Medical Physicist

Medical Physicist handles 21 typical tasks so you can quickly understand the role’s main duties and outcomes. The examples include who benefits, common constraints and key checks. Each one shows where we found it, and comes with an AI prompt you can copy and use straight away.

21evidenced tasks
21ready prompts
6tools of the trade
29-2036.00O*NET-SOC code
3,410hold this job (US, BLS 2025)
$147,470median pay/yr (US)
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What it pays

Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.

Half of all Medical Dosimetrists in the U.S. earn more than $147,470 a year — the middle 80% land between $111,670 and $185,450. About 3,410 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Medical Dosimetrists”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$147,470typical pay / year
3,410people in this work
$185,450+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
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The work, task by task

These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.

Get approval1

Calculate radiation doses

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Calculate the therapeutic and organ-at-risk doses for Mary Johnson’s 3-field prostate plan using the latest…
Calculate the therapeutic and organ-at-risk doses for Mary Johnson’s 3-field prostate plan using the latest CT dataset, verify beam models and monitor units against last month’s machine QA, and flag any OAR exceedance before physics review tomorrow noon.
The tools that do the workPinnaclejob descriptionsO*NET
Convincing1

Develop patient treatment plans

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Produce a complete patient treatment plan for Carlos Reyes including target and OAR contours from his…
Produce a complete patient treatment plan for Carlos Reyes including target and OAR contours from his simulation scan, assign beam geometry and optimization objectives, run the dose optimizer, and prepare the plan packet for physician approval by end of clinic today.
The tools that do the workEclipsejob descriptionsO*NET
Learning1

Utilize advanced imaging technologies

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Process and fuse the new cone-beam CT and diagnostic MRI for Sarah Lee, adjust registration for soft-tissue…
Process and fuse the new cone-beam CT and diagnostic MRI for Sarah Lee, adjust registration for soft-tissue match, generate the fused image set for adaptive planning, and document image quality metrics and any artifacts for the radiology physicist by 3 PM.
The tools that do the workEclipse IDEjob descriptionsO*NET
The daily work18

Fabricate beam modifying devices, such as compensators, shields, and wedge filters.

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Fabricate the compensator, Cerrobend shield, and 30° physical wedge for Priya Patel's head-and-neck plan,…
Fabricate the compensator, Cerrobend shield, and 30° physical wedge for Priya Patel's head-and-neck plan, verify dimensions against the engineering drawings, bench-test fit in the jig, then bag and label for QC by Friday noon.
The tools that do the workPinnacleO*NET

Create and transfer reference images

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Create the AP and lateral reference images for Mr. Alvarez from the latest simulation, export the images with…
Create the AP and lateral reference images for Mr. Alvarez from the latest simulation, export the images with patient coordinates and field markers, then transfer them to the vault and notify radiation therapists when complete.
The tools that do the workEclipsejob descriptions

Supervise or assist in simulations

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Attend the afternoon simulation for Mrs. Chen, confirm immobilization is reproducible, record setup shifts…
Attend the afternoon simulation for Mrs. Chen, confirm immobilization is reproducible, record setup shifts and beam geometry, log machine parameters during the run, and sign off in the simulation notes if tolerances are met.
The tools that do the workEclipse IDEjob descriptions

Plan fabrication of immobilization devices

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Plan fabrication steps for a custom thermoplastic mask for Jason Lee: capture head mold dimensions, list…
Plan fabrication steps for a custom thermoplastic mask for Jason Lee: capture head mold dimensions, list material cut sizes, schedule vacuum forming and trimming, allocate cleanroom time, and run through a dry-fit test before patient appointment on Thursday.
The tools that do the workPinnaclejob descriptions

Operate treatment planning software

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Run the treatment plan calculation for the prostate boost, confirm monitor unit totals, density overrides,…
Run the treatment plan calculation for the prostate boost, confirm monitor unit totals, density overrides, and heterogeneity corrections match physics checks, then archive the approved calculation and alert dosimetry for delivery at 08:00 Monday.
The tools that do the workEclipsejob descriptions

Verify mathematical accuracy of calculations

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Verify the dose summation math for the chest wall plan by independently recalculating segment MUs, field…
Verify the dose summation math for the chest wall plan by independently recalculating segment MUs, field weighting, and total dose per fraction, document any discrepancy over 2%, and route the report to Dr. Singh and the dosimetrist.
The tools that do the workEclipse IDEjob descriptions

Perform quality assurance checks

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Run the full quarterly QA on the linear accelerator this morning: check beam energy and flatness, verify…
Run the full quarterly QA on the linear accelerator this morning: check beam energy and flatness, verify output with the chamber array, log results against the baseline, flag any drift over 1.5% and stop treatment access if unresolved.
The tools that do the workEclipsejob descriptions

Collaborate with oncology team

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Join the oncology multidisciplinary meeting and present the planned immobilisation and dose constraints for…
Join the oncology multidisciplinary meeting and present the planned immobilisation and dose constraints for Mrs Patel, confirm tolerances with Dr Kim and the dosimetrist, and note any schedule changes that affect physics checks before first fraction.
The tools that do the workEpicjob descriptions

Create 3D models from imaging data

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Import Mrs Garcia's CT and MRI sets, contour the tumor volume into a printable 3D model, generate the STL,…
Import Mrs Garcia's CT and MRI sets, contour the tumor volume into a printable 3D model, generate the STL, and check spatial registration to within 2 mm before sending to the department 3D printer.
The tools that do the workPinnaclejob descriptions

Read engineering drawings

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Verify the engineering drawings for the brachytherapy afterloader: confirm connector pinout, cable routing,…
Verify the engineering drawings for the brachytherapy afterloader: confirm connector pinout, cable routing, and safety interlock positions, annotate any deviations, and escalate unresolved discrepancies to biomedical engineering.
The tools that do the workEclipse IDEESCOsee the evidence ↗

Wear cleanroom suit

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Prepare and don the cleanroom gowning for the service on the sterile dosimeter: follow the department gowning…
Prepare and don the cleanroom gowning for the service on the sterile dosimeter: follow the department gowning checklist, log start time, inspect suit integrity, and enter the controlled area only after particle count confirms acceptable level.
The tools that do the workMEDITECHESCOsee the evidence ↗

Repair medical devices

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Diagnose the stuck source drawer on the treatment unit: review the electrical schematics, isolate power,…
Diagnose the stuck source drawer on the treatment unit: review the electrical schematics, isolate power, replace the damaged relay, bench-test the interlocks, and record the repair with parts used and measured voltages.
The tools that do the workMedical condition codingESCOsee the evidence ↗

Perform test run

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Run the acceptance test on the newly repaired linac today: follow the engineering drawing checklist, don…
Run the acceptance test on the newly repaired linac today: follow the engineering drawing checklist, don cleanroom suit, verify interlocks and beam output with test phantom, log results in the device file and flag any deviations for immediate repair.
The tools that do the workPinnacleESCOsee the evidence ↗

Manufacture medical devices

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Assemble the prototype infusion pump per the engineering drawings in the cleanroom this week, wire and…
Assemble the prototype infusion pump per the engineering drawings in the cleanroom this week, wire and bench-test the control board, run the functional checklist, and document serial numbers and build deviations in the device log before moving to clinical verification.
The tools that do the workEclipseESCOsee the evidence ↗

Perform maintenance on installed equipment

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Perform scheduled maintenance on the CT scanner this Tuesday: review the subsystem schematics, power down and…
Perform scheduled maintenance on the CT scanner this Tuesday: review the subsystem schematics, power down and discharge circuits, replace worn valves and sensors, calibrate detectors, then run the post-maintenance test run and update the equipment maintenance record.
The tools that do the workPinnacleESCOsee the evidence ↗

Medical device regulations

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Assemble the regulatory submission for the modified treatment accessory: compile engineering drawings, test…
Assemble the regulatory submission for the modified treatment accessory: compile engineering drawings, test reports, risk assessment and traceability matrix, confirm conformity to applicable device standards, and send the dossier to regulatory affairs for review by Friday.
The tools that do the workPinnacleESCOsee the evidence ↗

Install pneumatic systems

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Install the pneumatic control rack in the physics lab this morning: follow the installation drawing, secure…
Install the pneumatic control rack in the physics lab this morning: follow the installation drawing, secure tubing and valves, verify pressure regulators and electrical grounding, perform leak and pressure tests, then run the system through operational sequences and log results.
The tools that do the workEclipse IDEESCOsee the evidence ↗

Medical condition coding

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Complete medical condition coding for the new radiotherapy patient: verify diagnosis codes against the…
Complete medical condition coding for the new radiotherapy patient: verify diagnosis codes against the consult, map technique and dose entries to treatment plan, and log any discrepancies for chart review before physics QA tomorrow morning.
The tools that do the workMedical condition codingO*NET

Says who?

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The logs, files & records this job keeps

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Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.

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