Radiologist

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Work Tasks

RADIOLOGISTS are physicians who diagnose and treat diseases of the human body, using x-ray and radioactive substances. They diagnose diseases by taking and interpreting medical images. Radiologists correlate medical image findings with other examinations and tests, recommend further examinations or treatments, and confer with referring physicians. Radiologists also treat some diseases by means of radiation (radiation oncology) or minimally invasive, image-guided surgery (interventional radiology).

Salary, Size & Growth

• $297,500 average per year ($143.00 per hour)
• A medium occupation (97,800 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow rapidly (2.2% per year)

Entry Requirements

All states require physicians to be licensed. RADIOLOGISTS must graduate from an accredited medical school, pass a licensing examination, and complete at least four years of graduate medical education (residency). Radiologists are usually board certified, having taken and passed an examination and thus approved to practice in the field by either the American Board of Radiology or the American Osteopathic Board of Radiology. Radiologists can sub-specialize in areas of nuclear medicine, pediatric radiology, radiation oncology, radiobiology, neuroradiology, and diagnostic radiology.