Radiology Work-Life Balance: Real Physician Insights (2025) | SalaryDr
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Radiology Work-Life Balance: What Doctors Actually Say

Real insights from 16 verified Radiology physicians about their work-life balance, career satisfaction, and daily reality.

Verified Physician Data|Updated January 2026|SalaryDr Research Team
4/10
Avg Satisfaction
87%
Would Choose Again
134
Physician Responses
48
Avg Hours/Week

๐Ÿ“‹ Key Takeaways: Radiology Lifestyle at a Glance

  • โ€ขCareer Satisfaction: Radiology physicians report 4/10 average satisfaction, with 87% saying they would choose the specialty again.
  • โ€ขWork Hours: The average Radiology physician works 48 hours per week.
  • โ€ขExperience Level: Insights based on physicians with an average of 10 years of experience.
  • โ€ขData Source: Based on 134 verified, anonymous physician submissions to SalaryDr.
๐Ÿ’ฐ View Salariesโœ๏ธ Share Your Experience๐Ÿ† Rankings

๐Ÿ’šWhat Do Radiology Physicians Love About Their Job?

"More money more juice"
โ€” Radiology Physician
"work from the beach overseas, low cost of living "
โ€” Radiology Physician
"The variety of cases and the ability to make a huge impact on a patients care with a minimally invasive procedure. "
โ€” Radiology Physician
"Technical advances and varied work (GI, GU, Neuro, MSK, interventional)"
โ€” Radiology Physician

โš–๏ธIs Radiology a Good Work-Life Balance Specialty?

"Easy peasy. Read some X-rays and MRIs, flirt with the nursing staff, life is good"
โ€” Radiology Physician
"Enjoy working in ED settings and free time of for working graveyard shifts."
โ€” Radiology Physician
"16 weekend shifts a year, lots of time off. High hourly and per shift compensation."
โ€” Radiology Physician

Frequently Asked Questions About Radiology Lifestyle

Is Radiology a good work-life balance specialty?

Based on 134 verified physician responses, Radiology has a 4/10 average career satisfaction rating.87% of Radiology physicians say they would choose the specialty again if starting their career over. The average Radiology physician works 48 hours per week.

What do Radiology physicians love about their job?

Radiology physicians commonly report loving: building meaningful patient relationships, intellectual stimulation and diagnostic challenges, clinical variety, the ability to make a tangible difference in patient outcomes, and procedural diversity. Many also appreciate the collegial environment and opportunities for subspecialization.

How many hours do Radiology physicians work per week?

Based on SalaryDr data, Radiology physicians work an average of 48 hours per week. This varies by practice settingโ€”academic and hospital-employed positions often require more hours than private practice.

What are the biggest challenges in Radiology?

The most commonly cited challenges from Radiology physicians include: administrative burden and documentation requirements, call schedules impacting personal time, work-life balance pressures (especially early in career), and compensation concerns relative to training length. Some also mention challenging patient populations or high-acuity cases as sources of stress.

Would Radiology physicians choose their specialty again?

87% of Radiology physicians surveyed say they would choose Radiologyagain if starting their career over. This data is based on 134 verified, anonymous physician responses collected by SalaryDr.

About This Data

This analysis is based on 134 verified, anonymous physician submissions to SalaryDr. All data comes from practicing Radiology physicians across the United States. Respondents have an average of 10 years of experience. Data is collected through our anonymous salary and lifestyle submission form, verified for accuracy, and updated continuously. Learn more about our methodology.

๐Ÿ“ŠHow Does Radiology Compare?

See how Radiology stacks up against other medical specialties.

RadiologyCurrent
Satisfaction:4/10
Choose Again:87%
Hours:48
Comp:$655K
Plastic Surgery
Satisfaction:4.8/10
Choose Again:92%
Ophthalmology
Satisfaction:4.5/10
Choose Again:94%
Pulmonary
Satisfaction:4.4/10
Choose Again:95%
Infectious Disease
Satisfaction:

๐Ÿ“šRelated Articles & Insights

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Radiology Salary Data

Complete compensation breakdown, salary ranges, and pay by location.

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ยฉ 2025 SalaryDr. Real insights from real healthcare professionals.

"Paid per shift. Typically around 190-210 shifts per year."
โ€” Radiology Physician
"Essentially 1 week in 2 weeks off. Can read/work extra in those off weeks."
โ€” Radiology Physician
"26 wks/yr off No call/no weekends Workday 8-4"
โ€” Radiology Physician

๐Ÿ”งWhat Are the Biggest Challenges in Radiology?

"Better pay for the hours that I work"
โ€” Radiology Physician
"Less evenings and weekends "
โ€” Radiology Physician
"Less call. Call is more than 1 in 3"
โ€” Radiology Physician
"Less call - call is q4-5 and is 24 hours."
โ€” Radiology Physician

Quick Stats

Avg Satisfaction4/10
Would Choose Again87%
Avg Experience10 years
Avg Hours/Week48

By Practice Setting

Hospital Employed
18 physicians โ€ข 3.6/10 satisfaction
Independent / Contract-Based
3 physicians โ€ข 3.7/10 satisfaction
Academic
22 physicians โ€ข 3.7/10 satisfaction
Private Practice
49 physicians โ€ข 4.3/10 satisfaction

Related Resources

Radiology Salaries
Complete compensation data
Call Schedule Analysis
How calls affect pay & life
Share Your Experience
Help other physicians
4.4/10
Choose Again:78%
Dermatology
Satisfaction:4.4/10
Choose Again:95%
SpecialtySatisfactionWould Choose AgainAvg HoursAvg Comp
RadiologyCurrent4/1087%48$655K
Plastic Surgery4.8/1092%54$950K
Ophthalmology4.5/1094%42$984K
Pulmonary4.4/1095%52$441K
Infectious Disease4.4/1078%44$367K
Dermatology4.4/1095%39$643K
View Full Rankings โ†’

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