Radiologists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $89,010 | $42.79 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $420,860 | $202.34 |
| Mean (average) | $381,530 | $183.43 |
| 90th percentile | $594,410 | $285.78 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Radiologists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 43 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $470,640 | $79,470 | $688,200 | ||
| Arkansas | $75,600 | $63,800 | $289,680 | 150 | 0.67 |
| California | $270,560 | $96,610 | $499,880 | 690 | 0.22 |
| Colorado | $344,270 | $129,370 | $684,280 | 500 | 1.01 |
| Connecticut | $191,990 | $86,930 | $440,120 | ||
| Delaware | Data unavailable | 160 | 1.91 | ||
| District of Columbia | $182,450 | $110,760 | $456,110 | 80 | 0.64 |
| Florida | $417,690 | $192,020 | $665,450 | 1,680 | 0.98 |
| Georgia | $335,190 | $164,670 | $813,360 | ||
| Hawaii | Data unavailable | 80 | 0.7 | ||
| Illinois | Data unavailable | ||||
| Indiana | $430,640 | $79,520 | $443,000 | 680 | 1.24 |
| Iowa | $405,220 | $84,500 | $533,880 | 130 | 0.5 |
| Kansas | $179,990 | $179,990 | $259,570 | ||
| Kentucky | $279,990 | $82,650 | $752,080 | ||
| Maine | $555,750 | $135,080 | $591,070 | ||
| Maryland | $581,510 | $99,470 | $626,170 | ||
| Massachusetts | $426,560 | $113,600 | $591,970 | ||
| Michigan | $485,920 | $82,250 | $558,760 | 360 | 0.48 |
| Minnesota | $708,340 | $81,490 | $708,340 | 440 | 0.87 |
| Mississippi | Data unavailable | 100 | 0.48 | ||
| Missouri | Data unavailable | 280 | 0.56 | ||
| Montana | $360,330 | $112,380 | $412,670 | 110 | 1.22 |
| Nebraska | Data unavailable | 160 | 0.91 | ||
| Nevada | $386,210 | $102,420 | $465,780 | 410 | 1.52 |
| New Hampshire | $506,010 | $78,360 | $523,650 | 210 | 1.76 |
| New Jersey | $482,700 | $84,210 | $673,000 | ||
| New Mexico | $96,170 | $66,580 | $227,530 | 170 | 1.14 |
| New York | $441,580 | $81,760 | $544,890 | 2,010 | 1.2 |
| North Dakota | $553,140 | $207,050 | $785,060 | 120 | 1.68 |
| Ohio | $260,000 | $69,210 | $471,600 | 770 | 0.81 |
| Oklahoma | Data unavailable | 110 | 0.36 | ||
| Oregon | Data unavailable | 230 | 0.69 | ||
| Pennsylvania | $455,380 | $100,040 | $543,750 | 1,360 | 1.31 |
| South Carolina | $174,480 | $53,890 | $482,100 | ||
| South Dakota | $586,010 | $233,620 | $669,020 | 70 | 0.87 |
| Texas | $319,320 | $77,270 | $503,900 | 2,330 | 0.96 |
| Utah | $417,250 | $165,740 | $450,010 | 380 | 1.28 |
| Virginia | $376,270 | $117,530 | $614,360 | ||
| Washington | Data unavailable | 1,480 | 2.43 | ||
| West Virginia | $471,650 | $65,010 | $734,750 | 360 | 2.95 |
| Wisconsin | $392,610 | $126,160 | $630,260 | 980 | 1.94 |
| Wyoming | $161,750 | $97,240 | $409,940 | 30 | 0.7 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for radiologists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 3.8%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for radiologists
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Medicine CIP 51.1201
- Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy CIP 51.1202
- Diagnostic Radiology/Nuclear Medicine Combined Specialty Program CIP 61.0102
- Nuclear Medicine Residency Program CIP 61.1201
- Nuclear Medicine Residency/Fellowship Programs, Other CIP 61.1299
- Radiation Oncology Residency Program CIP 61.2501
- Radiation Oncology Residency/Fellowship Programs, Other CIP 61.2599
- Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program CIP 61.2601
- Integrated Interventional Radiology Residency Program CIP 61.2602
- Abdominal Radiology Fellowship Program CIP 61.2603
- Diagnostic Radiologic Physics Residency Program CIP 61.2604
- Medical Nuclear Physics Residency Program CIP 61.2605
- Musculoskeletal Radiology Fellowship Program CIP 61.2606
- Neuroradiology Fellowship Program CIP 61.2607
- Nuclear Radiology Fellowship Program CIP 61.2608
- Pediatric Radiology Fellowship Program CIP 61.2609
- Radiologic Physics Residency Program CIP 61.2610
- Therapeutic Radiologic Physics Residency Program CIP 61.2611
- Vascular and Interventional Radiology Fellowship Program CIP 61.2612
- Radiology Residency/Fellowship Programs, Other CIP 61.2699
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Prepare comprehensive interpretive reports of findings.
- Perform or interpret the outcomes of diagnostic imaging procedures including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), nuclear cardiology treadmill studies, mammography, or ultrasound.
- Document the performance, interpretation, or outcomes of all procedures performed.
- Communicate examination results or diagnostic information to referring physicians, patients, or families.
- Obtain patients' histories from electronic records, patient interviews, dictated reports, or by communicating with referring clinicians.
- Review or transmit images and information using picture archiving or communications systems.
- Confer with medical professionals regarding image-based diagnoses.
- Recognize or treat complications during and after procedures, including blood pressure problems, pain, oversedation, or bleeding.
Technology skills
- Epic Systems (in demand)
- MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- ACOM Solutions RAPID EMR
- Advanced Data Systems MedicsRis
- Allscripts PM
- Allscripts Professional EHR
- Alteer Office
- Automatic Data Processing AdvancedMD EHR
- Avreo Radiology Workflow Solutions
- Benchmark Systems Benchmark Clinical EHR
- Bizmatics PrognoCIS EMR
- CareCloud Central
- Cerner PowerWorks Practice Management
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Complex Problem Solving, Service Orientation, Time Management, Instructing.
Common job titles: Attending Physician, Diagnostic Radiologist, Interventional Neuroradiologist, Interventional Radiologist, Musculoskeletal Specialty Radiologist (MSK Specialty Radiologist), Neuroradiologist, Nuclear Medicine Physician, Nuclear Medicine Specialist, Physician, Radiologist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do radiologists make?
The national median annual wage for radiologists was $420,860 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $89,010 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $594,410. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do radiologists need?
BLS lists doctoral or professional degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and internship/residency on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is radiologists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of radiologists to change +3.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay radiologists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Minnesota ($708,340), South Dakota ($586,010), Maryland ($581,510). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.