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Radiologist Salary in 2026

Radiologist pay, in real terms

Per hour
$202.34
Per week
$8,093
Every 2 weeks
$16,187
Per month
$35,072

At the national median of $420,860/year, a radiologist earns $35,072/month before taxes. Over a 30-year career that's roughly $12,625,800 in gross earnings — and that's before raises, promotions, or bonuses.

That puts this role about 776% above the U.S. median wage for all workers (about $48,060/year, per BLS). Using the common rule of keeping housing under 30% of gross pay, this salary supports about $10,522/month in rent or mortgage.

Figures are gross (pre-tax) estimates from the national median; use the take-home and hourly calculators on PayCrunch for your exact state and situation.

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AI Was Supposed to Replace Radiologists. It Didn't.

Updated June 2026 · BLS Data
Radiologist Salary
$420,860per year
National median salary · $202.34/hour · $35,071/month
Hourly
$202.34
Monthly
$35,071
Weekly
$8,093
Salary Range (10th–90th percentile)
$89,010Median: $420,860$594,410
$420,860
Median Salary
$202.34
Hourly Rate
$89,010
Entry Level
$594,410
Top Earners
Doctor of Medicine
Education
+3%
Job Growth
BLS.gov data
Updated June 2026
All 50 states
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What Does a Radiologist Do?

Radiologists are physicians who diagnose and treat diseases using medical imaging — X-rays, CT, MRI, ultrasound, and nuclear medicine. They interpret images, consult with referring physicians, perform image-guided procedures (interventional radiology), and increasingly supervise AI tools that pre-screen and prioritize scans. Radiologists work in hospitals, outpatient imaging centers, and teleradiology practices.

Radiologist Salary Calculator by State

Select your state to see the adjusted Radiologist salary based on cost-of-living differences.

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How to Become a Radiologist

Education: Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Osteopathic Medicine (DO) + radiology residency

Certifications: American Board of Radiology (ABR) certification; state medical license

1. Earn a bachelor's degree with pre-med coursework.

2. Complete medical school (4 years, MD or DO).

3. Complete a diagnostic radiology residency (4-5 years).

4. Pass the American Board of Radiology (ABR) certification exams.

5. Optionally complete a fellowship (interventional, neuroradiology, mammography, etc.).

6. Obtain and maintain a state medical license.

Career path: Radiology Resident → Board-Certified Radiologist → Subspecialty Fellow → Section Chief → Department Chair

Radiologist Salary by Experience

Entry level
$89,010
Mid-career
$420,860
Senior
$594,410

Estimates based on BLS percentile data and industry surveys. Actual salaries vary by employer, location, and individual qualifications.

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Top 10 Highest-Paying States for Radiologists

#StateAnnualMonthlyHourly
1Hawaii$496,615$41,385$238.76
2California$483,989$40,332$232.69
3New York$483,989$40,332$232.69
4Massachusetts$471,363$39,280$226.62
5New Jersey$471,363$39,280$226.62
6Connecticut$462,946$38,579$222.57
7Washington$462,946$38,579$222.57
8Maryland$454,529$37,877$218.52
9Alaska$441,903$36,825$212.45
10Colorado$441,903$36,825$212.45

State salaries estimated using BLS national median adjusted by regional cost-of-living factors. Actual state-specific BLS data may differ.

Salary Comparison: Radiologist vs. Related Jobs

Job TitleMedian SalaryHourlyDifference
Radiologist$420,860$202.34
Radiologic Technologist$73,410$35.29$-347,450
Anesthesiologist$302,970$145.66$-117,890

Job Outlook

The BLS projects +3% growth for radiologists through 2032, which is slower than average compared to the average for all occupations (3%).

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🆕 New & Trending AI Tools for RadiologistReviewed July 2026

We track new AI-tool launches every week and refresh this list — here’s what’s gaining traction for Radiologist work right now.

AbridgeNEWEnterprise / see site

Ambient AI scribe that turns a patient conversation into structured clinical notes.

How a Radiologist uses it: document a visit automatically instead of charting after your shift

Microsoft Dragon CopilotNEWEnterprise / see site

Voice AI that dictates and drafts clinical documentation (successor to Nuance DAX).

How a Radiologist uses it: speak your notes and have the chart written and filed for you

Heidi HealthNEWFree / paid tiers

AI documentation tool built around clinician and nurse workflows.

How a Radiologist uses it: handle shift notes and handovers without manual write-ups

OpenEvidenceNEWFree for verified clinicians

AI that answers clinical questions from current medical evidence, with citations.

How a Radiologist uses it: check the latest evidence at the point of care in seconds

NotebookLMNEWFree / $7.99 mo

Google tool that answers questions grounded only in the documents you give it — with citations.

How a Radiologist uses it: load your own manuals, policies, or PDFs and ask questions that stay accurate to the source

SukiEnterprise / see site

AI voice assistant for clinical notes and coding.

How a Radiologist uses it: dictate notes hands-free and cut charting time sharply

NablaFree tier / see site

Ambient AI assistant that generates notes from the patient encounter.

How a Radiologist uses it: capture the visit and get a ready-to-review note in seconds

ChatGPTFree / $20 mo

The most-used AI assistant — writing, analysis, research, and images from a plain-language chat.

How a Radiologist uses it: draft emails and documents, summarize long files, and get instant answers to on-the-job questions

ClaudeFree / $20 mo

AI assistant known for careful writing, long-document analysis, and coding.

How a Radiologist uses it: analyze big reports or spreadsheets and turn messy notes into clean, finished writing

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a radiologist make?
The national median salary for radiologists is $420,860 per year. Earnings range from about $89,010 (10th percentile, including residents) to over $594,410 (90th percentile), per BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
Is radiology a good career in 2026?
Yes. Despite years of predictions that AI would replace radiologists, demand keeps rising — imaging volume grows faster than the workforce, and a radiologist is still legally accountable for every read. BLS projects about 3% growth for the 2024-2034 decade.
Will AI replace radiologists?
No — it's reshaping the job, not eliminating it. AI now pre-screens and prioritizes scans and flags findings, but a board-certified radiologist owns the final interpretation and the liability. The highest-leverage radiologists are those who validate and govern AI tools rather than compete with them.
How long does it take to become a radiologist?
Typically 13-14 years: 4 years undergraduate, 4 years medical school, 4-5 years residency, plus an optional 1-2 year fellowship.
What is the difference between a radiologist and a radiologic technologist?
A radiologist is a physician who interprets images and is legally responsible for the diagnosis. A radiologic technologist operates the imaging equipment and acquires the images, earning a median near $80,000 versus a radiologist's $420,860.
Methodology and data sources

Salary data is based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) program. National median, 10th percentile, and 90th percentile figures are sourced from the most recent BLS OES release. State-level salary estimates are calculated by applying regional price parity adjustments from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to the national median. Actual state-specific BLS data may differ. Job growth projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program. Education and certification requirements are based on BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook descriptions. All figures are approximate and updated periodically.

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