Survey: Despite frustrations, rads would choose medicine again

Nov 25, 2006

In a national salary survey conducted this year by physician recruiting firm LocumTenens.com, only 7% of the 277 radiologists who participated said they were not frustrated with the practice of their craft in today's marketplace.

Of the remaining participants, 24% expressed concern about medical liability issues; 22% were concerned about lifestyle issues such as spending too much time at work; 16% were frustrated by how administrative or business agendas interfere with clinical decisions; and 14% were concerned about reimbursement issues. Sixty percent mentioned medical liability as the one thing they would change about medical practice if they could, while 12% would change reimbursements.

But 70% of the radiologists included in the survey said they would choose medicine as a career again, as compared to respondents of other specialties such as obstetricians/gynecologists (56%), orthopedic surgeons (57%), anesthesiologists (67%), general surgeons (69%), and pediatricians and internists (70%). Of the radiologists surveyed, 59% said they were not planning to change jobs soon, but 33% claimed that they planned to change jobs within the next two years.

The LocumTenens.com survey found that radiologists' salaries have decreased 7%, from $354,260 in 2005 to $330,100 in 2006. Forty percent of radiologists earn salaries of $300,000 or less, with 22% earning less than $225,000 per year. Twenty-seven percent earn more than $400,000 per year.

Sixty-one percent of the radiologists included in the survey had worked as a locum tenens radiologist, and 34% said they would consider it, according to Alpharetta, GA-based LocumTenens.com.

By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
November 26, 2006

Report: Some rads see double-digit pay gains, October 16, 2006

Survey says physician income drops in U.S., June 27, 2006

Radiologists ride Rocky Mountain high in SalaryScan survey, June 1, 2006

Radiologists in growing demand as locum tenens, November 15, 2005