Radiologists use sophisticated imaging technology to diagnose and treat patients.
A radiologist is a physician who diagnoses and treats conditions and diseases with X-ray technology, radioactive materials and imaging technology. The training and education requirements for a radiologist include four years of undergraduate education, four years of medical school and three years or more of residency. Radiologists must meet licensing requirements, which may include board certification by the American Board of Radiology. The average salary for a general radiologist was between $96,221 and $333,982 as of November 2010, according to PayScale.
Location
The location of the radiologist has an impact on the yearly average salary. For example, the salary range for a radiologist in New York City was between $191,404 and $316,428 in November 2010 while the same position in Atlanta, Georgia, paid salaries ranging from $53,062 to $205,579, according to PayScale.
Specialty
Radiologists can increase their average salary by specializing in an area of radiology, such as a cardiovascular radiologist who diagnoses and treats vascular system diseases. Radiologists who diagnose and treat patients with radiology -- such as nuclear radiologists, who use radioactive materials to treat disease -- earn higher salaries than general radiologists. The American Medical Group Association found in 2008 that interventional diagnostic radiologists earned an average salary of $463,219 while non-interventional diagnostic radiologists earned average pay of $420,858.
Industry
The area of health care can also affect the salary of the radiologist. For example, physicians working in the diagnostic imaging industry earned salaries ranging between $117,814 and $332,747 while those working in the medical services industry earned lower salaries, between $101,193 and $324,311, as of November 2010, according to PayScale.
Self-Employed Physicians
Physicians who are owners or part owners of a medical practice can earn higher salaries than those working for hospitals or other organizations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Radiologists must take into account the benefits available to physicians in a hospital setting, such as retirement and insurance, and compare against the potential salary increase as a self-employed radiologist.
Non-Monetary Benefits
Radiologists working in hospitals or patient care facilities receive benefits in addition to yearly salary, including insurance, paid vacation and sick time and education reimbursement. Physicians must complete continuing education requirements to maintain a license to practice medicine. Radiologists must keep current on the latest technology and treatments in the field of radiology.
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