Radiologists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical · SOC 29-1224 · O*NET 29-1224.00
Radiologists fall under the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category in the U.S. occupational classification. Radiologists earn a median salary of $420,860 per year, ranking in the top 0% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +3.4% job growth through 2035, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's or doctoral degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do radiologists earn?
The median annual wage for radiologists is $420,860. That puts radiologists at #3 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Radiologists sit firmly in the top tier of U.S. earnings. Pay this high almost always requires extensive postgraduate education, board certification, or executive-level responsibility. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
Is radiologists a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for radiologists is +3.4%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 28K positions in 2024 to 29K in 2034, a net change of 1K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What education does my child need to become radiologist?
Becoming a radiologist typically requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's, doctoral, or professional degree, plus state licensure or board certification depending on specialty. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about radiologists
What is the median salary for radiologists?
The median annual salary for radiologists is $420,860 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is radiologists a growing career?
BLS projects +3.4% growth for radiologists from 2025 through 2035, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become radiologist?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's or doctoral degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to radiologists?
Related occupations within the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 release.