Therapeutic radiographer

Therapeutic radiographers treat cancer. They plan and deliver radiotherapy, operate the linear accelerators that give the treatment, and support patients through a course that can run for weeks. You need a degree in therapeutic radiography approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and NHS radiotherapy departments in England start newly qualified staff on band 5, which is £32,073 to £39,043 from 1 April 2026. It is a small profession and a long-standing shortage area, so qualified radiographers tend to find work quickly.

A day in a radiotherapy department

Most therapeutic radiographers work in teams on a linear accelerator (“linac”). For each patient you check identity and the treatment prescription, position them precisely using marks, masks or immobilisation devices, take verification images, and deliver the dose. One machine can treat dozens of patients a day, so accuracy and teamwork under time pressure matter a great deal.

Other parts of the role include:

• pre-treatment work, including CT planning scans and making immobilisation masks
• treatment planning, working with physicists and oncologists to design the radiation fields
• review clinics, where radiographers assess side effects and advise patients
• information and support for patients before, during and after treatment

Patients come in daily, often for several weeks, so you get to know them well. You see the side effects, the worry and sometimes the decline. That continuity is why some people choose this branch over diagnostic work.

Training and registration

The main route is a BSc (Hons) in radiotherapy and oncology or therapeutic radiography, with substantial placements in a radiotherapy centre. Entry requirements typically include A levels or equivalent, often with a science, and GCSE English, maths and science. A smaller number of universities run two-year pre-registration MSc courses for graduates. There are fewer courses than for diagnostic radiography, so check where the nearest one is, since placements will be in the same region.

After the course you register with the HCPC under the protected title “radiographer”. You pay a fee, renew it periodically and keep a CPD record; the HCPC registration guide covers the details. HCPC fees qualify for tax relief on professional fees.

Why it is a shortage area

Radiotherapy centres are concentrated in larger cities, and the workforce is small next to the demand for cancer treatment. Departments regularly advertise for band 5 and band 6 radiographers, and some have offered recruitment premiums. Immigration policy reflects it: therapeutic radiographers on NHS pay scales can be sponsored under the Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa, where healthcare jobs on national pay scales need at least £25,000 or the national pay scale rate if higher. See the Health and Care Worker visa guide.

For job seekers, newly qualified radiographers often have a choice of posts, though you may need to move to where the centres are.

Pay

Band	Typical role	Pay from 1 April 2026 (England)
5	Newly qualified therapeutic radiographer	£32,073 to £39,043
6	Senior radiographer, pre-treatment or planning	£39,959 to £48,117
7	Specialist, advanced practitioner, team leader	£49,387 to £56,515
8a and above	Consultant radiographer, radiotherapy services manager	from £57,528

Advanced and consultant practitioner roles are well developed in radiotherapy, for example in review clinics, breast or prostate specialist practice and image-guided treatment. Scotland’s band 5 runs from £34,494 to £42,977.

On band 5 entry pay you pay 8.3% into the NHS Pension Scheme, and from band 6 entry the rate is 9.8%. The take-home pay calculator shows net pay at each stage.

Checks and conditions

Before starting you will need an enhanced DBS check (£41.00 in England and Wales from 5 October 2026), references and an occupational health check. Staff working with radiation are monitored for dose, and there are specific protections if you become pregnant, so tell your employer as soon as you are ready to.

NHS sick pay is based on service, starting at one month’s full pay and two months’ half pay in the first year (half pay after four months’ service) and rising to six months of each after five years. Radiographers can also claim tax relief on their HCPC fee and on laundering their own uniform.

Hours and leave

Radiotherapy is largely a planned service. Many departments run extended days, with early and late shifts on the machines, and some treat at weekends. Emergency radiotherapy may need on-call cover. Unsocial hours are paid with NHS unsocial hours enhancements. Full-time NHS staff get 27 days’ annual leave plus eight public holidays on appointment, increasing with NHS service.

Getting into a radiotherapy centre

Final-year students are often recruited by their placement centre. Otherwise, search NHS Jobs, the NHS Scotland jobs site and HSC jobs in Northern Ireland for “therapeutic radiographer” or “radiotherapy radiographer”. Openings are listed under allied health jobs. If you are still choosing between the two branches, the diagnostic radiographer profile shows how the imaging side compares.