Radiologists play a critical role in diagnosing and treating medical conditions through advanced imaging techniques. Given their importance, it’s natural to wonder how much they make, especially if you’re considering a career in this field or are already established and looking to make a move to a higher-paying state.
Radiologist salary can vary significantly across the U.S. Geographic location, level of education and training, years of experience, and any specialties factor into the range of salaries radiology professionals can expect.
Beyond location and subspecialties, factors like working in private practice versus an academic setting and working in leadership roles within the industry can affect a radiologist’s salary.
Medscape, an organization providing medical information for clinicians and medical scientists, created a comprehensive compensation report to help professionals compare their radiology salary to that of their peers in neighboring states.
According to the findings, radiologists were the seventh highest-paid medical specialists in the U.S. behind plastic surgery, orthopedics, cardiology, urology, gastroenterology, and otolaryngology. The average income for radiologists was $437,000, reflecting a 10% increase in salaries and other types of compensation.
While the report indicates that radiologist salary rose overall, 42% of practitioners experienced a decrease in their wages, primarily due to the pandemic.
Medality has broken down the average radiologist salary by state based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medscape’s salary report, and real-time salary information from ZipRecruiter to provide an overview of compensation radiologists can expect from each state.
| STATE | ANNUAL SALARY | HOURLY WAGE | ||
| New York | $409,782 | $197.01 | ||
| Pennsylvania | $375,232 | $180.40 | ||
| New Hampshire | $366,923 | $176.41 | ||
| New Jersey | $361,359 | $173.73 | ||
| Wyoming | $357,458 | $171.86 | ||
| Washington | $356,971 | $171.62 | ||
| Wisconsin | $354,412 | $170.39 | ||
| Massachusetts | $354,403 | $170.39 | ||
| Alaska | $353,475 | $169.94 | ||
| Oregon | $350,612 | $168.56 | ||
| Indiana | $350,053 | $168.30 | ||
| North Dakota | $349,969 | $168.25 | ||
| Hawaii | $343,173 | $164.99 | ||
| Arizona | $342,816 | $164.82 | ||
| New Mexico | $340,684 | $163.79 | ||
| Colorado | $338,431 | $162.71 | ||
| Minnesota | $338,345 | $162.67 | ||
| Montana | $337,650 | $162.33 | ||
| Nevada | $334,220 | $160.68 | ||
| Alabama | $333,433 | $160.30 | ||
| South Dakota | $330,759 | $159.02 | ||
| Vermont | $330,227 | $158.76 | ||
| Ohio | $330,038 | $158.67 | ||
| Rhode Island | $324,751 | $156.13 | ||
| Iowa | $320,856 | $154.26 | ||
| Delaware | $320,425 | $154.05 | ||
| Connecticut | $319,832 | $153.77 | ||
| Virginia | $316,719 | $152.27 | ||
| Mississippi | $315,420 | $151.64 | ||
| Tennessee | $315,110 | $151.50 | ||
| Utah | $313,490 | $150.72 | ||
| Illinois | $312,546 | $150.26 | ||
| Georgia | $310,614 | $149.33 | ||
| Maryland | $310,550 | $149.30 | ||
| California | $309,612 | $148.85 | ||
| Nebraska | $304,590 | $146.44 | ||
| Maine | $303,184 | $145.76 | ||
| Missouri | $300,944 | $144.68 | ||
| South Carolina | $297,986 | $143.26 | ||
| Kansas | $296,902 | $142.74 | ||
| Idaho | $295,590 | $142.11 | ||
| Louisiana | $295,401 | $142.02 | ||
| Oklahoma | $294,971 | $141.81 | ||
| Texas | $293,064 | $140.90 | ||
| North Carolina | $291,836 | $140.31 | ||
| West Virginia | $289,796 | $139.33 | ||
| Kentucky | $281,024 | $135.11 | ||
| Michigan | $280,371 | $134.79 | ||
| Florida | $274,889 | $132.16 | ||
| Arkansas | $266,703 | $128.22 |
One quick glance at the radiology salary by state chart reveals the variation in wages based on location. Radiologists in New York enjoy an average annual salary of $409,782, while their counterparts in Arkansas earn $143,079 less for doing the same work.
Cost of living plays a role in the disparities. However, it’s not the only reason why location impacts annual salary for these healthcare professionals.
Supply and demand factors in as well. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) projects a radiologist shortage between 37,800 and 124,000 between now and 2034. Wyoming has one of the worst shortages, with an estimated 38.8 radiologists for every 100,000 Medicare enrollees in the state. The state offers a competitive wage – $357,458 annually – to attract and keep radiologists. They’re the seventh highest-paying state in our salary report.
Next to location, experience is the biggest influence on annual wages for radiologists. More experienced radiologists offer benefits such as faster workflows and greater proficiency at interpreting complex medical images thoroughly and accurately.
With experience comes opportunities for advancement in the field, including leadership and management roles. Department chairs and chief medical officers are among the positions that typically come with higher salaries to accommodate for greater responsibilities.
Radiologists with exceptional expertise can contribute leadership within national organizations such as the Radiological Society of North America and the Association of Educators of Imaging and Radiological Sciences.
Completing a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), followed by completing a residency program in radiology, is the level of education needed to earn the highest radiologist salary. It takes more than a decade for most to fulfill these requirements.
After meeting the educational requirements for becoming a radiologist, seeking board certification is the final step. While board certification isn’t required to work as a radiologist, it’s a valuable credential that can increase earnings.
Radiologists have the option of completing a fellowship in a subspecialty of radiology, which can further boost income levels. Roughly 90% of radiologists complete a fellowship that provides more advanced training in a specialized area.
Some of the most common radiology fellowships that come with higher wages include:
Most fellowships last one to two years, during which time a radiologist can enhance their skills and subspecialties in high demand. The greater the demand, the higher the wages.
Private practice radiologists tend to earn higher annual salaries than their academic counterparts because their compensation is tied to productivity. The more patients they see and procedures they complete, the higher their income.
Some private practices offer bonus structures or profit-sharing models that reward radiologists for meeting or exceeding targets or for otherwise contributing to the practice’s financial success.
Radiology educators average annual salaries range between a low of $60,654 in North Carolina to a high of $96,206 in New York.
Several key elements affect radiologist salary. Cost of living, demand for healthcare services, and geographic location are among the factors that impact salaries the most.
While some radiologists may gravitate toward opportunities in the states offering the highest wages, it’s essential to consider other factors. Quality of life and opportunities for professional growth and advancement are attractive options for some radiologists that may influence their career path more strongly than income.
To choose the best option for your radiology career, arm yourself with quality market intelligence and then develop a holistic approach to total compensation.
