Careers: Industry

Description:

A health physics career in industry could put you in a manufacturing firm, a company making radiopharmaceuticals, a nuclear power plant, construction, or even the space agency.

A health physicist is a critical part of an organization using radiation and/or radioactive material to assure that radiation exposure of workers, the public, and visitors is minimized and to assist the organization in its compliance with regulations.

Requirements for the Following Positions in an Industrial Setting¹:

Radiation Safety Officer

Minimally a BS degree with 40 hours of training and experience, often an MS in health physics.

Technician

Minimum of a high school degree.

Average Annual Salary²: $94,000-$102,000

Starting Salary: $41,000-$71,000

See the HPS Salary Survey

Example Companies

• 3M
• Eli Lilly
• Bottling companies such as Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Anheuser-Busch
• NASA
• Nuclear power companies - visit www.nei.org

Ask Mike Lewandowski, CHP, Manager of Ionizing Radiation at 3M, about industrial careers.

¹This is an example only. Some companies may require graduate degrees.
²Increases by $20,000 per year with certification by the American Board of Health Physics.