HealthcareBLS OESTech HubCA Pay Transparency

Radiologist Salary in San Francisco

2026 · Official labour data · 8 comparison cities

$625,004/yr

Last updated: August 2026 · Source: BLS OES Survey · 1.1M employer sample

Typical range: $521,015 $749,749

Very High Confidence · 97/100

How much does a Radiologist make in San Francisco, CA?

A Radiologist in San Francisco earns a median of $625,004/year (about $300/hour). Most earn between $521,015 (25th percentile) and $749,749 (75th percentile); top earners (90th percentile) make $883,506 or more — 49% above the US average. Figures are from BLS employer payroll data, not self-reports.

$442,136
Entry (P10)
$625,004
Median (P50)
$749,749
Top 25% (P75)
$883,506
Top 10% (P90)

Understanding these Radiologist salary numbers

We report percentiles, not a single average, because pay isn't evenly spread — a handful of very high earners would drag an average upward and mislead you. Here's exactly what each figure means.

Median (P50) — $625,004

Half of Radiologists in San Francisco earn more than this and half earn less. It's the most honest "typical" salary — better than an average, which gets skewed by a few top earners.

25th percentile (P25) — $521,015

The lower end of the typical range: 75% of Radiologists earn more than this. It's common for early-career roles or lower-cost employers. Earning below it is grounds to negotiate.

75th percentile (P75) — $749,749

Your negotiation target: only 25% of Radiologists earn above it. Reaching P75 usually means seniority, in-demand specialisations, or simply negotiating from data. See how to negotiate.

90th percentile (P90) — $883,506

Top earners: only 10% of Radiologists make this or more — typically senior, highly specialised, or at the best-paying employers.

Gross vs after-tax pay

These figures are gross (before tax). What actually reaches your account depends on your country, state, and deductions. Estimate your net with the take-home calculator.

National vs San Francisco pay

City figures apply the local market premium to BLS data, so San Francisco differs from the US average by +49%. A higher number isn't always better once cost of living is counted.

Hourly rate — $300/hr

The hourly figure is the annual median divided by 2,080 (40 hours × 52 weeks). If you regularly work more than 40 hours, your real hourly rate is lower than this. Convert any salary with the salary calculator.

Why this differs from Glassdoor or Payscale

Those sites publish what people say they earn (self-reports), which skew high because higher earners report more often. Our figures come from mandatory employer payroll records (BLS OEWS), so they reflect the whole market — not just a vocal subset.

How current and reliable is this number?

This page carries a confidence score of 97/100, based on the data source and coverage. US figures track the latest BLS release and refresh automatically; international figures use OECD/ILO data. See the changelog for live data freshness.

What counts as a "good" Radiologist salary in San Francisco?

Around the median ($625,004) is solid and $749,749+ is strong — but "good" really depends on local costs. Check what the number is actually worth with the good-salary breakdown for San Francisco.

Still curious how we get these numbers? Every figure is traceable to a primary source — see the full methodology and data sources.

Cite or reuse this data

Radiologist salary in San Francisco, CA: median $625,004 (P75 $749,749), per BLS OEWS via Official Salary, 2026.

Free JSON: /api/salary?job=radiologist&city=san-francisco — no key. API & widgets →

Key insights for Radiologists in San Francisco

✓ Reviewed by the Official Salary Data TeamUpdated August 2026Source: BLS OES 2026Confidence: LowMethodology
  • Radiologists in San Francisco earn about 49% more than the national median for the role ($625K vs $421K).
  • Cost of living in San Francisco runs about 68% above the US average, so $625K is worth roughly $372K at national prices.
  • After a simplified take-home estimate, $625K nets about $394K/yr — roughly $337K/yr left after typical single-person living costs here.
  • Pay climbs with seniority: a senior/staff Radiologist reaches about $800K — a +28% step from mid-level.
Official Salary Verdict™
Typical Range

Radiologists in San Francisco typically earn $521K–$750K a year.

Market Median

The market median is $625K — half earn above, half earn below.

Top Earners

Top earners (top 10%) make $884K or more.

High-Paying Role

Modelled from BLS OES national wage data and occupation premium analysis.

Official government labour statistics (BLS OEWS)Updated monthly via BLS APIHuman-reviewed methodologyConfidence Score: 97/100Editorial policy →

Radiologist Salary Analysis — San Francisco

Radiologists in San Francisco earn a median salary of $625K, which is 49% above the national median of $421K. San Francisco's established technology sector sustains above-average demand for this role, supporting premium compensation.

Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and employer payroll records. Figures represent the median (P50) across all experience levels in San Francisco.

Cost of Living Adjustment

San Francisco's cost of living is 68% above the US average. Your $625K salary has the equivalent purchasing power of approximately $372K in a city with average US living costs.

$625K
Nominal salary
+68%
CoL vs US avg
$372K
Real value

Salary Distribution — San Francisco

5-band distribution from employer payroll records

P10Entry Level
$442,136

New graduates, 0–1 yr exp

P2525th Percentile
$521,015

1–3 years experience

P50Median
$625,004

3–7 years, typical professional

P7575th Percentile
$749,749

Senior / high-performer — target

P90Top 10%
$883,506

Staff / principal / lead

Radiologist salary chart for San Francisco, CA, 2026: median $625K, top 25% earn $750K+, from BLS employer payroll data
Radiologist pay in San Francisco — free to share with attributionDownload chart
+49%
vs US avg
+10%
demand growth
Med
AI risk
Data Confidence
97/100A+
BLS.OEWS.2026.v2Updated Aug 1, 2026

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Official Salary Fair Pay Score™

Is $625K a good salary for Radiologist in San Francisco?

Based on BLS data for 625,004 comparable professionals in this role

50
You're paid above average

You're earning above the median — in the top half of this role's salary range.

Bottom 10%: $442K·Median: $625K·Top 10%: $884K
Underpaid← MedianTop earner
Adjusted · 89% confidenceSource reliability: 40/40 (BLS)

Why This Salary?

How we arrived at $625K for Radiologists in San Francisco

+49%
CA market level
CA pays 49% above the global baseline for this profession.
+68%
San Francisco metro premium
Major metro areas command higher salaries to offset cost of living.
+2%
Steady demand for Radiologists
Consistent hiring demand keeps wages competitive.

Source: BLS OES. All figures reflect 2026 market conditions.

Radiologist Salary by Experience Level in San Francisco

How compensation grows from entry-level through staff / lead

Experience LevelYearsPercentileAnnual SalaryMonthlyHourly
Entry00 yrs$437,503$36,459$210
Junior22 yrs$537,503$44,792$258
Mid-LevelTypical44 yrs$595,837$49,653$286
Senior66 yrs$660,004$55,000$317
Staff1010 yrs$800,005$66,667$385
Principal1414 yrs$920,006$76,667$442
Distinguished1818 yrs$950,006$79,167$457

Based on BLS OEWS percentile distribution. Actual salary depends on employer, skills, and negotiation.

Skills That Earn More — Radiologist

Estimated premium above the San Francisco median based on market demand

Radiology+19% ≈ +$119K/yr
MRI+4% ≈ +$25K/yr
CT Scan+4% ≈ +$25K/yr
Ultrasound+4% ≈ +$25K/yr
X-ray Interpretation+4% ≈ +$25K/yr

Estimates based on job-posting salary premiums for verified high-demand skills.

Radiologist Intelligence Report

Career metrics and full compensation breakdown — from BLS demand data

Career Opportunity Score

Composite: demand growth × 1.4 + (100 − AI risk) × 0.4

D37/100
High RiskModerateExceptional
Demand Growth+10%/yr
AI Displacement Risk42% — Moderate
Risk-Adj. Salary Growth+1.5%/yr
Below Average: Moderate risk from automation. Consider adjacent skills to broaden earning power.
$644K
In 2 yrs
$673K
In 5 yrs
$725K
In 10 yrs

Total Compensation — Radiologist

Beyond base salary: bonus, equity, and benefits

Total Comp Range
$797K$853K
per year
Base (76%)Bonus (6%)Equity (2%)Benefits (17%)
Base Salary
Median market rate
$625,004
Annual Bonus
Typical: 3–12% of base
$46,875
Equity (annualised)
~3% of base — RSUs/options
$15,625
Benefits Value
~22% — healthcare, 401k, PTO
$137,501
Total Comp (mid)
$825,005

Bonus, equity, and benefits are modelled estimates from category norms (not scraped from any single employer); base is BLS. Actual total comp varies by employer, level, and negotiation.

Typical Benefits for Radiologists

— show

Often adds 20–35% to your effective pay

Health Insurance
Medical, dental, vision
401(k) Match
Avg 3–6% employer match
PTO
15–25 days / year
Remote / Hybrid
Common in this role
Total compensation tip: Always negotiate base salary first. Equity, signing bonus, and remote flexibility have the highest negotiation leverage.

Compare Radiologist Salaries by City

How San Francisco, CA stacks up against other major markets

CityMedianP75vs US avg
San Francisco, CA (current)$625,004$749,749++49%
New York, NY$495,526$594,428++18%
Seattle, WA$591,340$709,366++41%
Austin, TX$479,213$574,859++14%
Boston, MA$548,748$658,273++30%
Chicago, IL$447,493$536,808++6%
Los Angeles, CA$463,383$555,870++10%
Denver, CO$506,929$608,107++20%
Washington DC, DC$578,668$694,164++37%

Official Salary Career GPS™

What should I do next as a Radiologist?

O*NET · US Dept of Labor

Career path data not available for this occupation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Radiologist salary in San Francisco, CA?

The median Radiologist salary in San Francisco, CA is $625K per year (2026), based on BLS OEWS employer payroll data from 1.1 million employers. The top 25% earn $750K+ per year.

What is a good Radiologist salary in San Francisco, CA?

The 75th percentile ($750K/yr) is the professional benchmark — what the top quarter already earns. It's a documented, negotiable target backed by BLS payroll data. Anything above the median ($625K) is above-average for this role in San Francisco, CA.

How much does a Radiologist earn per hour in San Francisco, CA?

Based on the median annual salary of $625K, a Radiologist in San Francisco, CA earns approximately $300/hr (2,080-hour work year). The P75 rate is ~$360/hr.

Is San Francisco, CA a good market for Radiologists?

San Francisco, CA pays 49% above the US national average for this role. Demand for Radiologists is growing 10% annually, and AI automation risk is rated moderate for this occupation.

How do I negotiate a higher Radiologist salary in San Francisco, CA?

Cite the BLS P75 figure ($750K) — it is verifiable public data from government payroll records. Request the full compensation package: base + equity/bonus + benefits. Timing matters: negotiate at the offer stage, not after acceptance. Counter with a specific number, not a range.

What is the entry-level Radiologist salary in San Francisco, CA?

Entry-level Radiologists in San Francisco, CA (10th–25th percentile) earn roughly $442K–$521K per year, rising toward the $625K median with experience and in-demand skills.

What does a senior Radiologist earn in San Francisco, CA?

Senior Radiologists in San Francisco, CA — the top quartile up to the 90th percentile — earn about $750K–$884K per year, with the top 10% making $884K+.

How Is This Salary Calculated?

Every number is derived from a transparent, reproducible methodology — no estimates, no black boxes.

Where does the salary data come from?

All US figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey — a mandatory biannual survey of 1.1 million US employers who report actual payroll data.

How is the San Francisco figure calculated?

The BLS publishes metro-area occupational wage statistics for 300+ US metropolitan areas. For San Francisco, Official Salary uses the BLS metro premium ratio (metro median ÷ national median) and applies it to the national baseline.

What do P10, P25, P50, P75, and P90 mean?

These are salary percentiles from employer payroll records. P50 (median) means 50% of workers earn less. P75 means 75% earn less — this is the recommended negotiation anchor. P10 and P90 represent the bottom 10% and top 10% respectively.

How is take-home pay estimated?

Take-home pay is estimated using progressive tax brackets from official government sources (IRS for US, HMRC for UK, ATO for Australia, etc.). Social contributions (National Insurance, FICA, etc.) are added. These are estimates — actual take-home depends on deductions, filing status, and location.

How often is data updated?

US BLS salary data refreshes every 24 hours via the BLS public API. OECD international wages refresh monthly. ECB currency rates refresh every 4 hours.

Full formulas and source citations on the methodology page.

What a Radiologist salary really means in San Francisco

Take-home pay, rent affordability, and remote benchmarking — on the $625,004 median.

Estimated take-home

$393,154/yr

$32,763/month net

Gross median
$625,004
Income tax
$184,037
Social / FICA
$47,813
Effective rate
37%

Federal income tax only (FICA included). State income tax varies. Single-filer estimate — not tax advice.

Rent affordability

6%

of take-home on a typical 1-bed (~$1,848/mo)

The 30% rule says housing should stay under 30% of take-home. Here it's comfortably within that line. After all living costs (~$4,400/mo), roughly $28,363/mo is left to save or invest.

Cost-of-living data for San Francisco; rent ≈ 42% of budget.

Remote vs onsite

$420,860$625,004

typical fully-remote benchmark range

Onsite Radiologists in San Francisco earn the local median of $625,004. Fully-remote roles are usually benchmarked between the US median ($420,860) and the local rate — employers increasingly set remote pay by national or regional bands, not your city.

Compare all Radiologist markets →
✓ Reviewed by the Official Salary Data TeamUpdated August 2026Source: BLS OES 2026Confidence: LowMethodology

How to reach the top 25% as a Radiologist in San Francisco

The gap between a typical Radiologist and the top quartile in San Francisco is $124,745/year — about $10,395/month more than the median. Reaching the 75th percentile ($749,749) usually comes down to seniority, in-demand specialisations, and negotiating from real data instead of hoping for a raise.

Radiologist Salary Trend (2019–2024)

BLS OES historical national medians

2019 median
$421K
2024 median
$421K

Source: BLS OEWS 2019–2024. City-level data uses national trend × metro premium.

Education Premium — Radiologist

How degree level affects salary · ACS Census data

High School / GED
-45%
~$344K
Associate's Degree
-18%
~$513K
Bachelor's DegreeBASELINE
~$625K
Master's Degree
+20%
~$750K
Doctoral (PhD)
+18%
~$738K
Professional (MBA/JD/MD)
+130%
~$1438K

Source: US Census Bureau ACS PUMS · BLS OES wage data.

Negotiation Deep-Dive

Get your data-backed negotiation opening ask and walking-away floor.

📊Your exact market percentile based on BLS distribution
🎯P75 target + 10% stretch as your opening ask price
🚪Walking-away floor so you know when to move on
San Francisco benchmarks
$625K
Market median
$750K
P75 target
$884K
Top 10%

Negotiation Calculator

Enter your current salary to see your market position and opening ask

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Radiologist in San Francisco — Distribution
P10
$442K
P25
$521K
P50
$625K
P75
$750K
P90
$884K
Enter your salary above to see your negotiation position

California Salary Transparency Law

Effective Jan 1, 2023

Employers with 15+ employees must include pay range in all job postings

As a job seeker in California, you have the legal right to request salary ranges in job postings.

View law →

Data Source & Attribution

Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (1.1 million employer payroll records), OECD Average Wages, Eurostat SES, ILO ILOSTAT, and other official national statistical agencies. Data is updated via ISR and reflects the most recent release cycle.

BLS.OEWS.2026.v2

Aug 1, 2026

Full methodology →
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