Radiologist Average Salary

If you are planning a career in medicine and want to earn six figure salaries, then one of the options that you could explore is radiology. The average salary is upwards of USD 100,000 even at the entry-level in most organizations. These numbers sound really nice when you hear them but not everyone can become a radiologist. You have to invest time, energy and money to become a radiologist.

The salary also depends on lots of other factors like education, location, experience, expertise, etc. A radiologist has to perform a wide array of tasks, ranging from preparing patients for diagnostic tests to interpreting data from images, in order to earn high wages. Radiologists are certified doctors and have completed medical school and residency programs. This also warrants the high salaries that radiologists receive.

Education and Job Description

You need to first complete your undergraduate study. After completion of 4 years of undergraduate study you need to enroll in an accredited medical school, which takes 4 more years. You will also have to complete a residency program and then give a certification exam conducted by the American Board of Radiology. This certification is required by most employers when they hire radiologists.

The job description involves taking X-rays to take images of patients body parts for diagnosis. In some cases, they will use different radioactive substances to acquire images that better assist diagnostics. Preparing the patients for these procedures is also one of the duties of a radiologist, they put lead shields on patients to prevent exposure to radiation. Radiologists command high salaries as they are required to handle complex medical equipment like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT).

Average Salary

In most organizations, the average salary begins from USD 154,000 annually, this number is for people who have less than 1 year of experience. The radiologist salary also depends on the sub specialty they have acquired, an interventional radiologist will earn more than a diagnostic radiologist. The reason for this is that an interventional radiologist undergoes an additional year of training and uses different methods like fluroscopy and ultrasound. They are also involved in procedures involving implanting medical devices. According to analysts, the average salary is around USD 350,000 annually.

A diagnostic radiologist will mostly interpret data generated by imaging machines like x-ray and MRI scans. The diagnostic average salary, according to some statistics, is around the USD 250,000 mark. However, people with experience are known to earn much more than this and salary figures for radiologists can go up to USD 650,000 annually in some cases. The opportunity for advancement is also good in this profession and many go on to head the radiology department of hospitals or diagnostic centers.

The average salary is very lucrative and this is an added incentive to those looking to make their careers in medicine. Since radiologists provide a specialist service they are high in demand and this is also a contributing factor to their high salaries.