A radiologist uses imaging technology to diagnose and treat disease. You interpret medical images, make critical decisions about patient care, and stay current with evolving medical knowledge. It requires a doctoral degree and extensive preparation.
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Radiologists use imaging equipment like X-rays, CT scans, and ultrasounds to diagnose medical conditions and guide treatment. You analyze images carefully, communicate findings to other physicians, make decisions about patient care, and solve complex diagnostic problems. The work requires you to stay current with advances in medical imaging and technology. You work with computers to access patient information and document your findings. You also assist and care for patients during imaging procedures, explaining what to expect and answering their questions.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Radiologists earn a median of $420,860 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is steady. Employment is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as average for all occupations, with about 800 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
You need a doctoral degree in medicine, followed by specialized training in radiology. Your education path includes completing medical school, which builds your foundation in medicine and biology. After earning your degree, you complete a residency program focused specifically on radiology. Throughout your training, you develop the critical thinking, science, and communication skills essential to the work. This extensive preparation ensures you can interpret complex images and make sound clinical decisions.
The path to becoming a radiologist involves medical school and residency training. If you are exploring this career and want to map out the steps ahead, Pathly can map the radiologist path that fits you and work through it with your counselor to understand the timeline and requirements.
You do not need a license to work as a radiologist, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You are drawn to investigative work. You enjoy analyzing complex information, solving diagnostic puzzles, and using evidence to reach conclusions about patient health.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).