Medical physicist
Medical physicists design, develop and test the scanning and imaging equipment used in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Typical Salary
£35,000 – £58,000
per year
Working Hours
39–41
hours per week
Day-to-day tasks
As a medical physicist, you could:
- design and develop systems to diagnose and treat health conditions
- monitor equipment to make sure it’s accurate, safe and well-maintained
- plan treatment programmes and explain procedures to patients
- carry out procedures and analyse test results
- do research using computer simulations and mathematical modelling
- write reports and present to scientific and non scientific audiences
- train hospital staff in the safe use of equipment
Skills needed
- science skills
- knowledge of medicine and dentistry
- analytical thinking skills
- maths knowledge
- complex problem-solving skills
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
- excellent written communication skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to get into this role
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- a trainee scheme
Career progression
With experience, you could:
- become a principal medical physicist
- manage a hospital department
- work in higher education and research
- move into the medical equipment manufacturing industry