Also called: Diagnostic Medical Physicist
Tests and tunes X-ray, CT, mammography, and MRI machines so images are clear and radiation doses stay low.
You drive between hospitals and clinics with a van of test equipment, scanning plastic 'phantoms' that mimic the human body and checking every machine meets federal rules. You also help radiologists get better images.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 11 years after high school. Graduate degree in medical physics plus residency and board certification.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, Certification. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Physics, Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering.
Growing faster than average. BLS does not project this specialty separately; rating estimated from related occupations.
Low risk for 10 years. AI improves image quality and dose tracking, but testing machines on site and federal compliance sign-off stay human.
Classes: AP Physics C, AP Calculus, Anatomy and physiology.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-2012.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.