Answer to Question #117 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Q

Where can I access salary survey information particular to RSO responsibilities to four facilities?

A

After receiving additional information from you regarding the specific radiation safety officer (RSO) responsibilities that you are interested in, I would categorize the work and level of responsibility described as equivalent to a journeyman or senior health physicist. Although I am assuming that you are asking about a full-time salaried position, if the person is doing this on a consultant basis, the hourly charges could be a lot higher.

In the federal government, the salaried position would be a GS-12 ($45k-$58k/annum) or GS-13 ($54k-$70k/annum). Having the responsibility as THE RSO would add value to that, possibly boosting the grade to GS-14 ($63k-$82k/annum), or higher, again depending on the size of the overall program (budget, staffing, complexity of the medical work [e.g., does this involve radiation therapy, gamma stereotactic surgery, brachytherapy, etc.]) The fact that each of the four facilities is separately licensed is significant; this could represent a considerable workload in itself to maintain the licenses. If the person also oversees the PET studies, is oversight of a cyclotron facility involved?

Based on the recent HPS salary survey, the salary ranges quoted above are pretty commensurate with median salaries reported in that survey. Of course, geographic location within the United States, if applicable, will also have a significant effect on the salary structure as well.

Bob Zoon, Radiation Safety Officer, NIH