Pediatric Radiology Salary in 2024: What to Expect and Key Trends

Pediatric radiology is a specialized branch of radiology focused on diagnosing and monitoring medical conditions in children using imaging technologies. Given the specialized skills required to work with young patients, pediatric radiologists enjoy competitive salaries, although their compensation may vary based on several factors. This article delves into pediatric radiology salary trends for 2024, using insights from Doximity, MGMA, Medscape, and MedAxiom reports.

Overview of Pediatric Radiology Salary
Average Pediatric Radiology Salary in 2024
Analysis from Doximity, MGMA, and Medscape Reports
Factors Influencing Pediatric Radiologist Salaries
Salary Trends Over the Years
Pediatric Radiology Salary by Region
Gender Pay Gap in Pediatric Radiology
FAQs About Pediatric Radiologist Salaries

1. Overview of Pediatric Radiology Salary

Pediatric radiologists are crucial in diagnosing and monitoring health conditions in infants, children, and adolescents through imaging techniques like X-rays, MRI, CT scans, and ultrasound. Their work demands not only radiology expertise but also the ability to communicate effectively with young patients and their families. Given these requirements, salaries for pediatric radiologists are highly competitive, although they may be lower than those of radiologists in some other subspecialties.

2. Average Pediatric Radiology Salary in 2024

For 2024, the average salary for pediatric radiologists is approximately $398,000, based on the latest compensation data. Although this figure is lower than the average for diagnostic radiologists in general, it reflects the unique aspects of working with pediatric patients and the high level of specialization involved.

Doximity 2024 Report: Pediatric radiologists earn an average of $398,000, which places them among the lower-paid radiology subspecialties but still above many other medical specialties.
Medscape 2024 Report: The average salary reported for pediatric radiologists is similar, at around $400,000, confirming consistent compensation across multiple surveys.
MGMA Data: According to MGMA’s 2023 data, pediatric radiologists earn a median compensation of $405,000, with the upper quartile surpassing $460,000, indicating a range of earning potential depending on experience and practice setting.

3. Analysis from Doximity, MGMA, and Medscape Reports

Insights from these key reports shed light on pediatric radiology compensation:

Doximity 2024 Report: Pediatric radiologists have seen moderate salary growth over the past year, with a 4% increase reported for 2023. The report highlights the high demand for pediatric radiology expertise in larger metropolitan areas and children’s hospitals, which often leads to higher compensation in these settings.
Medscape 2024 Report: The Medscape data aligns with Doximity, showing pediatric radiologists near the lower end of the radiology salary spectrum but still within the top third of all medical specialties.
MGMA 2023 Report: MGMA’s data emphasizes the variation in compensation by practice setting. Pediatric radiologists working in private practices or large children’s hospitals tend to earn more than those employed by academic institutions, where compensation is typically lower due to differences in patient volume and administrative responsibilities.

4. Factors Influencing Pediatric Radiologist Salaries

Several factors can impact pediatric radiology salaries, including:

Experience Level: Like other medical fields, compensation tends to increase with experience. Senior pediatric radiologists, particularly those in leadership roles, often earn above the average salary.
Practice Setting: Pediatric radiologists working in children’s hospitals or large healthcare systems typically earn higher salaries than those in academic settings, which may focus more on research and teaching.
Geographic Location: Compensation can vary significantly based on location. Cities with a higher cost of living or a greater demand for pediatric healthcare services tend to offer higher salaries.
Subspecialty Expertise: Pediatric radiologists with additional expertise, such as pediatric neuroradiology or interventional pediatric radiology, may command higher salaries due to their specialized skills.

5. Salary Trends Over the Years

Pediatric radiology salaries have shown steady growth over the past decade:

2020-2022 Trends: The COVID-19 pandemic had a varied impact on pediatric radiology, with some elective imaging procedures being postponed, leading to temporary declines in compensation. However, the demand for pediatric radiology services rebounded in 2023, resulting in a 4% increase in salaries.
Long-Term Growth: Over the past decade, pediatric radiology salaries have steadily increased, although they remain lower than those of some other radiology subspecialties, such as interventional radiology. The MGMA report indicates a consistent upward trend in compensation, with average salaries typically around $400,000-$405,000, depending on experience and location.

6. Pediatric Radiology Salary by Region

Geographic differences significantly impact compensation for pediatric radiologists:

Top-Paying Regions: Metropolitan areas such as San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and Seattle, WA offer some of the highest salaries for pediatric radiologists, with averages around $420,000, due to the high demand for specialized pediatric healthcare and higher cost of living.
Lower-Paying Regions: Areas such as Boston, MA, and Philadelphia, PA, tend to offer lower salaries, around $375,000, largely due to the high number of academic institutions, which may pay less than private practices.

7. Gender Pay Gap in Pediatric Radiology

The gender pay gap remains an issue across medical specialties, including pediatric radiology:

Doximity 2024 Data: The gender pay gap for pediatric radiologists is around 21%, slightly lower than the average for all radiology subspecialties but still significant. Female pediatric radiologists earn about $85,000 less annually than their male counterparts.
MGMA Findings: The MGMA data suggests that gender disparities are more pronounced in private practice settings, while the gap is narrower in academic institutions, which tend to have more standardized pay structures.

8. FAQs About Pediatric Radiologist Salaries

1. What is the average salary for a pediatric radiologist in 2024?

The average salary is around $398,000, with variations based on location, experience, and practice setting.

2. How does pediatric radiology compare to other radiology subspecialties?

Pediatric radiology salaries are typically lower than those in more invasive subspecialties, such as interventional radiology, which can exceed $600,000.

3. Are pediatric radiologist salaries increasing?

Yes, salaries increased by 4% in 2023, reflecting growing demand for pediatric imaging services.

4. Which regions offer the highest salaries for pediatric radiologists?

Areas like San Francisco, New York, and Seattle offer higher compensation due to high demand and living costs.

5. Does a gender pay gap exist in pediatric radiology?

Yes, with female pediatric radiologists earning about 21% less than their male counterparts.

Conclusion

Pediatric radiology continues to offer rewarding career opportunities with competitive compensation. While salaries for pediatric radiologists may not be as high as some other subspecialties, they reflect the specialized skills and unique demands of working with children. Staying informed about salary trends, factors influencing compensation, and the gender pay gap is important for pediatric radiologists aiming to maximize their earning potential.