Radiologist Salary Guide 2026: Complete Compensation Analysis
Radiologists earn a median of $498,000 per year in 2026, with the middle 50% earning $380,000 to $590,000 and top earners exceeding $680,000. With BLS projecting 4% employment growth against 29,530 currently employed, employers competing for radiologist talent need current data to build offers that close. This guide combines BLS OEWS figures with HealthTal's own directory data covering 13,931 radiologist professionals.
2026 Radiologist Salary Overview
National Salary Statistics (BLS OEWS, SOC 29-1224)
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 25th Percentile | $380,000 |
| Median (50th) | $498,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $590,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $680,000 |
Key Compensation Trends for 2026
- Persistent national shortage: unfilled radiology positions at record highs
- Teleradiology and 7-on/7-off scheduling now standard recruiting levers
- Projected employment growth: 4% (average)
Market Outlook
Radiology is in a structural shortage: imaging volumes grow 3-5% annually while residency slots stay flat, and AI triage tools have increased rather than decreased demand for radiologist oversight. Groups are responding with signing bonuses of $50-100K, full remote teleradiology roles, and equity tracks. Compensation has risen faster than any other diagnostic specialty over the past three years (MGMA/Doximity survey data).
Radiologist Salary by State
State-level pay varies meaningfully with cost of labor. The table below combines BLS-derived medians (adjusted by state cost-of-labor index) with the number of radiologist professionals HealthTal tracks in each market — a proxy for talent-pool depth when planning multi-state hiring.
| State | Est. Median Salary | Professionals in HealthTal Directory |
|---|---|---|
| California | $587,600 | 1,284 |
| Florida | $478,100 | 831 |
| Texas | $478,100 | 720 |
| New York | $562,700 | 699 |
| Pennsylvania | $488,000 | 535 |
| Ohio | $463,100 | 409 |
| Illinois | $498,000 | 404 |
| Massachusetts | $557,800 | 374 |
| North Carolina | $468,100 | 344 |
| Michigan | $468,100 | 336 |
| Georgia | $468,100 | 314 |
| New Jersey | $547,800 | 281 |
HealthTal tracks 13,931 radiologist professionals across 51 states. Directory counts reflect our verified-contact database, not total state employment.
Salary by Practice Setting
Where a radiologist works changes compensation as much as where they live:
| Setting | Typical Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Private radiology groups | $545,000 |
| Hospital-employed | $480,000 |
| Academic medical centers | $410,000 |
| Teleradiology | $460,000 |
How Radiologist Pay Compares to Adjacent Roles
Candidates weigh offers against neighboring career paths. Knowing the comparison set helps you position:
| Adjacent Role | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Interventional radiologist | $615,000 |
| Nuclear medicine physician | $455,000 |
| Pathologist | $365,000 |
Certification and Pay
MD/DO + diagnostic radiology residency + ABR certification; fellowship subspecialties (IR, neuro, MSK) add $50-120K.
Hiring Benchmarks for Recruiters
- Typical time-to-fill: 120-240 days for staff roles in metro markets; rural and niche-specialty searches run longer.
- Annual turnover: roughly 8% industry-wide — every retained hire saves a replacement cycle that typically costs 25-40% of annual salary.
- Offer-decline patterns: below-median base salary is the top stated decline reason, followed by inflexible scheduling.
What Employers Should Offer in 2026
- Anchor at or above the regional median — candidates compare offers against published BLS data more than ever.
- Lead with schedule flexibility — consistently the top non-salary factor cited by healthcare candidates.
- Fund certifications — covering specialty credential costs is a low-cost differentiator with direct retention impact.
- Show the career path — settings with documented advancement close candidates at lower salary premiums.
- Move fast — with time-to-fill at 120-240 days, every week of process slippage loses candidates to faster competitors.
Hiring Radiologists?
HealthTal's directory includes 13,931 verified radiologist professionals with direct contact information, searchable by state and city. Browse the directory or review our data methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average radiologist salary in 2026? The median radiologist salary is $498,000 per year per BLS OEWS data, with the middle 50% earning between $380,000 and $590,000.
Which state pays radiologists the most? Adjusted for cost of labor, the highest-paying large markets are California ($587,600), New York ($562,700), and Massachusetts ($557,800).
How fast is radiologist employment growing? BLS projects 4% (average) growth through 2034, against 29,530 currently employed.
What certifications increase radiologist pay? MD/DO + diagnostic radiology residency + ABR certification; fellowship subspecialties (IR, neuro, MSK) add $50-120K.
How long does it take to hire a radiologist? Typical time-to-fill is 120-240 days in metro markets. Niche specializations and rural locations extend searches significantly.
Data sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (SOC 29-1224, May 2024 release), HealthTal directory data (June 2026). State medians are cost-of-labor-adjusted estimates; verify local figures before benchmarking offers. Updated June 2026.
The HealthTal team covers healthcare recruitment trends, healthcare workforce insights, and data-driven hiring strategies.