Becoming a Medical Physicist via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Grand Canyon University, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering medical science courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
medical scientists,
physicians,
doctors,
nurses,
medical technologists, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 101,760 people employed as
medical scientists alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$84,760.
Diagnostic medical sonographers make on average $63,640
per year and there are about 51,630
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Grand Canyon University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Medical Physicist
- radiotherapy lab
- medical imaging lab
- nuclear technology lab
- hospital
- health clinic
- doctors office
- dental surgeons office
- a university
- home
- an office
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Medical Physicist
- gets medical insurance for whole family
- gets dental insurance for whole family
- gets life insurance
- gets disability insurance
- gets more vacations
- can earn meeting allowance
- professional society membership fees paid by the employers
- gets malpractice insurance
- parking and other transport issues solved by the employers
- child care and elder care may be provided by an employer at additional cost
Potential Drawbacks
- you have to pick up trash
- you have to work late hours
- you have to work by yourselves often
- you have to face some bad patients
- low status in the society
- you have to work bad patient areas
- low salary
- so many medical physicist professionals make it hard to obtain a job
- unqualified professionals may work along side you
- too much tension
Related Professions to Consider
- Radiation Physicist
- Physicist (Chief)
- Solo Medical Physicist
- Health Physicist
- Clinical Medical Physicist
- Diagnostic Radiology Physicist
- PhD Medical Physicist
- Physicist Radiation Oncology
- Physicist with Boards
- Associate API Physicist
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Medical Physicist
- What is (are) your most significant accomplishment(s)?
- How would you feel about a leaving a project for a few hours to help someone else?
- Why do you want to attend (or work) at this university/institution/department/lab?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 (or 10) years?
- What kinds of projects do you want to do Why?
- Would you rather work on several projects at a time or on one project?
- Describe a time when you had to make a decision that resulted in unintended/unexpected (good or bad).?
- Describe a situation where you found it necessary to gather other opinions before you made a decision.?
- What motivates you to work?
- How important is it to you to be liked by your peers/colleagues and why?
Common Collaborating Professions
- nuclear physicist
- medical imaging technologist
- radiologist
- surgeon
- doctor
- physician
- oral surgeon
- janitor
- security guard
- registered nurse
Medical Physicist Training books
Medical Physicist (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Mathematical Methods
- Introduction to Radiation Protection
- Image-Based Anatomy
- Medical Radiation Engineering
- Advanced Laboratory
- Electromagnetic Theory
- Physics of Radiation Therapy
- Medical Ethics/Governmental Regulation
- Physics of Medical Imaging
- Radiation Biology
Medical Physicist Salary Information
Category: Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
| Total # Employed in the US |
101,760 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$40.75/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $19.87 |
$25.77 |
$35.86 |
$49.55 |
$66.75 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$84,760 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $41,320 |
$53,600 |
$74,590 |
$103,060 |
$138,840 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.2% |
0.8% |
0.7% |
0.6% |
12.6% |
24.6% |
60.6% |
|
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Puerto Rico |
$58.1/hr
|
$120,850
|
| North Dakota |
$54.26/hr
|
$112,870
|
| Kansas |
$53.78/hr
|
$111,870
|
| Pennsylvania |
$50.31/hr
|
$104,640
|
| Utah |
$46.36/hr
|
$96,420
|
| Florida |
$46.05/hr
|
$95,790
|
| Mississippi |
$45.79/hr
|
$95,240
|
| Delaware |
$45.4/hr
|
$94,430
|
| West Virginia |
$45.16/hr
|
$93,920
|
| Massachusetts |
$44.93/hr
|
$93,450
|
| Tennessee |
$44.45/hr
|
$92,450
|
| Oklahoma |
$43.49/hr
|
$90,460
|
| Missouri |
$43.15/hr
|
$89,750
|
| Michigan |
$42.89/hr
|
$89,200
|
| Colorado |
$42.38/hr
|
$88,140
|
| District of Columbia |
$41.78/hr
|
$86,900
|
| Oregon |
$40.86/hr
|
$85,000
|
| Hawaii |
$39.99/hr
|
$83,170
|
| Connecticut |
$36.05/hr
|
$74,980
|
| Montana |
$35.26/hr
|
$73,350
|
| Louisiana |
$34.56/hr
|
$71,890
|
| Idaho |
$34.23/hr
|
$71,190
|
| Arkansas |
$34.15/hr
|
$71,030
|
| Maine |
$33.59/hr
|
$69,870
|
| New Hampshire |
$33.32/hr
|
$69,300
|
| South Carolina |
$32.99/hr
|
$68,620
|
| Virginia |
$32.68/hr
|
$67,970
|
| Nebraska |
$31.8/hr
|
$66,140
|
| Indiana |
$31.12/hr
|
$64,730
|
| Wyoming |
$30.95/hr
|
$64,390
|
| Guam |
$30.7/hr
|
$63,860
|
| Nevada |
$30.04/hr
|
$62,470
|
| Kentucky |
$29.16/hr
|
$60,650
|
| New Jersey |
$28.41/hr
|
$59,080
|
| New York |
$28.23/hr
|
$58,730
|
| California |
$27.68/hr
|
$57,570
|
| South Dakota |
$26.65/hr
|
$55,430
|
| Washington |
$26.64/hr
|
$55,410
|
| Ohio |
$26.49/hr
|
$55,090
|
| Wisconsin |
$26.47/hr
|
$55,060
|
| Iowa |
$26.29/hr
|
$54,670
|
| Alabama |
$25.83/hr
|
$53,720
|
| New Mexico |
$25.2/hr
|
$52,420
|
| Maryland |
$24.88/hr
|
$51,740
|
Category: Diagnostic medical sonographers
| Total # Employed in the US |
51,630 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$30.6/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $21.15 |
$25.53 |
$30.3 |
$35.77 |
$41.32 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$63,640 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $43,990 |
$53,110 |
$63,010 |
$74,400 |
$85,950 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.7% |
8.7% |
21.6% |
45.3% |
19.4% |
2.0% |
2.3% |
|
Diagnostic medical sonographers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Missouri |
$37.72/hr
|
$78,460
|
| Tennessee |
$37.65/hr
|
$78,320
|
| Connecticut |
$37.2/hr
|
$77,380
|
| Alaska |
$36.3/hr
|
$75,500
|
| New Jersey |
$35.78/hr
|
$74,420
|
| Colorado |
$35.59/hr
|
$74,030
|
| Delaware |
$35.41/hr
|
$73,660
|
| Indiana |
$35.38/hr
|
$73,590
|
| Virginia |
$34.31/hr
|
$71,370
|
| Florida |
$33.94/hr
|
$70,600
|
| Mississippi |
$33.87/hr
|
$70,450
|
| Kansas |
$33.6/hr
|
$69,900
|
| New York |
$33.23/hr
|
$69,120
|
| North Dakota |
$32.98/hr
|
$68,590
|
| North Carolina |
$32.98/hr
|
$68,590
|
| Arkansas |
$32.66/hr
|
$67,940
|
| Nebraska |
$32.46/hr
|
$67,520
|
| Michigan |
$31.65/hr
|
$65,840
|
| Pennsylvania |
$31.25/hr
|
$65,000
|
| Ohio |
$30.85/hr
|
$64,170
|
| Oklahoma |
$30.8/hr
|
$64,060
|
| Puerto Rico |
$30.72/hr
|
$63,890
|
| Maine |
$30.22/hr
|
$62,860
|
| District of Columbia |
$29.7/hr
|
$61,770
|
| New Hampshire |
$29.39/hr
|
$61,140
|
| Iowa |
$29.37/hr
|
$61,090
|
| New Mexico |
$29.34/hr
|
$61,030
|
| Wyoming |
$29.32/hr
|
$60,990
|
| Kentucky |
$29.02/hr
|
$60,350
|
| Oregon |
$28.85/hr
|
$60,000
|
| Massachusetts |
$28.58/hr
|
$59,440
|
| Idaho |
$28.52/hr
|
$59,320
|
| Guam |
$28.19/hr
|
$58,640
|
| Utah |
$28.03/hr
|
$58,300
|
| South Dakota |
$27.92/hr
|
$58,080
|
| Louisiana |
$27.71/hr
|
$57,640
|
| South Carolina |
$27.37/hr
|
$56,940
|
| Washington |
$27.04/hr
|
$56,230
|
| Montana |
$27.01/hr
|
$56,180
|
| Hawaii |
$26.94/hr
|
$56,030
|
| Maryland |
$26.93/hr
|
$56,010
|
| Wisconsin |
$25.96/hr
|
$54,000
|
| California |
$25.09/hr
|
$52,180
|
| Nevada |
$24.82/hr
|
$51,630
|
| Alabama |
$24.19/hr
|
$50,320
|
| West Virginia |
$23.9/hr
|
$49,710
|
Category: Radiologic technologists and technicians
| Total # Employed in the US |
213,560 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$26.05/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $17.16 |
$20.92 |
$25.59 |
$30.8 |
$36.27 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$54,180 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $35,700 |
$43,510 |
$53,240 |
$64,070 |
$75,440 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.7% |
8.7% |
21.6% |
45.3% |
19.4% |
2.0% |
2.3% |
|
Radiologic technologists and technicians — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Missouri |
$32.95/hr
|
$68,530
|
| New York |
$31.93/hr
|
$66,420
|
| Mississippi |
$31.64/hr
|
$65,820
|
| Indiana |
$30.51/hr
|
$63,470
|
| Florida |
$30.42/hr
|
$63,270
|
| North Dakota |
$30.21/hr
|
$62,840
|
| Colorado |
$30.09/hr
|
$62,590
|
| Alaska |
$29.62/hr
|
$61,610
|
| Oklahoma |
$29.45/hr
|
$61,250
|
| Virginia |
$29.25/hr
|
$60,840
|
| Delaware |
$29.2/hr
|
$60,730
|
| Tennessee |
$28.85/hr
|
$60,000
|
| District of Columbia |
$28.59/hr
|
$59,460
|
| North Carolina |
$27.76/hr
|
$57,750
|
| Nebraska |
$27.65/hr
|
$57,520
|
| Connecticut |
$27.12/hr
|
$56,410
|
| Kansas |
$26.96/hr
|
$56,070
|
| Ohio |
$26.1/hr
|
$54,290
|
| Puerto Rico |
$25.91/hr
|
$53,900
|
| Michigan |
$25.82/hr
|
$53,710
|
| Oregon |
$25.31/hr
|
$52,650
|
| Arkansas |
$25.25/hr
|
$52,510
|
| Wyoming |
$25.24/hr
|
$52,510
|
| Hawaii |
$24.61/hr
|
$51,180
|
| Utah |
$24.53/hr
|
$51,030
|
| Kentucky |
$24.34/hr
|
$50,630
|
| Washington |
$24.26/hr
|
$50,470
|
| New Jersey |
$24.11/hr
|
$50,150
|
| Idaho |
$24.01/hr
|
$49,950
|
| Iowa |
$23.97/hr
|
$49,850
|
| South Carolina |
$23.91/hr
|
$49,740
|
| Montana |
$23.79/hr
|
$49,480
|
| New Hampshire |
$23.61/hr
|
$49,110
|
| Wisconsin |
$23.54/hr
|
$48,960
|
| Massachusetts |
$22.95/hr
|
$47,740
|
| New Mexico |
$22.95/hr
|
$47,730
|
| Guam |
$22.21/hr
|
$46,200
|
| Maine |
$22.21/hr
|
$46,190
|
| Maryland |
$22.04/hr
|
$45,840
|
| Louisiana |
$21.98/hr
|
$45,720
|
| Pennsylvania |
$21.66/hr
|
$45,060
|
| South Dakota |
$21.64/hr
|
$45,020
|
| West Virginia |
$21.62/hr
|
$44,970
|
| Nevada |
$21.61/hr
|
$44,940
|
| Alabama |
$21.5/hr
|
$44,730
|
| California |
$21.34/hr
|
$44,380
|
