Radiologists interpret medical images such as X-rays.
Radiologists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating illnesses through the use of radioactive materials. They may also employ non-radioactive diagnostic imaging techniques including ultrasound, magnetic imaging, computer tomography and fluoroscopy. Radiologists are highly trained health care professionals and are among the most highly compensated professionals in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Radiologists who practice in New Jersey tend to earn higher salaries than the national average.
Regional Wages
Wages for New Jersey-based radiologists may vary based on the region of the state. Annual wages for those who practiced in the Atlantic City region ranged from less than $303,120 to more than $558,471 with a median income of $446,924 as of April 2011, according to Salary.com. The annual salary range for radiologists who practiced in the Newark region was from less than $321,159 to more than $591,708, with a median annual income of $473,522.
Experience
Experience can play a significant role in determining a radiologist's income. The middle 50 percent of radiologists with between one and five years' experience earned between $41,682 per year and $152,052 per year, as of April 2011, according to PayScale.com. The middle 50 percent of those with more than 10 years on the job earned annual wages of between $121,010 and $336,678.
National Wages
Wages for radiologists nationally tended to be lower than those for radiologists who practiced in New Jersey. The median annual income for radiologists at all levels of experience from across the United States was $402,997 while a radiologist practicing in Middlesex, New Jersey, earned a median income of $467,477 as of April 2011, according to Salary.com. The top 10 percent of radiologists nationally earned at least $503,581 while the top 10 percent of radiologists who practiced in Trenton, New Jersey earned in excess of $572,572.
Considerations
Radiologists may practice in a variety of sub-specialties, including cardiovascular radiology, emergency radiology, musculoskeletal radiology, interventional radiology, and radiation oncology. Radiologists who practice in a sub-specialty usually have extensive research and clinical experience in the field, which may affect their rate of pay. The BLS projects growth in job opportunities for doctors, including radiologists, of 24 percent between 2008 and 2018. The BLS notes that doctors, such as radiologists, who specialize in diagnosing and treating ailments that are common to an aging population should have greater job opportunities.
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