Radiology and imaging staff wages continue to rise in ‘perpetually tight labor market’

Radiology and imaging staff salaries and wages continue to rise in a “perpetually tight labor market,” according to new data from the Medical Group Management Association.

Between 2019 and 2023, such professionals saw their median total compensation climb 17.89% as practices upped their offers to best the competition. Meanwhile, executive management positions saw compensation increase 37.89% during the same time, ahead of managed care administrative staff (26.88%) and patient accounting professionals (21.42%).

Tracing back to 2014, radiology and imaging staff median compensation has increased by about 28.31% (or $15,279 per staffer), MGMA reported June 26. That places radiology behind several other categories such as patient accounting (up 37.05% between 2014-2023), medical receptionists (35.99%) and general administrative staff (32.15%).

The findings are based on data from over 171,000 medical group management and staff positions and are meant to serve as a baseline for practices hiring to fill these key positions.

“Amid heightened patient demand and increased financial pressures, medical group practices continue to face a tight labor market where competition for clinical and administrative roles remains especially difficult," Halee Fischer-Wright, MD, president and CEO of the MGMA, which represents over 15,000 group medical practices in radiology and other specialties, said in a statement. “Compensation increases are essential for attracting and retaining talent, but current financial realities cannot be ignored. Medical groups must seek out innovative solutions that optimize operations and drive efficiencies to counteract increased labor costs while safeguarding patient access to care.”

Nearly 80% of medical practice leaders reported spending additional time on recruitment and interviewing over the past year, the survey found. Operating without a full team has forced practice leaders to grapple with lost revenue opportunities, an increased strain on providers and staff, and “downstream patient access bottlenecks that can result in worse outcomes.” Demand does not appear to be relenting, the association noted, with half of practices reporting a higher volume of visits this year when compared to 2023.

These “sizable” compensation increases in radiology and other segments line up with “anecdotal reports about the continuously competitive labor market,” MGMA noted. Previous research from the association found practices facing a 40% turnover rate for front-office support staff in 2022, alongside 33% turnover for clinical support and business operations team members.

MGMA also detailed solutions to address ongoing hiring challenges, including embracing AI for documentation to ease clinician burdens, performing skill assessments to help bolster employees’ knowledge, and automating revenue cycle operations.

“Some leaders will claim it’s about the culture their employees help shape, or how their frontline workers serve as the recognizable, trusted faces of the organization,” the report noted. “But for health systems and medical group practices facing the realities of today’s market, it’s quite simple: Care demands are surging, and having the right talent to deliver on that demand is a competitive advantage.”