Are you curious about the Radiation Therapist Salary With Associates Degree?
If you are seriously considering this career path, it is advisable that you perform a comparative analysis to determine which is the best route for your goals.
An Associate’s Degree? Or, a Bachelor’s degree? When it’s time to find a job, the type of degree you pursue will govern your starting payscale as well as determine your annual salary increases.
Your decision will also determine if you are given access to the highly sought after radiation therapist jobs. Are you familiar with the average salaries of these types of technologists?
Salary information should play a critical part in your decision. People often fail to peer into the future concerning pay; don’t make that mistake.
Within the United States, with the right type of radiation therapy degree, your salary will be higher than the average salary of the people in the same field and the same type of job.
The type of degree you eventually obtain, makes a huge difference in how you stand in the eyes of prospective employers. The college you choose also factors greatly. A community college carries less weight than a well revered university.
Is this a career change for you? Are you currently working in the medical field and are aiming to become a radiation therapist? If so, you may be able to factor in your previous education, training and experience into your decision.
Changing careers is a serious matter and should not be taken lightly. Whether you are making a career change or, you are a newbie pursuing a radiation therapy job, here are the most important points for you to consider:
- An Associate’s Degree Versus a Bachelor’s Degree
- Are You Willing To Pay The Time Price?
- The ARRT Certification Process
- Will You Commit To The Math & Science Challenges?
- What Are Your Salary Expectations?
It goes without saying that the radiation therapist salary with associates degree will be somewhat less than a person who has acquired a Bachelor’s Degree.
Radiation Therapist Salary With Associates Degree
Learn the history of Radiation Therapy.
If you go into Radiation Therapy with associate’s degree, you can expect to earn a starting salary of around $40,000 depending on your location. This is higher than if you went with a certificate program, which is not recommended. This is still an OK salary; it’s not great.
Depending on where you end up working, you may be able to climb the ladder fairly quickly, and end up in the same role as you would have with a bachelor’s degree.
This means you can still end up earning the same salary, it will just take a few promotions and a bit of time, providing you are skilled at your job and there is room for promotion.
This route is definitely the easiest option of the two. This is because it is a lower level of education, but is still fairly impressive.
It is also only a two-year course, instead of a four-year course. This means you can get your education done much quicker, and progress into your career much earlier, albeit at a lower level.
Overall, the radiation therapist salary with associates degree is not a bad deal. A person can use that pathway to get into the door while working in the field, get their bachelor’s degree. In most cases, the employer will pick up part of or all of their schooling costs.
The Bachelor’s Degree vs Radiation Therapist Salary With Associate’s Degree
Honestly, this option is the best way to go into this field, if you want to start off with the highest salary possible. Unfortunately, it does mean you will spend four years studying instead of the two years it would take with an associate’s degree.
This isn’t too bad, but it does mean you won’t be able to start working for another two years. A Bachelor’s also ascertains that you are more knowledgeable than those with the Associate’s, which will definitely help you during the employer interview process.
The Verdict About Radiation Therapist Salary With Associates Degree
If you are truly pressed for time, acquiring an Associate’s degree is probably the best course of action. It means that you can start working two years before bachelor’s degree candidates.
Regrettably, it does mean you will enter the work force at a lower starting salary, but you will still be earning while gaining crucial hands on experience.
With that experience, later on, you can seek promotions without additional schooling or simply upgrade to a Bachelor’s Degree.
It all boils down to how long you are prepared to spend studying; two years versus four? And, the starting salary, you desire?
An associate’s degree is the easier option, as you won’t be studying for as long, but, it won’t be as impressive to employers. In the final analysis, a radiation therapist salary with associates degree is good, but a Bachelor’s degree carries greater hiring power!
That stated, the radiation therapist salary with associates degree is not a bad deal. As a matter of fact, a person can use this pathway to get into the door and while working in the field, go get their bachelor’s degree. In most cases, the employer will pick up part or all of the cost of their schooling, and that’s the reason this option is better.
Thinking about another career in Radiology? Why not look at becoming an X-Ray Technician?