Medical Radiation Therapists
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Medical Radiation Therapists operate high energy X-rays and other radiation and electron generating and monitoring equipment, to administer radiation treatment for medical purposes in conjunction with Radiation Oncologists or Other Specialist Medical Practitioners.
Tasks
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Receives referrals to perform radiation treatment of patients.
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Determines appropriate equipment to use.
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Calculates details of procedures such as length and intensity of exposure to radiation, size and strength of dosage of isotopes and settings of recording equipment.
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Explains procedures to patients and answers patients' queries about processes.
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Ensures patients welfare during procedures.
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Positions patients, screens and equipment preparatory to procedures.
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Conveys findings of procedures to medical practitioners.
Characteristics
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University
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Practical
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Administrative
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Helping
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Sedentary
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Light
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Medium
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Medical Imaging Professionals, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 73% of people employed as Medical Radiation Therapists work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 7 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 40 hours per week in their main job. This is 4 hours less than the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.
Industries
Main industries
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Most Medical Radiation Therapists work in the Health care and social assistance industry.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Medical Radiation Therapists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 32.8 | 31.6 |
VIC | 26.2 | 25.6 |
QLD | 21.3 | 20.0 |
SA | 6.3 | 7.0 |
WA | 7.5 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.8 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.6 | 1.0 |
ACT | 2.5 | 1.9 |
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Around 68% of Medical Radiation Therapists live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
- Melbourne - Inner
- Brisbane - South
- Melbourne - North East
- Melbourne - West.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Worker profile
Age and gender
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The median age of Medical Radiation Therapists is 34 years. This is younger than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 75% of the workforce. This is 27 percentage points above the all jobs average of 48%.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile (% Share)
Age Bracket | Medical Radiation Therapists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 9.1 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 45.1 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 26.0 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 11.6 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 5.4 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 2.3 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 0.5 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 34 | 40 |
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Employment Pathways
Education, training and experience
A bachelor degree in radiation therapy is needed to work as a Medical Radiation Therapist. Some workers have a postgraduate qualification.
Registration with the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia is required.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Medical Radiation Therapists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 20.6 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 69.4 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 9.3 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 0.0 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 0.7 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.0 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 0.0 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Medical Imaging Professionals who are caring and empathetic and can work well in a team, with the ability to communicate with a diverse range of people.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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55%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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55%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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54%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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52%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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50%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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50%
Operation and controlControlling equipment or systems.
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48%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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48%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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48%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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48%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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46%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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46%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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46%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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45%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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45%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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43%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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43%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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43%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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41%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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39%
TroubleshootingFiguring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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76%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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63%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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60%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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59%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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59%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
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57%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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56%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
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55%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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55%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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52%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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46%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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38%
Philosophy and theologyPhilosophical systems and religions, including their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and impact on society.
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36%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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36%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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35%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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34%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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34%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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33%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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31%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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18%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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57%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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57%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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57%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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55%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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55%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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55%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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54%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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50%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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50%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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50%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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50%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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48%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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46%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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46%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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45%
Control precisionQuickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
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45%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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45%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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45%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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43%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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43%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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85%
Controlling equipment or machinesOperating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
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83%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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82%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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78%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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77%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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76%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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75%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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75%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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72%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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72%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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71%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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71%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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65%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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65%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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64%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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62%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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61%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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60%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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59%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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58%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
Interests and demands
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
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81%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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76%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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71%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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52%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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24%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
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14%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
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90%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
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90%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
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71%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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71%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
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67%
IndependenceWork alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
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62%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Demands
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99%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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98%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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97%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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96%
Disease or infectionBe exposed to disease or infections.
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94%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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94%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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94%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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94%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
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91%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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91%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
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89%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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88%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
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88%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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86%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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83%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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83%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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80%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
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79%
Walking and runningSpend time walking and running.
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78%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
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78%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 29-1124.00 - Radiation Therapists.
Links and downloads
Research and reports
The Skills Priority List provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for nearly 800 occupations nationally. Current labour market ratings are available for occupations at a state and territory level.
Downloads
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Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.