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
SpeakingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningWritingJudgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningScienceService OrientationTime ManagementInstructingLearning StrategiesCoordinationQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisManagement of Personnel ResourcesPersuasionOperation and ControlMathematicsNegotiationTroubleshootingManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesOperations AnalysisEquipment SelectionTechnology DesignRepairingEquipment MaintenanceProgrammingInstallation
Knowledge areas
Medicine and DentistryBiologyEnglish LanguageComputers and ElectronicsEducation and TrainingCustomer and Personal ServicePhysicsPublic Safety and SecurityCommunications and MediaAdministration and ManagementMathematicsEngineering and TechnologyLaw and GovernmentAdministrativePersonnel and Human ResourcesPsychologySales and MarketingTelecommunicationsChemistryEconomics and AccountingTherapy and CounselingProduction and ProcessingSociology and AnthropologyForeign LanguageDesignMechanicalPhilosophy and TheologyTransportationGeographyHistory and ArcheologyBuilding and ConstructionFood ProductionFine Arts
Technology & tools
ACOM Solutions RAPID EMRAdvanced Data Systems MedicsRisAllscripts PMAllscripts Professional EHRAlteer OfficeAutomatic Data Processing AdvancedMD EHRAvreo Radiology Workflow SolutionsBenchmark Systems Benchmark Clinical EHRBizmatics PrognoCIS EMRCareCloud CentralCerner PowerWorks Practice ManagementComputer aided image analysis softwareDigital Imaging Communications in Medicine DICOM medical imaging softwareDigital image processing softwareEmail softwareEpic Practice ManagementEpic SystemsFujifilm SynapseGE Healthcare Centricity EMRGE Healthcare Centricity Practice SolutionGE Healthcare ViewPoint for RadiologyGalacTek ECLIPSEGreenway Medical Technologies PrimeSUITEHealthFusion MediTouchHosted PACS SolutionsIOS Health Systems Medios EHRInfinite Radiology Opal-RADKareo Practice ManagementMEDITECH softwareMIM Software MIMcardiacMIM Software MIMfusionMIM Software MIMneuroMaplewood Software StaffReadyMcKesson Practice PlusMcKesson Radiology ManagerMerge Healthcare Merge RISMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft WordModernizing Medicine Practice ManagementMotion correction software
Representative tasks
Assisting and Caring for OthersUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeGetting InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesWorking with ComputersIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersProcessing InformationDocumenting/Recording InformationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsAnalyzing Data or InformationJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationScheduling Work and ActivitiesPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationTraining and Teaching OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoaching and Developing OthersThinking CreativelyPerforming Administrative ActivitiesControlling Machines and ProcessesCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersHandling and Moving ObjectsDeveloping and Building TeamsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentStaffing Organizational Units
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
29 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Attending PhysicianAttending RadiologistBreast Imaging RadiologistDiagnostic RadiologistGeneral RadiologistInterventional NeuroradiologistInterventional RadiologistInterventional Radiology PhysicianIR Technician (Interventional Radiology Technician)IR Travel Technician (Interventional Radiology Travel Technician)MammographerMusculoskeletal Radiologist (MSK Radiologist)Musculoskeletal Specialty Radiologist (MSK Specialty Radiologist)NeuroradiologistNuclear Medicine MD (Nuclear Medicine Medical Doctor)Nuclear Medicine OfficerNuclear Medicine PhysicianNuclear Medicine SpecialistNuclear PhysicianNuclear RadiologistPediatric RadiologistPhysicianRadiologistRadiologist PhysicianRadiology PhysicianTeleradiologistTherapeutic RadiologistVascular RadiologistVeterinary Radiologist