Healthcare practitioners
Radiologist
Diagnose and treat diseases and injuries using medical imaging techniques, such as x rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, and ultrasounds. May perform minimally invasive medical procedures and tests.
Median pay
$420,860
Growth to 2035
+3%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
700
Time to qualify*
7 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Radiologist
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Exposure to disease
Radiologist: 64% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core 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.
Also called: Attending Physician · Diagnostic Radiologist · Interventional Neuroradiologist · Interventional Radiologist · Musculoskeletal Specialty Radiologist (MSK Specialty Radiologist) · Neuroradiologist · Nuclear Medicine Physician · Nuclear Medicine Specialist
Outlook and AI
Radiologists held 28,700 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 29,600 by 2035 (+3%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
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