Salaries for both radiologists and radiologic technologists (RTs) in the U.S. fell in 2011, according to new salary data from AuntMinnie.com. Meanwhile, radiology administrators appear to be improving their economic lot, reporting six-figure average salaries for the first time.
AuntMinnie.com's annual SalaryScan survey tracks benefits and compensation packages for a wide range of radiology professions. For this year's survey, more than 4,100 radiology professionals submitted their salary and benefits information during the data collection period from January to March 2012.
On the whole, radiologists in the U.S. of all experience levels, organization types, and modality specializations reported an average base salary of $346,564 in 2011. That compares to an average base salary of $363,621 in the 2010 edition of SalaryScan and $353,707 in 2009.
When parsed by modality specialization, interventional radiologists maintained their position as the highest-paid imaging subspecialists, with an average base salary of $385,125, a level that compares to $367,981 a year ago. Next up in this year's survey were mammographers, at $359,241, followed by ultrasound specialists at $350,042. Nuclear medicine physicians are still the lowest-paid physicians in medical imaging, with an average base salary of $299,462.
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On a regional basis, radiologists in the heartland reasserted their position at the top of the pay charts after losing the spot to those in the South Atlantic region last year. Radiologists in the West North Central region (North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri) had the highest incomes, at $391,250, followed by those in the East South Central zone (Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama) at $390,727.
Once again bringing up the rear were radiologists on the coasts, specifically the Pacific region (Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii) with an average base salary of $325,396 and those in New England (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut) at $299,784.
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Radiologic technologists reported an overall average base salary in the U.S. of $63,965 ($30.75 on an hourly basis), compared with an average base salary of $64,120 in 2010 ($30.82 hourly) and $65,272 in 2009 ($31.38 hourly).
As in past SalaryScan surveys, specialization had its benefits. At the top of the heap were RTs who specialized in nuclear medicine and PET, at an average base salary of $72,921 ($34.76 hourly), compared with an average base salary of $72,721 ($34.96 hourly) for the same category in 2010. On the next rung of the salary ladder were interventional radiologic technologists, at $72,268; they had an average base salary of $69,349 ($33.34 hourly) in 2010.
At the bottom were mammography technologists, as in past surveys. Mammography RTs had an average base salary of $59,935 ($28.81 hourly), compared with $59,101 in 2010 ($28.41 hourly). Slightly higher were CT technologists, at $62,966 ($30.27 hourly); they had an average base salary of $62,842 ($30.21 hourly) in 2010.
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On a regional basis, RTs from the Pacific region continue to lead the pack, as in past SalaryScan surveys. Radiologic technologists living in this area had an average base salary of $77,568 ($37.29 hourly), compared with $80,613 ($38.75 hourly) in the 2010 survey.
RTs from New England occupied their traditional runner-up position in the SalaryScan analysis, with an average base salary of $72,789 ($34.99 hourly), compared with $74,056 ($35.60 hourly) in 2010 and $73,956 ($35.56 hourly) in 2009.
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Among other radiology professionals, radiology administrators reported an average base salary of $100,622 in 2011, breaking the six-figure mark for the first time. Radiology administrators reported an average base salary of $99,775 in 2010 and $97,053 in 2009. PACS/RIS managers reported an average base salary of $78,326, while PACS/RIS analysts reported an average base salary of $73,980.
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.com's Career Center home page, at jobs.auntminnie.com.
