Occupation · SOC 29-1224
Radiologists
Diagnose and treat diseases and injuries using medical imaging techniques, such as x rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, and ultrasounds. May perform minimally invasive medical procedures and tests.
Median wage
$239,200
$82,810–$239,200
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
26,290
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
56 mapped
Core skills
Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingWritingJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingMonitoring
Knowledge areas
Medicine and DentistryBiologyEnglish LanguageComputers and ElectronicsEducation and Training
Technology & tools
Medical softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareElectronic mail softwareSpreadsheet softwareWord processing software
Representative tasks
Prepare comprehensive interpretive reports of findings.Perform or interpret the outcomes of diagnostic imaging procedures including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), nuclear cardiology treadmill studies, mammography, or ultrasound.Document the performance, interpretation, or outcomes of all procedures performed.Communicate examination results or diagnostic information to referring physicians, patients, or families.Obtain patients' histories from electronic records, patient interviews, dictated reports, or by communicating with referring clinicians.Review or transmit images and information using picture archiving or communications systems.Confer with medical professionals regarding image-based diagnoses.Recognize or treat complications during and after procedures, including blood pressure problems, pain, oversedation, or bleeding.Develop or monitor procedures to ensure adequate quality control of images.Provide counseling to radiologic patients to explain the processes, risks, benefits, or alternative treatments.Establish or enforce standards for protection of patients or personnel.Coordinate radiological services with other medical activities.Instruct radiologic staff in desired techniques, positions, or projections.Participate in continuing education activities to maintain and develop expertise.Participate in quality improvement activities including discussions of areas where risk of error is high.Perform interventional procedures such as image-guided biopsy, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, transhepatic biliary drainage, or nephrostomy catheter placement.Develop treatment plans for radiology patients.Administer radioisotopes to clinical patients or research subjects.Advise other physicians of the clinical indications, limitations, assessments, or risks of diagnostic and therapeutic applications of radioactive materials.Calculate, measure, or prepare radioisotope dosages.Check and approve the quality of diagnostic images before patients are discharged.Compare nuclear medicine procedures with other types of procedures, such as computed tomography, ultrasonography, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography.Direct nuclear medicine technologists or technicians regarding desired dosages, techniques, positions, and projections.Establish and enforce radiation protection standards for patients and staff.Formulate plans and procedures for nuclear medicine departments.Monitor handling of radioactive materials to ensure that established procedures are followed.Prescribe radionuclides and dosages to be administered to individual patients.Review procedure requests and patients' medical histories to determine applicability of procedures and radioisotopes to be used.Teach nuclear medicine, diagnostic radiology, or other specialties at graduate educational level.Test dosage evaluation instruments and survey meters to ensure they are operating properly.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Diagnostic imaging reports — draft preliminary written interpretations under attending radiologist supervision in an academic medical center or hospital setting.MRI, CT, and ultrasound images — identify normal anatomical structures and common pathological findings with direct guidance from a supervising radiologist.Patient medical histories — retrieve and review electronic health records and dictated referral notes prior to image interpretation under close oversight.PACS systems — navigate picture archiving and communication systems to retrieve, display, and transmit imaging studies under structured departmental protocols.Procedure documentation — complete required performance and outcome records for each imaging study according to established departmental standards with supervisor review.Referring clinician communications — relay preliminary imaging findings to residents or attending physicians using standardized reporting language under direct supervision.Procedural complications — recognize early signs of adverse patient reactions such as contrast agent sensitivity or oversedation and escalate to supervising staff immediately.Imaging modality parameters — apply prescribed technical protocols for CT, MRI, PET, and mammography examinations under guidance from senior radiologists.Voice recognition software — dictate structured radiology reports accurately using approved templates and department-specific terminology in a clinical reporting environment.Medical literature — read and apply current imaging guidelines and clinical decision-support references to inform image interpretation under attending oversight.
developing
Comprehensive interpretive reports — author complete, clinically actionable radiology reports for routine MRI, CT, ultrasound, and mammography cases with minimal supervisory review.Multimodality imaging findings — interpret outcomes across CT, MRI, PET, and nuclear cardiology studies for common disease presentations in a community or academic hospital environment.Procedure and outcome documentation — maintain accurate, timely records of all performed and interpreted studies in compliance with institutional and regulatory standards.Diagnostic information delivery — communicate imaging results directly to referring physicians, patients, and families using clear, accessible language tailored to the audience.Patient history synthesis — integrate data from electronic records, physician referrals, and direct patient interviews to contextualize imaging findings before formulating an interpretation.Image transmission workflows — manage PACS-based image review, annotation, and transmission to referring services, ensuring data integrity and appropriate access controls.Multidisciplinary case conferences — present and discuss image-based diagnoses with oncology, surgery, or internal medicine teams during tumor boards or clinical rounds.Intraoperative and post-procedural complications — recognize and initiate first-line management of blood pressure instability, pain, and bleeding occurring during interventional procedures.Critical thinking in ambiguous cases — apply inductive and deductive reasoning to differentiate diagnoses when imaging findings are atypical or technically limited.Time management in high-volume reading rooms — prioritize urgent studies, manage reading queues, and meet reporting turnaround benchmarks in a fast-paced clinical environment.
proficient
Complex interpretive reports — produce nuanced, subspecialty-level written interpretations for advanced imaging cases including rare pathologies, integrating clinical, laboratory, and prior imaging data autonomously.Full-spectrum diagnostic imaging — perform and interpret the complete range of MRI, CT, PET, nuclear cardiology, mammography, and ultrasound procedures independently across routine and non-routine clinical presentations.Cross-modal diagnostic correlation — synthesize findings across multiple imaging modalities and patient history sources to generate definitive diagnoses in complex, multi-system disease presentations.Clinician and patient consultation — lead authoritative discussions with referring physicians, specialists, patients, and families regarding diagnostic imaging findings, clinical implications, and recommended next steps.Advanced PACS and teleradiology operations — oversee image archival, remote interpretation, and cross-institutional image sharing while ensuring workflow efficiency and regulatory compliance.Non-routine complication management — independently diagnose and manage serious peri-procedural complications including hemorrhage, hemodynamic instability, and severe contrast reactions in an interventional radiology suite.Quality assurance monitoring — evaluate diagnostic accuracy, report turnaround times, and procedural outcomes against benchmarks, identifying performance gaps and implementing corrective actions.Subspecialty expertise application — apply deep domain knowledge in neuroradiology, breast imaging, musculoskeletal, or vascular imaging to resolve diagnostically challenging cases referred by generalist colleagues.Emerging technology adoption — evaluate and integrate new imaging technologies, AI-assisted detection tools, and updated clinical protocols into daily practice based on independent critical appraisal of evidence.Interdisciplinary problem solving — lead complex patient care decisions at multidisciplinary team meetings, providing definitive imaging-based guidance that directly shapes surgical, oncologic, or interventional treatment planning.
advanced
Departmental interpretive standards — establish and continuously refine evidence-based reporting protocols, structured report templates, and quality benchmarks for an entire radiology division or health system.Strategic imaging program development — design and implement subspecialty imaging programs, acquisition strategies, and service-line expansions aligned with institutional clinical and financial goals.Physician education and mentorship — direct the formal training of radiology residents, fellows, and advanced practice providers, designing curricula and evaluating competency progression across an academic program.System-level diagnostic quality improvement — lead institutional quality and patient safety initiatives, analyzing population-level diagnostic error trends and championing culture change across radiology and referring services.Executive clinical consultation — serve as the organizational authority on image-based diagnosis, advising C-suite leadership, hospital committees, and external regulatory bodies on radiology policy and standards.Research and scholarship leadership — conceive, fund, and oversee original imaging research programs, translating findings into published guidelines, practice innovations, and specialty-wide policy influence.Technology governance and AI integration — evaluate, procure, and govern implementation of enterprise imaging IT systems, AI diagnostic platforms, and interoperable health information infrastructure at the organizational level.Workforce and learning strategy — develop and execute talent acquisition, succession planning, and continuing professional development strategies that build sustained organizational competency across the radiology department.Interprofessional collaboration at scale — represent radiology at health system leadership forums, forging cross-specialty alliances that standardize imaging utilization, reduce unnecessary procedures, and improve patient outcomes.Ethical and regulatory stewardship — set institutional policy for radiation safety, contrast use, patient data privacy, and equitable imaging access, ensuring sustained compliance with federal, state, and accreditation requirements.
Also known as
70 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Diagnostic Imaging Helper, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Air Force 4R011C)Pediatric RadiologistNuclear Medicine Physician (Air Force 44H4)Chief Technologist, Nuclear MedicineRadiation Oncologist (Air Force 44T4)Nuclear Medicine Technologist (Navy L09A)IR Travel Technician (Interventional Radiology Travel Technician)Diagnostic Imaging Journeyman, Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Air Force 4R051B)General RadiologistAttending PhysicianNuclear Medical Science (Army 72A)Musculoskeletal Radiologist (MSK Radiologist)Diagnostic Imaging Helper (Air Force 4R011)Diagnostic Imaging (Air Force 4R0X1)Vascular RadiologistNuclear PhysicianNuclear Medicine Specialist (Navy 0140)Nuclear Medicine Officer (Army 60B)Ultrasound Technologist (Navy L15A)Radiology Specialist (Army 68P)Preventive Medicine Sciences (Army 67C)Diagnostic Imaging Craftsman, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Air Force 4R071C)Diagnostic Imaging Helper, Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Air Force 4R011B)Therapeutic RadiologistInterventional Radiology PhysicianDiagnostic Imaging Superintendent (Air Force 4R090)Diagnostic Imaging Apprentice, Nuclear Medicine (Air Force 4R031A)TeleradiologistDiagnostic Imaging Craftsman (Air Force 4R071)Radiologist PhysicianPhysicianRadiation Oncologist (Air Force 44T3)Diagnostic Imaging Craftsman, Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Air Force 4R071B)Diagnostic Imaging Journeyman, Nuclear Medicine (Air Force 4R051A)Diagnostic Imaging Apprentice, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Air Force 4R031C)Radiation Oncologist (Air Force 44TX)Advanced X-ray Technician (Navy 003652)Nuclear Medicine OfficerInterventional NeuroradiologistDiagnostic Imaging Journeyman, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Air Force 4R051C)