Senior Therapeutic Radiographer: Pay, Salary, Progression & How to Become
A Senior Therapeutic Radiographer is an HCPC-registered Therapeutic Radiographer who delivers cancer radiotherapy within an NHS radiotherapy department with modality specialisation and team leadership scope, typically on Agenda for Change Band 6 to Band 7. The role delivers treatment using LINAC, CyberKnife, proton beam, brachytherapy, or SABR modalities, and separates the therapeutic radiographer from the diagnostic radiographer by clinical intent. The five senior types span the Senior LINAC Radiographer, the Treatment Planning Radiographer, the Brachytherapy Radiographer, the Proton Beam Therapy Radiographer, and the Radiotherapy Team Leader or Superintendent.
Earnings run across Band 6, Band 7, and Band 8a, set by the 2026/27 Agenda for Change pay scale, the framework that determines each band, and the annual pay rise. Pay progression moves from Band 6 to Band 7 Superintendent to Band 8a Consultant Therapeutic Radiographer, with unsocial hours and overtime added by the extended-hours LINAC rota. Take-home pay follows once pension, tax, and National Insurance deductions come off the payslip, and the same salary base sets maternity pay and sick pay. Entry runs through a BSc in Therapeutic Radiography, HCPC registration, and a modality PG Cert, and the role's band, HCPC status, high-cost-area supplement, treatment planning scope, and hourly rate complete the picture, starting with the definition of the role.
What Is a Senior Therapeutic Radiographer?
A Senior Therapeutic Radiographer is an HCPC-registered Therapeutic Radiographer who delivers radiotherapy for cancer patients within an NHS radiotherapy department, typically on Band 6 or Band 7. The role delivers precise radiation doses to tumours while sparing healthy tissue, using LINAC, CyberKnife, proton beam, brachytherapy, or SABR modalities. A Senior Therapeutic Radiographer works within the multidisciplinary cancer team alongside clinical oncologists, medical physicists, and dosimetrists.
Senior Therapeutic Radiographers combine treatment delivery with patient assessment, treatment verification, and quality assurance, and act as an IR(ME)R Practitioner under the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017. The role often specialises in a treatment modality or tumour site, supervises junior staff, and contributes to service development, research, and audit. Seniority reflects both clinical competence and the capacity to work autonomously in complex situations.
What Does a Senior Therapeutic Radiographer Do?
A Senior Therapeutic Radiographer delivers LINAC-based radiotherapy and verifies treatment for cancer patients. Core duties cover external beam treatment delivery, CT-simulator scanning for planning, image-guided radiotherapy with kV or cone-beam CT imaging, and patient positioning and immobilisation. A Senior Therapeutic Radiographer contributes to treatment planning through contouring and plan verification, and acts as an IR(ME)R Practitioner under the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017.
On-treatment review with the clinical oncologist, junior radiographer supervision, and treatment plan verification fill out the role. A Senior Therapeutic Radiographer handles complex cases, troubleshoots technical issues, and supports patients through the treatment journey.
What Is the Difference Between a Senior Therapeutic Radiographer and a Diagnostic Radiographer?
A Senior Therapeutic Radiographer delivers cancer radiotherapy with therapeutic intent, while a Diagnostic Radiographer delivers imaging examinations for diagnosis. A Senior Therapeutic Radiographer holds HCPC Therapeutic Radiographer registration, works with clinical oncologists to deliver targeted radiation, operates linear accelerators, and supports patients through treatment. A Diagnostic Radiographer holds HCPC Diagnostic Radiographer registration and produces images using X-ray, CT, and MRI to diagnose injury and disease.
Both are HCPC-protected titles under Section 60 of the Health Act 1999 and both progress through the same Agenda for Change bands, but they follow separate three-year BSc programmes with different clinical scope. A therapeutic radiographer treats; a diagnostic radiographer images.
What Are the Different Types of Senior Therapeutic Radiographer?
The different types of Senior Therapeutic Radiographer are distinguished by the radiotherapy modality or leadership scope each one holds and are listed below:
Senior LINAC Radiographer
A Senior LINAC Radiographer delivers external beam radiotherapy on a linear accelerator, forming the largest senior therapeutic role. The role sets up patients, verifies treatment parameters, and uses image-guided radiotherapy to enhance accuracy, working with clinical oncologists and medical physicists to deliver the correct dose. A Senior LINAC Radiographer applies advanced techniques such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy and volumetric modulated arc therapy, and runs on-treatment review while mentoring junior staff.
Treatment Planning Radiographer (Dosimetrist Radiographer)
A Treatment Planning Radiographer, or Dosimetrist Radiographer, produces radiotherapy treatment plans alongside medical physicists and clinical oncologists. The role uses treatment planning systems such as Varian Eclipse, Elekta Monaco, or RayStation to build 3D conformal, IMRT, VMAT, or SABR plans that target the tumour while sparing healthy tissue. A Treatment Planning Radiographer analyses CT and MRI images, calculates dose distribution, and meets quality assurance standards, drawing on radiation physics, anatomy, and oncology knowledge.
Brachytherapy Radiographer
A Brachytherapy Radiographer delivers internal radiation therapy, placing sealed radioactive sources into or near a tumour for cancers such as gynaecological, prostate, and oesophageal disease. The role covers high-dose-rate, low-dose-rate, and pulsed-dose-rate treatments and Iridium-192 protocols, with equipment setup, source handling, and safety checks. A Brachytherapy Radiographer works with clinical oncologists and medical physicists to deliver the prescribed dose while minimising radiation exposure to patients and staff.
Proton Beam Therapy Radiographer
A Proton Beam Therapy Radiographer delivers proton beam therapy, a precise modality used for paediatric CNS tumours and tumours near critical structures. The role handles patient setup, treatment verification, and safety checks, and operates complex pencil beam scanning on cyclotron or synchrotron technology. Proton beam therapy runs at the NHS centres at UCLH and The Christie, so a Proton Beam Therapy Radiographer works in a highly specialised setting alongside oncologists and physicists.
Radiotherapy Team Leader / Superintendent
A Radiotherapy Team Leader, or Superintendent Therapeutic Radiographer, holds LINAC operational leadership at Band 7. The role coordinates staff, workflow, and quality standards, manages rotas, and oversees treatment planning, combining advanced clinical practice with departmental management. A Superintendent Therapeutic Radiographer mentors junior staff, oversees departmental performance, leads service improvement, and ensures compliance with radiation safety and clinical governance.
How Much Does a Senior Therapeutic Radiographer Earn?
A Senior Therapeutic Radiographer earns between £39,959 and £64,750 in 2026/27 on the Agenda for Change pay scale. Band 6 senior roles pay £39,959 to £48,117, Band 7 Superintendent roles pay £49,387 to £56,515, and Band 8a Consultant Therapeutic Radiographer roles pay £57,528 to £64,750, according to the NHS England Agenda for Change pay scales for 2026/27 published by NHS Employers. Unsocial hours, overtime, and on-call payments add to basic pay on the extended-hours LINAC rota, and high-cost-area supplements of 20% in Inner London, 15% in Outer London, and 5% in the Fringe raise pay within set limits.
How Much Does a Senior Therapeutic Radiographer Earn Per Hour?
A Senior Therapeutic Radiographer earns between roughly £20.50 and £33 per hour in 2026/27, depending on band, before unsocial hours enhancements. A Band 6 radiographer on £39,959 to £48,117 earns about £20.50 to £24.70 per hour, a Band 7 Superintendent on £49,387 to £56,515 earns about £25.30 to £29 per hour, and a Band 8a Consultant Therapeutic Radiographer on £57,528 to £64,750 earns about £29.50 to £33 per hour. Unsocial hours enhancements, overtime, and high-cost-area supplements raise the hourly figure where they apply.
Senior Therapeutic Radiographer Band 6 Salary
A Senior Therapeutic Radiographer on Band 6 earns £39,959 to £48,117 in 2026/27, the standard senior band. Band 6 reflects the modality specialty and clinical decision-making above the Band 5 role, and progression through the band comes through annual increments awarded by service and satisfactory performance. Unsocial hours enhancements, overtime, and high-cost-area supplements add to the figure where they apply.
Superintendent Therapeutic Radiographer Band 7 Salary
A Superintendent Therapeutic Radiographer on Band 7 earns £49,387 to £56,515 in 2026/27 on the Agenda for Change pay scale. Band 7 covers leadership and specialist clinical duties — managing treatment protocols, coordinating patient pathways, and overseeing quality assurance. Progression through Band 7 comes through incremental pay points, and the band reflects the clinical supervision and operational responsibility the role holds.
Consultant Therapeutic Radiographer Band 8a Salary
A Consultant Therapeutic Radiographer on Band 8a earns £57,528 to £64,750 in 2026/27, the top clinical radiography band for the role. Band 8a reflects tumour-site expert practice, service innovation, and evidence-based protocol development. The role holds an MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice or a doctoral qualification in many cases, and requires five or more years of post-registration practice with strategic influence on service quality and workforce development.
What Is the Senior Therapeutic Radiographer Pay Scale for 2026/27?
The 2026/27 Senior Therapeutic Radiographer pay scale runs under the Agenda for Change framework. Band 6 senior roles pay £39,959 to £48,117, Band 7 Superintendent roles pay £49,387 to £56,515, and Band 8a Consultant Therapeutic Radiographer roles pay £57,528 to £64,750. Each band holds several incremental pay points awarded annually by performance and service. Unsocial hours, overtime, weekend working, and high-cost-area supplements add to basic salary on top of the band figures, and the 2026/27 rates reflect the pay award applied from 1 April 2026.
How Is Senior Therapeutic Radiographer Pay Determined by Agenda for Change?
Senior Therapeutic Radiographer pay is determined by the Agenda for Change framework, the standard pay system for NHS staff other than doctors, dentists, and very senior managers. The NHS Job Evaluation Scheme assesses each role on knowledge, skills, responsibility, effort, and working conditions, then places it in a band — Band 6 for senior radiographers, Band 7 for Superintendent roles, and Band 8a for Consultant Therapeutic Radiographers. Each band holds incremental pay points for annual progression, awarded on satisfactory performance until the radiographer reaches the top of the band.
How Much Did Senior Therapeutic Radiographer Pay Rise in 2026?
NHS Employers confirmed a 3.3% consolidated uplift to every Agenda for Change pay point for 2026/27, applied from 1 April 2026, so Senior Therapeutic Radiographer pay rose by 3.3% across Bands 6, 7, and 8a. The uplift became part of permanent basic salary. Unsocial hours enhancements and high-cost-area supplements rise with the uplifted basic pay. Radiographers confirm the final figure for their band and pay point through NHS Employers guidance.
How Does Senior Therapeutic Radiographer Pay Progression Work?
Senior Therapeutic Radiographer pay progression runs through the Agenda for Change incremental pay spine. A Band 6 radiographer moves up the pay points annually on satisfactory performance and 12 months of service at each point, reaching the top of the band over several years. Each increment is a set salary step, separate from the annual pay award.
Progression beyond a band comes through promotion to a Band 7 Superintendent or Team Leader role, or a Band 8a Consultant role, with a competitive application and evidence of enhanced competency and additional qualifications. Specialist roles in LINAC work, treatment planning, brachytherapy, or proton beam therapy can carry greater scope and responsibility, and Agenda for Change ties progression to job content and accountability rather than years of service alone.
How Do Radiographers Move From Band 6 to Band 7?
Senior Therapeutic Radiographers move from Band 6 to Band 7 by taking a Superintendent or Team Leader role with operational leadership and staff management scope. The transition requires advanced clinical competence in a specialty such as LINAC, brachytherapy, or proton therapy, evidence of supervising junior staff and contributing to service development, and a PG Diploma or MSc in Advanced Practice. Several years of Band 6 experience with strong performance reviews support the competitive application to a Band 7 post.
How Do Therapeutic Radiographers Progress to Consultant Roles?
Senior Therapeutic Radiographers progress to Consultant Therapeutic Radiographer roles at Band 8a–8b through tumour-site expert practice, an MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice, and evidence across the four pillars of advanced practice. The route requires several years at Band 7, a portfolio evidencing impact across the radiotherapy service, and recognition as an expert in a specialty such as breast, head-and-neck, prostate, or paediatric radiotherapy. Consultant appointment requires influence beyond the department, contribution to national guidelines, and Clinical Oncology multidisciplinary team representation.
How Much Do Senior Therapeutic Radiographers Earn for Unsocial Hours?
Senior Therapeutic Radiographers earn Agenda for Change Section 2 antisocial shifts enhancements on the extended-hours LINAC rota. The enhancement adds 30% to the basic hourly rate for weekday nights between 8pm and 6am and for all day Saturday, and 60% for Sundays and public holidays. The enhancement counts as pensionable pay. Many radiotherapy departments run extended hours from 8am to 8pm plus Saturday cover to reduce treatment waits, so radiographers on those rotas earn more than those on daytime shifts alone, and some HDR brachytherapy on-call rotas attract an on-call supplement.
How Much Overtime Does a Senior Therapeutic Radiographer Earn?
A Senior Therapeutic Radiographer earns enhanced pay for extra hours at time-and-a-half for hours worked beyond the standard 37.5-hour week, and double time on general public holidays only. A Band 6 radiographer on a basic rate of about £20.50 per hour earns around £30.75 per hour at time-and-a-half, and about £41.00 per hour on a general public holiday. Overtime availability varies by department, staffing, and service demand, with extended-hours radiotherapy units offering more, and some departments offer time off in lieu instead of payment.
How to Calculate Senior Therapeutic Radiographer Take-Home Pay
Take-home pay for a Senior Therapeutic Radiographer starts from the gross salary and ends after statutory deductions. The calculation runs through the following steps:
Identify the gross annual salary
Set the gross salary from the Agenda for Change band — Band 6 from £39,959, Band 7 from £49,387, and Band 8a from £57,528 for 2026/27.
Calculate gross monthly pay
Divide the gross annual salary by 12 for the monthly gross figure before deductions.
Deduct income tax
Apply income tax against the 2026/27 bands — the first £12,570 is tax-free, 20% from £12,571 to £50,270, and 40% above £50,270.
Deduct National Insurance
Subtract National Insurance at 8% of earnings between £12,570 and £50,270 and 2% above £50,270.
Deduct pension contributions
Deduct the NHS Pension Scheme contribution, set between 5.2% and 12.5% of pensionable pay across six salary tiers.
Account for other deductions
Subtract student loan repayments or union fees, leaving the monthly take-home figure.
Use our NHS pay packet calculator for an instant estimate.
What Deductions Come Off a Senior Therapeutic Radiographer Payslip?
A Senior Therapeutic Radiographer salary advice slip carries income tax, National Insurance, and NHS Pension Scheme contributions as the standard deductions. Income tax comes off against the radiographer's tax code, and National Insurance takes 8% of earnings between £12,570 and £50,270 with 2% above that threshold. NHS Pension Scheme contributions run from 5.2% to 12.5% of pensionable pay across six salary tiers effective 1 April 2026, as set out in "NHS Pension Scheme member contributions" published by NHS Employers. Student loan repayments and voluntary items such as union fees, additional voluntary contributions, or salary-sacrifice schemes complete the deductions.
How Does Senior Therapeutic Radiographer Maternity Pay Work?
Senior Therapeutic Radiographer occupational maternity scheme follows the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service for radiographers with at least 12 months of continuous NHS service by the 11th week before the expected week of childbirth. NHS occupational maternity pay gives 8 weeks at full pay, then 18 weeks at half pay plus Statutory Maternity Pay, then 13 weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay alone, across 52 weeks. Qualifying radiographers must intend to return to NHS work for at least three months after leave. The maternity figure builds on the radiographer's Band 6, 7, or 8a salary at the qualifying date.
How Does Senior Therapeutic Radiographer Sick Pay Work?
Senior Therapeutic Radiographer sickness leave pay follows the Agenda for Change terms and rises with length of NHS service. Entitlement runs from 1 month full pay and 2 months half pay in the first year, to 2 months full pay and 2 months half pay after one year, 4 months full and 4 months half after two years, 5 months full and 5 months half after three years, and 6 months full pay and 6 months half pay after five years. Sick pay requires adherence to absence reporting and medical certification, and builds on the radiographer's basic salary.
How to Become a Senior Therapeutic Radiographer
Becoming a Senior Therapeutic Radiographer runs through an approved degree, HCPC registration, and modality specialisation. The pathway follows these steps:
Complete an approved degree
Complete a three-year BSc (Hons) in Therapeutic Radiography approved by the HCPC, or a two-year PG Diploma after a prior degree, combining academic study with clinical placements in radiotherapy.
Register with the HCPC
Register with the HCPC as a Therapeutic Radiographer, a protected title, renewing registration every two years with continuing professional development.
Gain Band 5 experience
Work as a Band 5 therapeutic radiographer for two to three years on LINAC treatment delivery, patient care, and equipment use, building IR(ME)R Practitioner competency.
Complete a modality PG Cert
Complete a PG Cert in a modality specialty such as SABR, brachytherapy, proton beam therapy, or treatment planning to build senior scope.
Demonstrate leadership
Take on mentoring, audit, and research to evidence the leadership and advanced clinical capability a Band 6 role requires.
Apply for a Band 6 role
Apply for Senior Therapeutic Radiographer posts at Band 6, showing three to five years of post-registration experience and readiness for team supervision and clinical decision-making.
What Qualifications Do You Need to Be a Senior Therapeutic Radiographer?
A Senior Therapeutic Radiographer needs a BSc (Hons) in Therapeutic Radiography, or a PG Diploma after a prior degree, and HCPC Therapeutic Radiographer registration. The role requires two to three years of post-registration Band 5 LINAC experience, a PG Cert in a modality specialty such as SABR, brachytherapy, proton beam therapy, or treatment planning, and IR(ME)R Practitioner competency. Society of Radiographers membership is the professional standard alongside HCPC registration.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Senior Therapeutic Radiographer?
Becoming a Senior Therapeutic Radiographer takes around five to six years from university entry. The route runs a three-year BSc in Therapeutic Radiography, or a two-year PG Diploma after a prior degree, plus two to three years of post-registration Band 5 experience and a PG Cert in a modality specialty. The exact duration depends on career progression and Band 6 vacancy availability.
What Band Is a Senior Therapeutic Radiographer?
A Senior Therapeutic Radiographer sits at Band 6 on the Agenda for Change pay scale, the band above newly qualified Band 5. Band 6 reflects modality specialty and clinical decision-making, and radiographers progress to Band 7 Superintendent roles with team leadership and to Band 8a Consultant Therapeutic Radiographer roles with tumour-site expert scope. The band matched to a role depends on its responsibility, clinical expertise, and leadership duties.
Are Therapeutic Radiographers HCPC Registered?
Yes, Senior Therapeutic Radiographers are HCPC-registered Therapeutic Radiographers. HCPC Therapeutic Radiographer is a protected title under Section 60 of the Health Act 1999, and radiotherapy treatment delivery is a protected function under the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 that requires HCPC Practitioner status. Registration sets HCPC standards of proficiency, conduct, and ethics, and renews every two years with continuing professional development. Therapeutic Radiographer registration is separate from Diagnostic Radiographer, though both share the Society of Radiographers as their professional body.
Do Senior Therapeutic Radiographers Get London Weighting?
Senior Therapeutic Radiographers receive a high-cost-area supplement rather than London weighting, and only where the post sits in a designated high-cost area. The supplement pays 20% of basic salary in Inner London, 15% in Outer London, and 5% in the Fringe, each within set minimum and maximum limits. Posts outside those areas carry no high-cost-area supplement.
Do Therapeutic Radiographers Plan Treatments?
Yes, treatment planning contribution is a defining Senior Therapeutic Radiographer function, though the depth varies by role. Treatment Planning Radiographers, or Dosimetrist Radiographers, work with medical physicists and clinical oncologists to produce 3D conformal, IMRT, VMAT, or SABR plans using treatment planning systems such as Varian Eclipse, Elekta Monaco, or RayStation. Junior senior radiographers contribute to contouring and plan verification, expanding to full plan production at Band 7 Superintendent scope.