Radiologists Salary
Radiologists in California make a median of $270,560 a year, or about $130.08 an hour. The range runs from $97K at the entry level to $500K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $254,909 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 16.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $271K actually covers in California, month by month
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What this looks like in California
Pay for radiologists in California runs about 36% below the U.S. median of $421K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,471/month, 17% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Lower pay, lower costs, California can be a reasonable trade-off for radiologists who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level radiologists (10th percentile) start around $97K. Mid-career wages sit at $271K. Top earners bring in $500K or more, a $403K spread from bottom to top.
Radiologists salary by metro in California
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $489K | +81% | 310 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $106K | -61% | 160 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a radiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
Yes — at the median salary of $271K, rent takes 17% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for radiologists in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new radiologists typically earn — is $97K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,936/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 42% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is radiologist a high-paying job in California?
Local pay runs 36% below the national median — $271K here vs. $421K nationally.
How does California compare to the national average for radiologists?
California pays $271K median vs. the U.S. average of $421K — that’s -36%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $255K — below the national median.
How much do radiologists make in California?
The median is $270,560 a year, that works out to about $130 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $96,610, and experienced radiologists can clear $499,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $271K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $14,566/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 17% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a radiologists salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median radiologists salary is worth about $254,909 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do radiologists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.