Health Physicist Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Health physicists find strong H-1B visa sponsorship opportunities at national laboratories, nuclear facilities, medical centers, and federal contractors. The role typically qualifies as a specialty occupation due to the specialized physics or nuclear engineering degree requirement and radiation safety expertise needed. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Type: Officer of Administration
Bargaining Unit:
Regular/Temporary: Regular
End Date if Temporary:
Hours Per Week: 35
Standard Work Schedule: Mon - Fri 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Building: 617 West 168th Street, 2nd Flr
Salary Range: $69,000-80,000
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
Position Summary
Reporting to, and under the supervision of the Radiation Safety Officer, the Health Physicist supports the day-to-day operations of the University research radiation safety programs and the Environmental Health and Safety departmental mission. The position provides professional health physics services to laboratories and facilities using radioactive materials and radiation-producing equipment across multiple campuses and affiliated locations.
The Associate Health Physicist applies established radiation protection principles and develops professional judgment under supervision. The role emphasizes regulatory compliance, field operations, researcher engagement, and program support, in collaboration with senior staff and the RSO as appropriate.
SUBJECT TO BUSINESS NEEDS, WE MAY SUPPORT FLEXIBLE AND HYBRID WORK ARRANGEMENTS. OPTIONS WILL BE DISCUSSED DURING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.
Responsibilities
- Supporting compliance with New York City and New York State Department of Health regulations, under the direction of the RSO;
- Assisting the RSO and other Research Radiation Safety staff with program initiatives, inspections, and special projects;
- Fostering a collaborative, service-oriented approach to radiation safety that supports research while maintaining regulatory compliance;
- Performing and documenting radiation protection audits, surveys, and inspections of rooms, departments, areas, or facilities where radioactive materials and/or radiation-producing equipment are used to ensure compliance with applicable rules and regulations;
- Assisting with the review of radiation protection audit/survey/inspection results and corrective actions under supervision;
- Performing appropriate surveys for non-clinical x-ray-producing equipment, including x-ray irradiators, x-ray diffraction systems, radiographic equipment for non-human applications, and other radiation protection equipment;
- Conducting surveys on radiation-protective equipment, including fixtures, devices, and personal protective equipment in accordance with established procedures;
- Maintaining inventories and performing routine quality control measurements of radiation detection instruments, sealed source radioactive materials, and radiation emitting devices;
- Performing and documenting receipt surveys of incoming radioactive material shipments and distributing shipments of radioactive materials to researchers;
- Responding to radioactive material spills, contamination events, and other radiation safety incidents in accordance with established procedures;
- Collecting and documenting data for routine and specialized reports;
- Maintaining accurate records in accordance with regulatory and institutional requirements, including use of electronic tracking systems where applicable;
- Assisting with the radioactive waste program, including managing waste storage and preparing radioactive waste for disposal;
- Supporting the health physics activities of the cyclotron and radiochemistry laboratory in accordance with established policies and procedures;
- Supporting the calibration, monitoring, operation, and reporting of air emission monitoring systems;
- Performing related duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in a physical, biological or other related science and a minimum of one (1) year demonstrated experience in radiation protection or a closely related field,
- Ability to lift 50 pounds and manipulate a full 55-gallon/400 pound drum using appropriate equipment.
- Ability to wear a respirator.
Preferred Qualifications
- Eligibility for certification by the American Board of Health Physics, the American Board of Medical Physics, the American Board of Radiology, or an equivalent certifying body;
- Familiarity with radiation safety programs in a university or research environment;
- Possession of a valid driver's license;
- Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills;
- Demonstrated ability to set priorities and work with efficiency in a deadline-driven environment;
- Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students at all levels;
- Attention to detail and proficiency with standard office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); experience with electronic radiation safety or compliance management systems is a plus.
Other Requirements
Type other requirements and/or special indicators if CUIMC
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.
Job Type: Officer of Administration
Bargaining Unit:
Regular/Temporary: Regular
End Date if Temporary:
Hours Per Week: 35
Standard Work Schedule: Mon - Fri 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Building: 617 West 168th Street, 2nd Flr
Salary Range: $69,000-80,000
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
Position Summary
Reporting to, and under the supervision of the Radiation Safety Officer, the Health Physicist supports the day-to-day operations of the University research radiation safety programs and the Environmental Health and Safety departmental mission. The position provides professional health physics services to laboratories and facilities using radioactive materials and radiation-producing equipment across multiple campuses and affiliated locations.
The Associate Health Physicist applies established radiation protection principles and develops professional judgment under supervision. The role emphasizes regulatory compliance, field operations, researcher engagement, and program support, in collaboration with senior staff and the RSO as appropriate.
SUBJECT TO BUSINESS NEEDS, WE MAY SUPPORT FLEXIBLE AND HYBRID WORK ARRANGEMENTS. OPTIONS WILL BE DISCUSSED DURING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.
Responsibilities
- Supporting compliance with New York City and New York State Department of Health regulations, under the direction of the RSO;
- Assisting the RSO and other Research Radiation Safety staff with program initiatives, inspections, and special projects;
- Fostering a collaborative, service-oriented approach to radiation safety that supports research while maintaining regulatory compliance;
- Performing and documenting radiation protection audits, surveys, and inspections of rooms, departments, areas, or facilities where radioactive materials and/or radiation-producing equipment are used to ensure compliance with applicable rules and regulations;
- Assisting with the review of radiation protection audit/survey/inspection results and corrective actions under supervision;
- Performing appropriate surveys for non-clinical x-ray-producing equipment, including x-ray irradiators, x-ray diffraction systems, radiographic equipment for non-human applications, and other radiation protection equipment;
- Conducting surveys on radiation-protective equipment, including fixtures, devices, and personal protective equipment in accordance with established procedures;
- Maintaining inventories and performing routine quality control measurements of radiation detection instruments, sealed source radioactive materials, and radiation emitting devices;
- Performing and documenting receipt surveys of incoming radioactive material shipments and distributing shipments of radioactive materials to researchers;
- Responding to radioactive material spills, contamination events, and other radiation safety incidents in accordance with established procedures;
- Collecting and documenting data for routine and specialized reports;
- Maintaining accurate records in accordance with regulatory and institutional requirements, including use of electronic tracking systems where applicable;
- Assisting with the radioactive waste program, including managing waste storage and preparing radioactive waste for disposal;
- Supporting the health physics activities of the cyclotron and radiochemistry laboratory in accordance with established policies and procedures;
- Supporting the calibration, monitoring, operation, and reporting of air emission monitoring systems;
- Performing related duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in a physical, biological or other related science and a minimum of one (1) year demonstrated experience in radiation protection or a closely related field,
- Ability to lift 50 pounds and manipulate a full 55-gallon/400 pound drum using appropriate equipment.
- Ability to wear a respirator.
Preferred Qualifications
- Eligibility for certification by the American Board of Health Physics, the American Board of Medical Physics, the American Board of Radiology, or an equivalent certifying body;
- Familiarity with radiation safety programs in a university or research environment;
- Possession of a valid driver's license;
- Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills;
- Demonstrated ability to set priorities and work with efficiency in a deadline-driven environment;
- Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students at all levels;
- Attention to detail and proficiency with standard office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); experience with electronic radiation safety or compliance management systems is a plus.
Other Requirements
Type other requirements and/or special indicators if CUIMC
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Health Physicist Jobs
Target federal contractors and national labs
Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, Sandia Labs, and defense contractors like Lockheed Martin regularly sponsor H-1B visas for health physicists due to specialized radiation protection expertise requirements.
Emphasize your specialized degree requirements
Health physics roles require specific physics, nuclear engineering, or health physics education that clearly supports H-1B specialty occupation criteria for USCIS petitions.
Consider medical center radiation safety positions
Hospitals with cancer treatment centers, research universities, and medical device companies need certified health physicists and often sponsor international talent for these roles.
Highlight radiation safety certifications
American Board of Health Physics certification or Certified Health Physicist credentials strengthen your specialty occupation case and demonstrate job-specific expertise to potential sponsors.
Apply to government contractor positions
Many health physicist roles at DOE facilities, NASA, or defense contractors are filled through private companies that sponsor H-1B visas more readily than direct federal employment.
Document your technical specialization
Focus on specific areas like medical physics, environmental monitoring, or nuclear reactor safety to show the specialized knowledge that makes H-1B sponsorship worthwhile for employers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do I need for H-1B sponsorship as a health physicist?
You need at least a bachelor's degree in physics, nuclear engineering, health physics, or a closely related field. Most employers prefer a master's degree in health physics or medical physics. The degree must directly relate to radiation protection and nuclear safety work to satisfy specialty occupation requirements.
Do health physicists get approved for H-1B visas?
Yes, health physicists have strong H-1B visa approval rates because the role clearly requires specialized scientific education and expertise. The technical nature of radiation safety work, combined with degree requirements, makes it relatively straightforward to demonstrate specialty occupation status to USCIS.
Can I get an EB-2 green card as a health physicist?
Yes, health physicists often qualify for EB-2 green cards through the PERM labor certification process. Advanced degree holders or those with exceptional ability in nuclear science may qualify. Some positions at national labs or research institutions may support EB-2 National Interest Waiver applications.
How to find Health Physicist jobs with visa sponsorship?
To find Health Physicist jobs with visa sponsorship, use Migrate Mate, which specializes in connecting international professionals with sponsoring employers. Health Physicists are commonly sponsored for H-1B, O-1 visa, and TN visas by nuclear power companies, hospitals, research institutions, government agencies, and consulting firms. These employers frequently sponsor due to specialized skill shortages in radiation safety and nuclear medicine fields.
Which employers sponsor health physicists most often?
National laboratories (Los Alamos, Oak Ridge), federal contractors (Lockheed Martin, Raytheon), medical centers with radiation therapy programs, nuclear power companies, and environmental consulting firms are the most common H-1B sponsors for health physics positions.
Do I need health physics certification before applying for sponsorship?
Certification isn't required for H-1B sponsorship, but Certified Health Physicist (CHP) credentials from the American Board of Health Physics significantly strengthen your application. Many employers prefer or require certification within a specific timeframe after hiring, especially for senior positions.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Health Physicist jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.