General Surgery vs Radiology: Salary, Lifestyle & Training (2026)
Choosing between General Surgery and Radiology involves weighing compensation, training length, work-life balance, call responsibilities, and long-term career satisfaction. This comparison uses approved physician salary reports to help you make an informed decision.
See how General Surgeon salaries, lifestyle metrics, and training requirements compare to Radiologist data from approved salary reports on SalaryDr. General Surgery requires 5-year residency, while Radiology requires 5-year residency.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | General Surgery | Radiology |
|---|---|---|
| Median total pay | $512,500 → | $557,500 → |
| Middle 50% of pay | $450,000 – $610,000 | $500,000 – $600,000 |
| Approved reports | 141 | 117 |
| Training Length | 5-year residency | 5-year residency |
| Practitioner Title | General Surgeon | Radiologist |
| Lifestyle Rating | See details below | See details below |
Salary figures on each specialty page are recomputed from approved physician salary reports as new reports are approved.
Training Pathway: General Surgery vs Radiology
General Surgery
5-year residency
General Surgery residency is five years of intensive training with significant operative and call responsibilities. Many graduates pursue one- to two-year fellowships in trauma, surgical oncology, minimally invasive surgery, or acute care surgery.
Radiology
5-year residency
Radiology residency is five years (including a transitional or preliminary year), with the majority of training focused on diagnostic imaging interpretation. Many radiologists pursue one-year fellowships in neuroradiology, interventional radiology, or musculoskeletal imaging.
Lifestyle & Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance is one of the most important factors physicians weigh when choosing a specialty. Here is how General Surgery and Radiology compare on key lifestyle dimensions.
General Surgery
Demanding schedule with significant call responsibilities. Improving with subspecialization.
- Average work week: 55 hours
- Take call: 97% of physicians
- Average PTO: 37 days/year
Radiology
Favorable lifestyle with growing remote-reading opportunities. Call varies by practice.
- Average work week: 46 hours
- Take call: 85% of physicians
- Average PTO: 91 days/year
Satisfaction & Lifestyle by the Numbers
Based on 258 approved physician salary reports across both specialties.
| Metric | General Surgery | Radiology |
|---|---|---|
| Career Satisfaction | 4.1/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Would Choose Again | 80% | 89% |
| Avg Hours/Week | 55 | 46 |
| Takes Call | 97% | 85% |
| Avg Call Days/Month | — | — |
| Avg PTO Days/Year | 37 | 91 |
| Physician Submissions | 141 submissions | 117 submissions |
Practice Setting Distribution
Where General Surgery and Radiology physicians work, based on approved salary reports. Practice setting significantly impacts both compensation and day-to-day lifestyle.
General Surgery
Based on 141 approved reports
Radiology
Based on 117 approved reports
Career Outlook & Job Market
General Surgery Outlook
General surgeons remain in steady demand, particularly in community hospitals and rural settings. The trend toward minimally invasive surgery and acute care surgery fellowships has created new career niches.
Radiology Outlook
Radiology demand has rebounded strongly, with AI augmentation creating new workflows rather than replacing radiologists. Teleradiology continues to expand practice flexibility and geographic independence.
Compensation Growth Trajectory
Physician salaries in both General Surgery and Radiology typically increase with experience, with the largest jumps in the first 5-10 years post-training. Partnership or ownership in private practice can meaningfully accelerate earnings. For detailed breakdowns, explore the General Surgery and Radiology salary-by-experience pages.
Explore Deeper Data
Benchmark Reports
Lifestyle & Satisfaction
Is It Worth It?
Training & Residency
Related Comparisons
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