Radiologist compensation rose over the three-year period from 2011 to 2014, including an increase from 2013 to 2014, according to a new survey on physician salaries conducted by the American Medical Group Association (AMGA).
For noninterventional radiologists, median compensation in 2014 was $476,013, an increase of 5% from the $453,216 reported for 2013, according to the survey. For interventional radiologists, median compensation increased 2.7%, from $504,772 in 2013 to $518,164 in 2014.
| Median physician compensation, 2011-2014 | |||||
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | % change, 2011-2014 | |
| Noninterventional | $461,250 | $459,186 | $453,216 | $476,013 | 3.7% |
| Interventional | $492,102 | $485,277 | $504,772 | $518,164 | 5.3% |
The following specialties saw the highest compensation growth between 2011 and 2014:
- Gastroenterology: 13.3% ($55,464 change)
- Hematology and medical oncology: 13% ($42,404 change)
- Hypertension and nephrology: 11.1% ($28,884 change)
- Family medicine: 10% ($20,949 change)
- Infectious disease: 9.7% ($21,930 change)
Median work relative value units (RVUs) for noninterventional radiologists in 2014 were 8,463, up 7.2% from 7,892 in 2013; in 2012, noninterventional radiologist median RVUs were 7,423, AMGA found. For interventional radiologists, median RVUs were 8,353 in 2014, up 5.8% from 7,892 in 2013; the 2012 value was 7,813.
The survey found that 68% of specialties experienced increases in compensation, with growth of approximately 2.9% in the specialty-weighted average from 2013 to 2014, according to AMGA. Compensation for primary care specialties increased by about 3.8%, on average, while compensation for other medical specialties increased by 1.8% and the amount for surgical specialties increased by 3%.
In terms of geographic influences, noninterventional radiologists in the Western U.S. were the highest paid, at a median of $505,843. Interventional radiologists in the North were the highest paid, at a median of $584,922. Also, group size mattered: Noninterventional radiologists in groups of 50 to 150 members enjoyed the highest median income, at $633,134. For interventional radiologists, those in groups of 151 to 300 members had the highest median income, at $554,472.
AMGA has been conducting the survey since 1986. It is based on a questionnaire that AMGA sent to medical groups across the U.S. in January. The results were compiled from data submitted by 289 medical groups representing approximately 73,700 providers, according to the association.
