U.S. radiologists enjoyed salary growth in 2010, while pay for radiologic technologists (RTs) fell slightly, according to the latest data from AuntMinnie.com's 2011 SalaryScan survey.
Overall, radiologists in the U.S. saw their pay increase last year, with an average base salary of $363,621 for radiologists of all experience levels, organization types, and modality specializations. That compares to an average base salary of $353,707 in 2009 and $343,800 in 2008.
Within particular areas of subspecialization, radiologist salaries decreased, however. Although interventional radiologists continued their reign as the highest-paid imaging specialists in 2010, logging an average base salary of $367,981, this rate was lower than the $393,372 reported the previous year.
CT imagers edged into second place, earning an average base salary of $365,505, compared with $364,200 the previous year, while nuclear medicine/PET specialists brought up the rear, as in past SalaryScan surveys, with an average base salary of $327,731, compared with 2009's $348,927.
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Regionally in the U.S., radiologists in the South Atlantic region (Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Washington, DC) were the best compensated, reporting an average base salary of $377,871.
In second place was the West North Central zone (North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri), where radiologists were paid an average base salary of $375,952. The third spot was occupied by radiologists from the East North Central region (Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio), with an average base salary of $374,065.
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Overall, radiologic technologists in the U.S. saw their salaries decline slightly, reporting an average base salary of $64,120 in 2010 ($30.82 on an hourly basis), compared with $65,272 in 2009 ($31.38 hourly).
Radiologic technologists specializing in nuclear medicine/PET were the best compensated, with a 2010 average base salary of $72,721 ($34.96 hourly), although this was slightly less than 2009's average base salary of $73,728 ($35.47 hourly). Next were interventional RTs at $69,349 ($33.34 hourly), compared with $71,530 a year ago ($34.39 hourly). Mammography technologists once again reported the lowest wages, at $59,101 ($28.41 hourly).
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In the regional analysis, radiologic technologists in the Pacific region (Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii) continue to be the best compensated, with an average base salary of $80,613 ($38.75 hourly). However, this was less than the $81,250 ($39.06 hourly) reported in 2009.
The same as last year, the New England region (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut) took the second spot, with an average base salary of $74,056 ($35.60 hourly), compared with $73,956 ($35.56 hourly) in 2009.
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Among other radiology professions, U.S. radiology administrators reported an average base salary of $99,775, up compared to an average base salary of $97,053 in 2009 and $95,703 in 2008. PACS/RIS managers reported an average base salary of $75,191, while PACS/RIS analysts reported an average base salary of $68,341.
The SalaryScan data were collected from surveys filled out between January and March 2011 by thousands of radiology professionals around the world. AuntMinnie.com members can conduct searches on comparable salaries in their professions, regions, and states by going to the SalaryScan data query tool on AuntMinnie's Career Center home page, at jobs.auntminnie.com.
