A radiologist will typically manage a team of radiologic technicians.
A radiology doctor -- more commonly referred to as a radiologist -- uses X-rays and other technologies to diagnose and treat medical conditions afflicting the internal organs. She'll create images to aid diagnosis using X-rays or other technologies, such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, and treat afflictions with X-rays or radioisotopes. Her salary reflects the expertise required in her role.
Average Salary
PayScale lists the annual average salary for a radiologist as $45,215 to $200,472, as of December 2010. This translates into a monthly salary of $3,768 to $16,706. Contract augmentations, such as pension provisions and health coverage, may also affect a radiologist's total remuneration package. The large salary range is due to a number of variable factors, notably employment type, experience and location.
Salary by Employer
Different types of employers offer a radiologist different levels of earning potential. The most common employer, hospitals, were listed by PayScale as offering an average salary of $47,015 to $197,644. Private practice, by contrast, had a range of $66,819 to $346,530. Universities also had attractive wage levels -- $50,000 to $300,000.
Salary by Experience
As a radiologist spends more time employed in her chosen field, her earning potential should increase to reflect her growing expertise. PayScale, as of December 2010, lists the salary range for a newly-qualified radiologist, with less than a year's experience, as $48,120 to $175,000. For those who have accrued between 10 and 19 years of professional experience, the range was $105,555 to $338,978.
Salary by Location
The location in which a qualified radiologist chooses to purse her career can also impact her salary level. The December 2010 salary analysis by PayScale found that Georgia, New York and Missouri offered the highest levels of salary -- $43,747 to $341,114, $57,500 to $305,109 and $45,978 to $275,000, respectively. Texas had the lowest rates, between $48,605 and $147,395.
Training
Like all physicians, in order to begin earning even a starting salary, a radiologist must complete extensive training. A bachelor's degree is followed by a four-year course at medical school. Upon graduation, the individual undertakes a residency in general medicine for five years to obtain her physician's licence. Then she can undertake a two- or three-year fellowship in radiology, working with a qualified practitioner, performing hands-on training and taking written examinations in order to get certified by the American Board of Radiology.
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