◆ Physics

What a medical physicist
really does.

21 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.

21evidenced tasks
3,410in the US (2025)
$147,470median pay / year
6systems it runs on
See the 21 tasks ↓Open in the atlasThe full career map →
This is what one task looks like here
Calculate radiation doses
Calculate the therapeutic and organ-at-risk doses for Mary Johnson’s 3…2 sources agree

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The work, task by task

21 tasks
Hands on the work19
Calculate radiation doses+
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.
jdonet2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Utilize advanced imaging technologies+
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.
jdonet2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Fabricate beam modifying devices, such as compensators, shields, and wedge filters.+
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.
onet
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Create and transfer reference images+
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.
jd
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Supervise or assist in simulations+
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.
jd
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Plan fabrication of immobilization devices+
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.
jd
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Operate treatment planning software+
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.
jd
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Verify mathematical accuracy of calculations+
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.
jd
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Grow the practice1
Watch and assess1

What the work runs on

named inside the evidenced tasks
7 tasksPinnacletreatment planning and dose calculation for external beam therapy models and MU checks
5 tasksEclipsecreates, optimizes and packages patient treatment plans and plan packets for physician review
5 tasksEclipse IDEhandles advanced imaging registration and fused image datasets used in adaptive planning workflows
2 tasksMedical condition codingdocumenting the repair action, failure mode and parts in the clinical maintenance record for regulatory traceability
1 taskEpicaccess to patient schedule, notes, and team communication to coordinate clinical decisions
1 taskMEDITECHaccess to procedural checklists and logging of sterile entry and time-stamped records
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The same task, four heights

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ExecuteDo today's task, with fewer mistakesyou are here → ImproveMake it easy for the next person to acceptin the atlas → DecideWork out the right move when it is unclearin the atlas → BecomeLearn the pattern so it stops coming backin the atlas →

Can AI actually do this job?

the honest answer

It can

where it genuinely helps
  • Explain the theory behind the work
  • Draft, tidy and structure your writing
  • Rehearse a hard conversation before you have it
  • Build a study plan that fits your gaps

It cannot

where it stops, completely
  • Be in the room where a medical physicist actually works
  • Carry the responsibility when the call is wrong — that weight stays yours
  • Notice what no one wrote down: the hesitation, the thing left unsaid
  • Live with the outcome

What the work pays

two countries, two different measures

United States

this exact occupation · BLS 2025
  • $147,470 a year — the middle: half earn more, half earn less
  • The lowest tenth earn near $111,670; the top tenth near $185,450
  • 3,410 people employed in this occupation

Where the evidence lives

open any of it yourself
O*NETThe US Department of Labor's own record of this job5 of these tasks ESCOThe European skills and occupations register8 of these tasks Job descriptionsReal postings, in the wild11 of these tasks US Bureau of Labor StatisticsPay and employment, by occupation2025 figures UK NOS SFHR6Perform simple treatment dose calculations for external beam radiothernational standard UK NOS SFHR1Acquire images, data and reference material for radiotherapy processesnational standard

Close to this work

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Questions people actually ask

You usually split time between the treatment vaults, the planning room, and meetings. Mornings often start with quality assurance checks on linear accelerators and treatment machines, then reviewing patient treatment plans and dose calculations for that day.

Afternoons go to planning new cases in Pinnacle or Eclipse, supervising simulation sessions, and discussing complex plans with oncologists and dosimetrists. You may also fix a device, fit an immobilization mold, or run acceptance tests on newly installed equipment.

Learn Eclipse and Pinnacle first — those are common for calculating radiation dose and creating patient treatment plans. Get comfortable importing CT/MRI images, contouring targets, and running dose calculations.

Also learn the clinic’s electronic health record like Epic or MEDITECH so you can access prescriptions, imaging reports, and medical condition coding. Practice transferring reference images and exporting plans to the treatment machine.

Very closely. You present and explain dose distributions to radiation oncologists, verify mathematical accuracy of their prescriptions, and adjust plans to meet clinical goals. You also attend tumor boards or daily huddles when needed.

You collaborate with dosimetrists, therapists, and nurses during simulations and first‑day treatments to ensure immobilization devices, beam modifiers, and image guidance match the plan.

AI can speed tasks like auto‑contouring and initial plan generation, but you must verify every result. Treat AI outputs as a draft: check dose calculations, geometry, and critical‑structure coverage yourself using Eclipse or Pinnacle.

Regulatory responsibility remains with you and the oncologist. Do not use AI without validation tests, documented quality assurance, and written clinic procedures that define when human review is mandatory.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, 2025), about 3,410 medical physicists were employed. Median pay was $147,470 per year; the lowest tenth earned about $111,670 and the top tenth about $185,450.

Pay varies by region, hospital type, and subspecialty (therapy vs. imaging). BLS is the source for these numbers and is the best place for updated national data.

Start with a physics or engineering bachelor’s degree, then a CAMPEP‑accredited graduate program (MS or PhD) in medical physics. After that, complete a residency in clinical medical physics for hands‑on work with machines, treatment planning, and QA.

Get board certified by the American Board of Radiology (ABR) or equivalent. Learn to read engineering drawings, fabricate simple beam modifiers, and use systems like Eclipse, Pinnacle, and hospital EHRs during training.