Radiology is an important part of medical diagnostics.
Radiology uses diagnostic imaging procedures, such as X-ray, computed tomography, or CT, and magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, to diagnose and treat diseases. Radiology careers include physicians, technicians and nurses; income varies based on the level of training and experience.
Radiologist
A radiologist is a medical doctor who's a specialist in interpreting medical images and providing treatment with radiation. According to the American Medical Group Association, the median annual 2009 salary for an interventional diagnostic radiologist who performs minimally invasive interventional techniques using imaging to guide the procedure was $478,000. The median for a noninterventional diagnostic radiologist was $454,205.
Radiologic Technicians and Technologists
Radiologic technicians and technologists assist radiologists in doing X-rays and other imaging procedures such as CT, MRI and mammography. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary as of May 2009 for radiologic technicians and technologists was $53,240, with 50 percent earning between $43,510 and $64,070. According to the BLS, more than 50 percent of radiologic techs worked in general medical and surgical hospitals, where the annual mean salary was $54,770, and about another 20 percent worked in the offices of physicians, where the annual mean salary was $50,860. The highest paying states were Massachusetts, at $68,530, and Nevada, at $66,420.
Radiologist Assistant
A radiologist assistant is a high-level radiologic technologist who works under the close supervision of a radiologist to perform and assist with advanced tasks. According to the 2008 Radiologist Extender Salaries and Functions Survey, the average salary for radiologist assistants was $102,972.
Radiology Nurse
Radiology nurses care for patients having diagnostic radiation procedures and radiation therapy for cancer. According to PayScale, certified radiology nurses make $29.30 to $42.53 an hour; the I Hire Radiology website reports annual base pay salaries that range from $43,680 to $79,040, depending on experience.
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