Medical physicists are individuals who pinpoint and fix problems in patients using radiation technologies, particularly people who suffer from cancer. These individuals must finish graduate school as well as complete a residency program that lasts one to two years to gain clinical experience in this field. The amount of a medical physicist’s salary can be based on the person’s education and location. In addition, his or her extent of industry experience and pursuit of relevant certifications affect his or her wage.
A medical physicist’s salary is dependent on his or her level of education. An individual who seeks to enter this career field must earn at least a two-year master’s degree. Earning a four- to five-year doctoral degree, however, is required for some job positions. Higher levels of education typically mean higher salaries for employees because company managers believe that an individual who has completed more courses and the research requirements of a higher graduate degree program have more knowledge and thus can contribute more to the organization.
The size of a city in which a professional in this industry works also influences his or her income. A facility in a metropolitan area tends to pay a higher medical physicist’s salary because the demand for the company’s services is greater than it would be in a rural area that features a lower number of potential customers. More patients bring in higher levels of revenue for a company in a larger community, so businesses in these areas are willing to pay more for workers who can add value to their organizations.
Years of experience further dictate how much money an individual in this career area will earn. A novice who has less than a year of experience in the field might earn a eight times less than someone who possesses more than two decades of industry experience. This is because company officials typically believe that someone who is more experienced can better improve the quality of services offered by the medical facility and thus deserves a greater medical physicist’s salary.
Achieving field certification additionally has an impact on the kind of wage that a person in this line of work receives. In some locations, individuals in this vocational area are required to earn certification by passing examinations. Other regions, however, do not enforce certification requirements, so a medical physicist’s salary can be expected to be higher if the worker has a voluntary credential there. This type of designation demonstrates to employers that the professional is passionate about the field and understands it thoroughly.
