Radiology among 4 specialties seeing greatest year-over-year pay gains: Doximity

Radiology is among four specialties recording the greatest year-over-year pay gains, according to new data from Doximity released Thursday. 

In 2024, the average radiologist saw their compensation climb about 7.5%, up to $571,749. This placed the profession behind only pediatric nephrology (up 15.6%), preventive medicine (10%), and pediatrics/general medicine (8.5%), the online networking website found. Overall, physicians across all specialties saw modest pay growth at 3.7%, while the gender salary gap persists, with male doctors making about 26% more than female colleagues

Doximity’s findings are based on 230,000 survey responses across six years, including over 37,000 U.S. physicians who submitted data in 2024. 

“This year’s study reflects a profession that’s been under strain for years,” Amit Phull, MD, chief clinical experience officer of the publicly traded, San Francisco-based company, said in a statement July 31. 

Diagnostic radiologists’ average salary placed the profession No. 12 among the 20 highest paid specialties, $868 behind interventional rads at No. 11, earning $572,617. Radiation oncologists came in at No. 7 at $588,678, while neuro ($749,140), thoracic ($689,969), and orthopedic surgeons ($679,517) represented the top 3. Conversely, pediatricians specializing in endocrinology ($230,426), rheumatology ($231,574), and infectious diseases ($248,322) represent the three lowest paid specialties, Doximity’s survey found. 

Radiology also showed up on two other top 10 lists in the report. Among the specialties most in demand for 2024, radiology came in at 10th while internal and family medicine, alongside psychiatry, represented the top 3. Radiology also was the 6th most in-demand locum tenens specialty; internal and family medicine, again, topped the list, with OB-GYN at No. 3. 

“Amid concerns over an overstretched physician workforce, demand remains high across many medical specialties,” the report noted. “Beyond full-time work, locum tenens is an increasingly popular way for physicians to supplement their income or to practice with the benefits of reduced hours and more flexibility,” the authors added later, noting over 63% of physicians reported taking on temp work or will consider doing so in the next five years. 

Doximity’s data unearthed “systemwide strain and uncertainty” for radiologists and other physicians. About 85% of docs reported feeling overworked and more than two-thirds said they’re considering changing jobs or retiring, according to a poll of 2,000 U.S. physicians conducted in May and June. Another 77% said they’re willing to accept lower pay for greater autonomy or work-life balance, up from 71% in 2023. 

Almost 60% are concerned reimbursement pressures will impact their ability to care for Medicare and Medicaid patients in the next year, a different Doximity survey of 1,100 docs conducted in June found. About 17% said their organization has already reduced the number of such patients being seen in the last 12 months. And 81% agreed reimbursement policy has played a significant role in the decline of independent practice, versus 7% of physicians who disagreed.

“Greater awareness of these trends may help physicians make more-informed career decisions and more effectively advocate for both themselves and the patients who need them,” the report noted.