Radiologists enjoyed faster salary growth than physicians overall in the latest salary survey from Doximity. Radiologists also moved up several positions on the list of highest-paid doctors.
Doximity operates a widely used digital platform that counts around 85% of U.S. physicians as members.
- The company’s annual salary survey is a closely watched barometer of physician compensation, as well as other trends like compensation by metro area and physician specialty.
The 2026 survey found that radiologists had an average annual salary of $610k, up 6.6% compared to $572k in the last survey. Radiology’s growth exceeded the 2% average growth rate for all physician specialties.
- Radiology moved up three positions to occupy the #8 slot among highest-paid specialties, compared to #11 in last year’s survey.
Despite radiology’s progress, salary growth in the specialty actually slowed a bit compared to Doximity’s 2025 survey, when it rose 7.5%.
- Back then, radiology had the fourth-fastest salary growth among medical specialists.
Count yourself lucky if you’re an interventional radiologist. The field saw the largest increase in annual compensation among all physician specialties – 10.8%, bringing average compensation to $635k.
Besides just compensation, the 2026 survey also queried physicians about other employment-related topics, finding…
- 85% reported that the physician shortage had affected their clinical practice.
- 76% said the shortage and other pressures had compromised the quality of care they deliver.
- The gender salary gap remained at 26% for the second straight year as men made an average of $122k more than women.
- At 10%, radiology actually had one of the smallest gender pay gaps.
The survey also drilled down into physician attitudes toward artificial intelligence, which is being proffered as a potential solution to the workforce shortage, finding that…
- 66% reported using AI on a daily or weekly basis.
- 23% expected AI to boost their compensation within the next year.
- 67% thought that doctors who stay current with AI tools will have an earnings advantage over physicians who don’t.
The Takeaway
The new Doximity physician survey showed that despite workload challenges, radiology remains one of the best-compensated physician specialties. It also highlights physicians’ changing attitudes toward AI, as what was once seen as a competitive force is now viewed as a complementary and even beneficial technology for doctors.
