Radiation Therapists vs Respiratory Therapists AI Risk

Job 1

Job 2

Job 1

Job 2

medium risk

Radiation Therapists

77 shared · 15 different

core competencies

medium risk

Respiratory Therapists

Side-by-Side Comparison

Radiation Therapists leads 4–1

Metric	Radiation Therapists	Respiratory Therapists
Risk Score	26.6%	27.1%
Risk Tier	Medium Risk	Medium Risk
Risk Percentile	24th	25th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)	5 / 15	3 / 15
Median Salary	$101,990	$80,450
Employment	19K	136K

Skill Comparison

Sorted by largest difference

Controlling Machines and Processes

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public

Chemistry

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization

Performing Administrative Activities

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others

Physics

Inductive Reasoning

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People

Interacting With Computers

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships

Clerical

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Radiation Therapists

34%

total discount

Respiratory Therapists

36%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Radiation Therapists

5 of 15 at risk

87%Review prescription, diagnosis, patient chart, and identification.

87%Maintain records, reports, or files as required, including such information as radiation dosages, equipment settings, or patients' reactions.

87%Calculate actual treatment dosages delivered during each session.

85%Enter data into computer and set controls to operate or adjust equipment or regulate dosage.

69%Follow principles of radiation protection for patient, self, and others.

Respiratory Therapists

3 of 15 at risk

88%Relay blood analysis results to a physician.

86%Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.

80%Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.

49%Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.

47%Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.

Wage Comparison

Respiratory Therapists earns -$21,540(-21%) vs Radiation Therapists

Radiation TherapistsRespiratory Therapists

10th

$77,860$61,900

25th

$86,520$68,410

Median

$101,990$80,450

75th

$120,360$95,530

90th

$141,550$108,820

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Radiation Therapists2028–2035

Respiratory Therapists2028–2035

20242030203520402045

Radiation Therapists has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Respiratory Therapists.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)

Radiation Therapists

$74,881

from $101,990

Respiratory Therapists

$58,672

from $80,450

After adjusting for AI risk, Radiation Therapists offers $16,209 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

Unique to Radiation

Unique to Respiratory

Combined Protection Strategy

Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors

Regulatory Barriers

Decision Complexity

Fine Manipulation

Creativity

Radiation TherapistsRespiratory Therapists

Find transitions from Radiation Therapists Find transitions from Respiratory Therapists