Radiologist among the 6 highest-paying jobs in America

Radiologist is among the six highest-paying jobs in America, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Labor, released in late April.

The specialty’s average annual salary of $329,080 (or $158.21 per-hour wage) placed it behind four other medical specialties, along with “athletes and sports competitors” at No. 4 ($358,080). Cardiologists weighed in at No. 1 (with an average compensation of $421,330), followed by surgeons in orthopedics ($371,400) and pediatrics ($362,970). “All other” surgeons filled the other top-five spot at an average compensation of $347,870. The number represents a 9% increase in radiologist pay compared to the previous year’s report.

A total of 29,250 radiologists were employed in the U.S., as of when the data were captured in May 2022. More than 63% of such specialists worked in physician offices, earning an average of $358,020. General medical and surgical hospitals employed the second largest tally at 5,370 (18%, with no wage estimate listed), followed by 3,660 at medical and diagnostic laboratories (12.5% at an average of $354,110), and 420 more in outpatient care centers (1%, with the highest salary at $491,980). Colleges, universities and professional schools took the fifth spot, employing 370 radiologists at an average salary of $221,060.

Massachusetts occupies the largest share of radiologists among the 50 states, with 2,120 members of the specialty earning an average of $309,090. Illinois took the second spot with 1,960 physicians ($230,510), followed by New York’s 1,770 ($308,970), California’s 1,700 ($339,140), and Texas’ 1,590 ($297,320).

The majority of the top 30 highest-paid positions are in some form of medicine, with lawyers, financial managers, airline pilots, and CEOs a few of the exceptions.

You can read much more from the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics (a division of the Labor Department), including a detailed breakdown on radiologist compensation, here.