Healthcare career

Radiologist

Also called: Diagnostic Radiologist · Interventional Radiologist · Imaging Physician · Teleradiologist

What radiologists do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
What does a radiologist do?

Radiologists are physicians who diagnose and treat disease using medical imaging such as X-rays, CT, MRI, ultrasound and nuclear medicine. The median pay is $420,860 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 13 years after high school, and employment is projected to grow +3.4% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

  • Median pay
    $420,860
    $202.34/hour · May 2025
  • Job growth
    +3.4%
    2025–35, about as fast as average
  • Openings per year
    700
    Average, 2025–35
  • Typical entry education
    Doctoral or professional degree
    BLS classification
  • Time to train
    13 years after high school
    Typical program length
  • U.S. jobs
    28,700
    Employment, 2025

What radiologists do

Radiologists are imaging experts. They read X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds and mammograms, find fractures, tumors, strokes and infections, consult with other physicians, and supervise imaging quality and safety. Interventional radiologists use imaging to guide procedures such as biopsies, drains and stents.

Radiologists complete medical school, a one-year internship and a four-year radiology residency, usually followed by a fellowship. Teleradiology lets many read images remotely. They are among the highest-paid physicians.

Typical duties

  • Interpret medical images
  • Diagnose disease and injuries
  • Consult with other physicians
  • Perform image-guided procedures
  • Supervise imaging protocols
  • Ensure radiation safety
  • Write imaging reports

Work environment and schedule

Radiologists work in hospital reading rooms, imaging centers and from home through teleradiology.

Schedule: Schedules include days, evenings and overnight shifts; many work remotely part of the time.

A day in the life

  1. Read overnight emergency CT scans.
  2. Read screening mammograms.
  3. Call a surgeon about appendicitis.
  4. Perform an ultrasound-guided biopsy.

See a full day in the life of a radiologist →

Radiologist salary

Half of radiologists earned more than $420,860 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $89,010 for the lowest 10% to $594,410 for the top 10%.

Full radiologist pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a radiologist

  1. Earn a bachelor’s degree
  2. Complete medical school
  3. Complete internship
  4. Complete radiology residency
  5. Complete a fellowship

Medical school, a one-year internship and a four-year radiology residency are required; most also complete a fellowship.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a radiologist →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

  • Image interpretation
  • Anatomy
  • CT and MRI physics
  • Interventional procedures
  • Radiation safety

People skills

  • Attention to detail
  • Communication
  • Focus
  • Decisiveness

All radiologist skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Among the highest-paid physicians
  • Remote work options
  • Central role in diagnosis
  • Technology-driven

Cons

  • High volume and pressure
  • Long training
  • Limited patient contact
  • Eye strain and sitting

Certifications and licenses

  • ABR board certification: American Board of Radiology.
  • State medical license: Required, often in several states for teleradiology.
  • Interventional radiology certification: Subspecialty.
  • Mammography qualifications (MQSA): Required to read mammograms.

Career path

  1. Radiology Resident: Train.
  2. Radiologist: Read studies.
  3. Subspecialist: Neuro, body or interventional.
  4. Department Chair: Lead imaging.

Learn the job before day one

Our Radiologist training (12 hours, $109.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as read a chest x-ray systematically and communicate a critical result, safety and how to land your first job.

View Radiologist trainingIs this career right for me?

Radiologic Technologist

Take the X-rays and diagnostic images doctors use to find fractures, disease and injuries.

  • $80,110
  • 2 years

MRI Technologist

Operate MRI scanners that create detailed images of the body.

  • $95,480
  • 2–3 years

Compare: Radiologist vs. Rad Tech · Radiologist vs. MRI Tech · Radiologist vs. Nuclear Medicine Tech · Radiologist vs. Sonographer

Radiologist FAQ

Do radiologists see patients?

Diagnostic radiologists rarely do; interventional radiologists do procedures on patients.

Can radiologists work from home?

Many read studies remotely through teleradiology.

How long is training?

About 13 years after high school, plus fellowship.

How much does a radiologist make?

The median annual wage for radiologists was $420,860 ($202.34 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $89,010 and the highest 10% earned more than $594,410.

How long does it take to become a radiologist?

Most people need about 13 years after high school of training. Medical school, a one-year internship and a four-year radiology residency are required; most also complete a fellowship.

Do you need a degree to be a radiologist?

Yes. BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education, and you also need a state license to practice.

More radiologist questions →

Sources

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

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