Radiologists

Diagnose and treat diseases and injuries using medical imaging techniques, such as x rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, and ultrasounds. May perform minimally invasive medical procedures and tests.

Jobs growth:
+3% projected 2024โ€“2034
Doctoral or professional degree
Typical Entry-Level Education

What They Do

Radiologists spend most of their time in medical facilities examining and interpreting diagnostic images to help detect diseases, injuries, and abnormalities within the body. They analyze X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, and other imaging technologies, carefully studying each image to identify signs of conditions ranging from broken bones to tumors. Beyond reading scans, many radiologists perform image-guided procedures, such as biopsies or targeted treatments, where they use real-time imaging to navigate precisely to affected areas with minimal invasion to the patient. They collaborate closely with other physicians, discussing findings and recommending next steps for patient care. Their workday typically involves moving between reading rooms filled with computer monitors and procedure rooms equipped with imaging machinery.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Medicine(professional)Stanford University, CA
$79,753
Medicine(professional)Columbia University in the City of New York, NY
$78,891
Medicine(doctoral)SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, NY
$78,551
Medicine(professional)University of California-San Francisco, CA
$76,908
Medicine(doctoral)Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY
$76,744
Medicine(professional)Harvard University, MA
$76,146
Medicine(doctoral)Yale University, CT
$75,823
Medicine(professional)University of Southern California, CA
$75,814
Medicine(professional)Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY
$75,053
Medicine(professional)University of California-Los Angeles, CA
$74,916
Medicine(professional)CUNY City College, NY
$74,620
Medicine(professional)Hofstra University, NY
$74,616
Medicine(professional)New York Medical College, NY
$73,918
Medicine(professional)Stony Brook University, NY
$73,751
Medicine(professional)California University of Science and Medicine, CA
$72,848
Medicine(professional)California Northstate University, CA
$72,848
Medicine(professional)California Health Sciences University, CA
$72,848
Medicine(professional)University of California-Davis, CA
$72,848
Medicine(professional)University of California-Riverside, CA
$72,848
Medicine(professional)Samuel Merritt University, CA
$72,848
Medicine(professional)University of California-San Diego, CA
$72,848
Medicine(professional)Brown University, RI
$72,351
Medicine(professional)New York University, NY
$71,718
Medicine(professional)SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, NY
$71,718
Medicine(professional)Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY
$71,718

Related Careers

Other occupations in Healthcare Practitioners & Technical