SOC 29-1224.00

    Radiologists

    Diagnose and treat diseases and injuries using medical imaging techniques, such as x rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, and ultrasounds.

    Median pay
    $420,860
    Growth
    +3.4%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    700
    Typical education
    Doctoral or professional degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $89,010
    Median
    $420,860
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $594,410
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    26,770 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Radiologists are medical doctors who use imaging technologies like x-rays and MRIs to diagnose and treat patient illnesses. This highly specialized career offers a median annual pay of $420,860.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What radiologists do

    Job Zone 5: Extensive preparation

    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.

    Most need a graduate degree, such as a master's, PhD, MD or JD.

    What the work is like

    Radiologists spend their days analyzing medical images to identify injuries, diseases, and other internal conditions. They work with advanced technologies including ultrasounds, magnetic resonance imaging, and nuclear medicine. Beyond reading scans, some of these physicians perform minimally invasive medical procedures and tests.

    This role requires strong investigative interests and a deep knowledge of medicine, biology, physics, and computers. To succeed, practitioners must excel at getting information, processing it, and interpreting its meaning for other healthcare staff. They rely on skills like critical thinking, active listening, and complex problem solving to make accurate diagnoses. Because patient health is on the line, radiologists must maintain high levels of attention to detail, dependability, and stress tolerance, while practicing extreme cautiousness and integrity in their daily decision-making.

    How to get there

    Entering this profession requires extensive academic and clinical preparation. Candidates must earn a doctoral or professional degree, typically majoring in medicine. Most individuals in this field need a graduate degree, such as an MD, to begin practicing.

    After completing medical school and residency training, practitioners can pursue professional credentials. Available certifications include Nuclear Medicine Certification from the American Board of Nuclear Medicine, Certification in Nuclear Medicine from the American Osteopathic Board of Nuclear Medicine, and Board Certification in Diagnostic Radiology or Radiation Oncology from the American Board of Physician Specialties. Additionally, some states list a license for this work, so candidates must check their local state guidelines to ensure they meet all legal practice requirements.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for radiologists is $420,860. Earnings can vary significantly based on experience, location, and practice setting, with the lowest 10% earning less than $89,010 and the highest 10% earning more than $594,410.

    There are currently 26,770 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 3.4%, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to result in 700 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    65 / 100
    Investigative (I) · strongest
    94 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    6 / 100
    Social (S)
    48 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    19 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    58 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code IRC. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Assisting and Caring for Others
    97
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    92
    Getting Information
    90
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    89
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    89
    Working with Computers
    87
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    86
    Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
    86
    Documenting/Recording Information
    84
    Processing Information
    84
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Active Listening
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Speaking
    • Critical Thinking
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Writing
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Monitoring
    • Social Perceptiveness
    • Active Learning

    Knowledge

    • Medicine and Dentistry
    • Biology
    • English Language
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Education and Training
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Physics
    • Public Safety and Security
    • Communications and Media
    • Administration and Management

    Abilities

    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Written Comprehension
    • Written Expression
    • Near Vision
    • Flexibility of Closure
    • Category Flexibility

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Cautiousness
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Integrity
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Cooperation
    • Self-Control
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Perseverance

    Also called

    Attending Physician · Attending Radiologist · Breast Imaging Radiologist · Diagnostic Radiologist · General Radiologist · Interventional Neuroradiologist · Interventional Radiologist · Interventional Radiology Physician · IR Technician (Interventional Radiology Technician) · IR Travel Technician (Interventional Radiology Travel Technician)

    Career pathway

    From your interests to radiologists

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Radiologists$420,860 median pay

    3. Majors

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What radiologists may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work. Showing 12 of 20.

    • Abdominal Radiology Fellowship Program
    • Diagnostic Radiologic Physics Residency Program
    • Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program
    • Diagnostic Radiology/Nuclear Medicine Combined Specialty Program
    • Integrated Interventional Radiology Residency Program
    • Medical Nuclear Physics Residency Program
    • Medicine
    • Musculoskeletal Radiology Fellowship Program
    • Neuroradiology Fellowship Program
    • Nuclear Medicine Residency Program
    • Nuclear Medicine Residency/Fellowship Programs, Other
    • Nuclear Radiology Fellowship Program

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    53 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Federal

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about radiologists

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for radiologists?

    People in this profession are also called diagnostic radiologists, interventional radiologists, attending physicians, and breast imaging radiologists. Some may also work under titles like interventional radiology physician or attending radiologist.

    What certifications can a radiologist obtain?

    Radiologists can earn several credentials, such as Board Certification in Diagnostic Radiology or Radiation Oncology. Other options include Nuclear Medicine Certification and the Certification in Nuclear Medicine.

    What is the job outlook for this career over the next decade?

    Employment is projected to grow 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, which is as fast as average. This growth will generate about 700 job openings annually to help fill positions in the field.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.