Vacancy rates for radiation therapists and medical dosimetrists declined in 2026, according to the American Society of Radiologic Technologists’ (ASRT) latest Radiation Therapy Workplace and Staffing Survey, though gaps in the workforce persist.

The Albuquerque, New Mexico-based organization reported an 11.4% vacancy rate for radiation therapists, down from 13.6% in 2024. Medical dosimetrist vacancies fell to 6.8%, compared with 9.6% in the prior survey cycle. The biennial survey defines vacancy rates as unfilled positions that employers are actively trying to recruit.

ASRT said the findings are used to guide workforce planning efforts and inform employer decision-making. The organization has collaborated with other groups to address staffing shortages across medical imaging and radiation therapy.
"ASRT is leading action to address workforce shortages through work groups from the Consensus Committee on the Future of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy, the Be Seen public awareness campaign, and the Planting Seeds outreach initiative, which encourages students to enter the professional pipeline," said Melissa Culp, M.Ed., R.T.(R)(MR), ASRT executive vice president of member engagement.

Survey data also showed minor shifts in staffing levels. The average number of budgeted full-time equivalent (FTE) radiation therapist positions per facility decreased slightly from 8.3 in 2024 to 8.1 in 2026. In contrast, dosimetrist positions rose marginally from 2.7 to 2.8 FTEs per facility.

Longer-term trends indicate gradual workforce expansion. Since 2004, the average number of therapist positions per facility has increased from 6.0 to 8.1, while dosimetrist roles have grown from 1.6 to 2.8 FTEs.

The 2026 survey was distributed to 23,145 professionals in February, with 560 responses collected by March, representing a 2.4% response rate. ASRT reported a margin of error of ±4.1% at a 95% confidence level.

U.S. Healthcare Homepage