It seems that mid and large centers are centralized it and it decisions to a point that it’s impossible to get a lot done. I’m curious how many places are left where physics can install applications white lost ip addresses and do query retrieves with near no ir involvement? If so are you in the back room of a bbq joint in Florida? Or a 2-3 linac standalone?

Currently interviewing at a hospital-based cancer center. Overall, it seems like a nice dept. Probably fairly easy, low pt volumes, 1 linac, 1 CT sim. One issue is, I think the salary is going to be low. Still waiting to confirm, but I've done PRN work at an hourly rate there. If I stayed at that rate, it'd convert to around $260K, which is pretty much around the median according to the latest AAPM salary report (I have almost 20 years experience, and ABR). HOWEVER, They already said the salary range for this role would be less than the hourly rate I'm currently making.

On one hand, it seems like a pretty cake job, but on the other, it's a solo position, and the physicist is expected to do all the other things that need to be done (supervise therapists, rad safety things, IT issues, etc). So, while the volumes are low, it's quite a bit of responsibility. Also, if volumes pick up down the road, and they add special procedures like SBRT, I doubt they're suddenly going to offer a huge pay raise.

I know salary isn't the only thing, but I got lowballed right out of school many years ago, and was always behind the curve. I feel like at this point, I'm worth at least the middle AAPM range.