Annual Salary
£35,000 to £58,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Maths or STEM or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Maths or STEM or go back to all job sectors
Medical physicists design, develop and test the scanning and imaging equipment used in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; on a rota
There will be
2.4% more Medical physicist jobs in 2027.
As a medical physicist, you could:
You may need to wear protective clothing.
You could work in an NHS or private hospital or in a laboratory.
You can get into this job through:
To become a medical physicist, you'll need a degree that includes a high level of physics, for example:
You would then move on to the the 3-year NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP).
You'll need a first or upper second class honours degree to apply for the STP, or a postgraduate master's qualification in a relevant subject like theoretical physics.
You'll usually need:
You can train for this job by applying for a place on a Healthcare Science Practitioner Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.
This combines work-based learning with study at university.
The first 2 years cover broad based science. In your third year you can specialise in medical physics.
To do this apprenticeship, you'll need:
You might be able to start work as a healthcare science assistant or associate and with experience, move on to a degree apprenticeship.
You could apply for a place on the NHS Practitioner Training Programme without a degree.
You would study for a degree in healthcare science, which includes work-based training. You could then go on to specialise in medical physics.
To apply, you'll usually need:
You could join the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine, for professional development and training opportunities.
You can find out more about careers and training in medical physics through the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine and Health Careers.
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
You could join the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine, for professional development, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.
You can find out more about careers and training in medical physics through Health Careers and the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine.
You'll need: