Radiology ranks among top specialties for pay growth

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.