procedure and giving image guidance during the surgery itself. In addition, they help medical physicists with various tasks, including calibrating machines and properly storing radioactive material.

Perform Quality Assurance A key part of this job is maintaining quality assurance for all radiation treatments and equipment. On the patient side, dosimetrists meticulously log treatment data and perform weekly chart checks, noting any errors and adjusting therapy plans accordingly. More generally, they may evaluate and update procedures for improvement and compliance.

Contribute to Education It's common for dosimetrists to conduct trainings for radiation therapy students and residents, sometimes even teaching clinical classes at universities. Beyond pursuing constant learning to stay updated with the latest developments in their field, they also engage in research by participating in studies, developing new devices, or publishing in scientific journals.

Icon

Dosimetrist Skills and Qualifications

Successful dosimetrists possess a deep understanding of radiation oncology and medical physics, drawing from biology, math, and physics to form integrated solutions. Expertise with certain equipment and software is important, and so is working well within a team. Aside from a bachelor's degree and an official license, employers look for dosimetrists who display the following skills:
  • Knowledge of clinical oncology - to design treatment plans for patients, dosimetrists must be well versed in clinical oncology and radiation therapy, capable of assessing test results as well as deducing the body mechanisms behind a patient's reaction to treatment
  • Proficiency with radiation equipment - dosimetrists use machines extensively in their work, from making patient contours to giving radiation doses, so they must be extremely proficient with using these tools, especially since improper handling of radiation is harmful
  • Mathematics - complex computations are essential to radiation treatment, which requires precise figures for dosage, exposure time, and equipment angles. Dosimetrists also need math skills for creating and interpreting 3D visualizations
  • Problem-solving skills - when deducing treatment steps for patients, dosimetrists consider many variables and weigh risks in order to choose the most effective method, and they must be able to adapt their strategy in the case of unpredictable results
  • Teamwork - dosimetrists coordinate with many staff members, including physicians, radiation therapists, and medical physicists. For flawless implementation, they must communicate well and execute details accurately
Icon

Dosimetrist Salary and Outlook

The median annual salary for radiation therapists, who include dosimetrists, is more than $80,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Radiation therapists in the 10th percentile earn less than $56,000, while the highest paid make in excess of $123,000 annually. Compared to health diagnosing and treating practitioners as a whole, radiation therapists have a slightly higher salary. Job outlook for this role is also optimistic, as employment is projected to increase by 13 percent through 2026. Given an aging population, medical concerns are shifting to chronic disease, and as treatments for cancer become more advanced, radiation therapists are also likely to be in greater demand.
Icon

Helpful Resources

We've collected some of the best resources to help you learn more about being a dosimetrist:

American Association of Medical Dosimetrists - AAMD is an international organization and a premier resource hub for dosimetrists providing access to a whole gamut of learning material, such as webinars, live meetings, medical journals, career information, and curated online articles

Pocket Guide to Radiation Oncology - radiation oncology is a complex subject, but for healthcare professionals who need a reference guide that they can carry around, this book is ideal. Geared for practical use, it lays out the fundamentals of radiation oncology, complete with content organized according to disease and detailed tables on treatment options

ASTRO - a radiation oncology community that brings together healthcare professionals, including physicians, biologists, and dosimetrists, ASTRO emphasizes patient care standards and offers education and training

The Physics and Technology of Radiation Therapy - based on a radiation oncology course for residents, this textbook serves as an introduction to radiation therapy, laying down a solid foundation by exploring concepts from mathematics and physics, such as logarithm operations and magnetism

Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board - aspiring dosimetrists from the US and Canada can obtain their certification from the MDCB, which holds exams twice every year. It has also expanded to some other countries all over the world, where candidates can opt for a computer-based exam

Create your own professional resume in just minutes.

Try our resume builder today

Build Your Resume
create-your-own-professional