Radiology vs Emergency Medicine: Salary, Lifestyle & Training (2026)
Choosing between Radiology and Emergency Medicine 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 Radiologist salaries, lifestyle metrics, and training requirements compare to Emergency Medicine Physician data from approved salary reports on SalaryDr. Radiology requires 5-year residency, while Emergency Medicine requires 3-4 year residency.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | Radiology | Emergency Medicine |
|---|---|---|
| Median total pay | $557,500 → | $399,495 → |
| Middle 50% of pay | $500,000 – $600,000 | $360,000 – $440,000 |
| Approved reports | 117 | 145 |
| Training Length | 5-year residency | 3-4 year residency |
| Practitioner Title | Radiologist | Emergency Medicine Physician |
| 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: Radiology vs Emergency Medicine
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.
Emergency Medicine
3-4 year residency
Emergency Medicine residency ranges from three to four years depending on the program model. Training emphasizes rapid decision-making across all medical and surgical presentations, with shift-based scheduling from the outset.
Lifestyle & Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance is one of the most important factors physicians weigh when choosing a specialty. Here is how Radiology and Emergency Medicine compare on key lifestyle dimensions.
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
Emergency Medicine
Shift-based work with no call obligations but includes nights, weekends, and holidays. Higher burnout risk.
- Average work week: 38 hours
- Take call: 77% of physicians
- Average PTO: 34 days/year
Satisfaction & Lifestyle by the Numbers
Based on 262 approved physician salary reports across both specialties.
| Metric | Radiology | Emergency Medicine |
|---|---|---|
| Career Satisfaction | 3.9/5 | 3.7/5 |
| Would Choose Again | 89% | 85% |
| Avg Hours/Week | 46 | 38 |
| Takes Call | 85% | 77% |
| Avg Call Days/Month | — | — |
| Avg PTO Days/Year | 91 | 34 |
| Physician Submissions | 117 submissions | 145 submissions |
Practice Setting Distribution
Where Radiology and Emergency Medicine physicians work, based on approved salary reports. Practice setting significantly impacts both compensation and day-to-day lifestyle.
Radiology
Based on 117 approved reports
Emergency Medicine
Based on 145 approved reports
Career Outlook & Job Market
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.
Emergency Medicine Outlook
Emergency Medicine has experienced market shifts in recent years with increased corporate staffing and competitive job markets in desirable locations. Rural and community hospital positions continue to offer strong compensation packages.
Compensation Growth Trajectory
Physician salaries in both Radiology and Emergency Medicine 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 Radiology and Emergency Medicine salary-by-experience pages.
Explore Deeper Data
Benchmark Reports
Lifestyle & Satisfaction
Is It Worth It?
Training & Residency
Related Comparisons
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