by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Radiation Protection/Health Physics Technician covers Radiation Protection/health Physics Technician. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Under The Supervision Of Health Physicists, Occupational Safety And Health Specialists, And Public Health Officials, To Monitor And Control Radiation Exposure And Implement Preventive Measures In Health Care, Work, And Natural Environments. Includes Instruction In Radiation Physics, Environmental Radioactivity, Radiological Instrumentation, Electronics Of Radiation Detection Equipment, Radioactive Waste Management And Control, Safety And Handling Procedures, Decontamination Procedures, Radioactivity Testing And Analysis, And Communications Skills. Continue reading for the key facts every radiation protection/health physics technician student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering radiation protection/health physics technician programs.
In the U.S., radiation protection/health physics technician is a widely-pursued major, with 87 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Radiation Protection/Health Physics Technician Schools ranking analyzes these 4 schools to determine the best overall colleges for radiation protection/health physics technician students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of radiation protection/health physics technician programs later in this article.
Programs in Radiation Protection/Health Physics Technician build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations radiation protection/health physics technician graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a radiation protection/health physics technician program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a radiation protection/health physics technician major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several radiation protection/health physics technician degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 31 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 25 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 18 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 13 |
People currently working in careers related to radiation protection/health physics technician tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Postsecondary certificate | 19.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 19.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 16.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.2% |
| Master’s degree | 13.4% |
| Some college courses | 7.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 3.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.6% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in radiation protection/health physics technician careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in radiation protection/health physics technician can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to radiation protection/health physics technician.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to radiation protection/health physics technician.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Patient Representatives | 3,368,169 | 4.8% |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | 3,206,816 | 12.2% |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 2,908,248 | 9.4% |
| Neurodiagnostic Technologists | 1,852,560 | 14.1% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Nuclear Monitoring Technicians | 91,226 | 10.3% |
| Nuclear Technicians | 83,637 | 11.8% |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | 54,625 | 9.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of radiation protection/health physics technician graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $67,845 |
| 4 years | $61,295 |
| 5 years | $69,015 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for radiation protection/health physics technician graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers radiation protection/health physics technician grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $153,940 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | $153,819 |
| Nuclear Monitoring Technicians | $115,968 |
| Nuclear Technicians | $92,140 |
| Neurodiagnostic Technologists | $81,316 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $48,647 |
| Patient Representatives | $47,419 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 4 different radiation protection/health physics technician programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased radiation protection/health physics technician school rankings to help you.
Students interested in radiation protection/health physics technician, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
