Radiologists see $571K average pay and 9% growth in 2025
Radiology ranked 3rd in average total compensation at $571K and posted 9% compensation growth in 2025, according to Medscape.
Radiology ranked among the top specialties for both average total compensation and compensation growth in 2025, according to Medscape’s 2026 Physician Compensation Report.
Radiologists reported average annual compensation of $571K. That placed radiology 3rd among the specialties tracked, behind orthopedics and orthopedic surgery at $611K and cardiology at $575K.
Medscape’s survey included 5,916 physicians across more than 29 specialties. Total compensation included base salary, incentive bonuses, and other income sources, such as profit-sharing contributions, as reported by full-time physicians.
Eight specialties reported average compensation above $500K. Along with radiology, the list included orthopedics and orthopedic surgery, cardiology, plastic surgery, anesthesiology, urology, gastroenterology, and otolaryngology.
Radiology compensation grew 9% in 2025. Cardiology, radiology, and anesthesiology ranked in the top 5 for compensation growth while also ranking among the top 5 specialties for average total pay.
Overall physician compensation rose about 3% from 2024 to 2025, from $374K to $386K. That outpaced the 2.7% U.S. core inflation rate at the end of the year, according to the report.
The survey also found that 53% of physicians said they felt fairly compensated, compared with 48% in the prior year’s report.
Nine specialties reported flat pay or compensation declines in the latest report. Medscape tied some pressure to Medicare reimbursement rates, particularly for private-practice physicians with high Medicare patient volumes.
About the author
RadiologySignal.com writersEditorial Team
Radiology Signal Staff covers developments across medical imaging, radiology AI, imaging informatics, clinical research, and radiology business. The team monitors primary sources, peer-reviewed studies, company announcements, society updates, and healthcare industry news to deliver concise reporting for imaging professionals.
More from this section
Richmond radiology practice reports 266K-record breach
Radiology Associates of Richmond said an unauthorized actor accessed its network in July 2025, with notification letters sent to affected individuals starting May 21, 2026.
Lumexa Imaging reports vendor-related data incident
A vendor incident may have exposed patient identifiers, insurance information, diagnoses, visit dates, and other radiology-related health information tied to Lumexa-affiliated practices.
MOC-linked radiation oncology care associated with lower Medicare costs
A retrospective Medicare Part B analysis found that radiation oncologists voluntarily participating in ABR maintenance of certification used more advanced techniques and had 10.31% lower Medicare costs per treatment course.
MARCA bill revives Medicare hospital claims for radiologist assistants
The Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act would allow radiologists to submit Medicare claims for nondiagnostic services performed by radiologist assistants under direct supervision in hospital and office settings.
House committee advances Medicare physician payment reform bill
The Provider Reimbursement Stability Act of 2026 would limit annual Medicare conversion-factor changes to ±2.5% and raise the budget-neutrality threshold.
International Focused Ultrasound Society launches
The new society will focus on clinical adoption, training, credentialing, coding, billing, clinical guidelines, patient advocacy, and industry partnerships.
AMA issues patient guidance on safe healthcare chatbot use
AMA released patient-facing prompts and cautions for health AI chatbot use, saying AI should supplement, not replace, physician expertise.
RANT projects $51M in No Surprises Act admin costs
Radiology Associates of North Texas said current batching rules and unpaid IDR awards could create more than $51M in avoidable administrative costs.
ACR issues guidance for breast biopsy needle shortage
The guidance offers triage, conservation, inventory, case-prioritization, and patient-communication strategies for practices affected by the stereotactic breast biopsy needle shortage.
USC names Joshua Hirsch chair of radiology
Hirsch joins Keck School of Medicine of USC from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, bringing experience in neurointervention, health policy, quality, and clinical operations.
Saphier nomination leaves surgeon general duties with HHS deputy
Stephanie Haridopolos will assume some surgeon general duties while radiologist Nicole Saphier awaits Senate confirmation.
Budget-neutrality bill draws radiology group support
ACR, SIR, ASNR, and other physician groups urged Congress to pass H.R. 8163, the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act.