Radiologists are among the top three medical specialties most in demand by healthcare providers, according to the latest edition of an annual survey by physician search firm Merritt, Hawkins & Associates of Irving, TX.
Radiologists trailed cardiologists as the most aggressively recruited specialty during the survey period, but were ahead of orthopedic surgeons. The survey ranks the number of search assignments placed by Merritt, Hawkins customers from April 1, 2004 to March 31, 2005.
Merritt, Hawkins received 231 search assignments for cardiologists, up 28% compared with the year before. Radiologists were desired by 218 providers, representing growth of 8%. The number of searches for orthopedic surgeons was flat, at 210 for both the current and prior survey periods.
The number of radiologist searches bounced back in the 2004/2005 period after declining for two straight years. In the 2001/2002 period, Merritt, Hawkins conducted 252 searches for radiologists, 230 in the 2002/2003 period, and 202 in 2003/2004.
The survey also tracked the income offered to physicians being recruited. Radiologists received offers with an average salary of $355,000, up 6% compared with an average offer of $336,000 in 2003/2004. That compares to an average offer of $424,000 for neurosurgeons (up 1%) and $361,000 for orthopedic surgeons (up 9%). Cardiologists received an average offer of $320,000 (up 10%).
On a regional basis, the survey found that average salary offers for radiologists were highest in the Midwest, with an average offer of $362,000, and the Southeast, with an average offer of $360,000. Following those two areas was the Northeast, with an average offer of $340,000, and the West, with an average offer of $310,000.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
June 7, 2005
Related Reading
Radiology's class war? SalaryScan reveals red state/blue state divide, May 31, 2005
Radiologists are hot, but no longer red-hot, July 26, 2004
Heartland imaging pays for U.S. radiologists, May 11, 2004
Survey says rads are working harder for less, April 15, 2004
Survey predicts big loss of practitioners to retirement, changing work patterns, December 23, 2003
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