Changing shape

Radiologists

Diagnose and treat diseases and injuries using medical imaging techniques, such as x rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, and ultrasounds. May perform minimally invasive medical procedures and tests.

AI Resistance Index 25 of 99

Changing faster than most: more resilient than 25% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it high), and US jobs are projected to change by +3.4% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on ethical judgement and emotional intelligence.

AI can do many of the tasks, and hiring is expected to grow slower than average or to shrink. The job is likely to change, so build the human parts of it.

Median pay (2025): $420,860
Job growth to 2035: +3.4%
Openings a year: 700
People doing it (2025): 28,700
Usual route in: Doctorate or professional degree, then an internship or residency

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Where people already use AI for this work

Explain medical information to patients or family members
Analyze health or medical data
Determine operational methods or procedures

From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).

Work AI rarely helps with

Confer with healthcare or other professionals about patient care
Develop safety standards, policies, or procedures
Operate medical equipment

What the work looks like

Prepare comprehensive interpretive reports of findings.
Perform or interpret the outcomes of diagnostic imaging procedures including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), nuclear cardiology treadmill studies, mammography, or ultrasound.
Document the performance, interpretation, or outcomes of all procedures performed.
Communicate examination results or diagnostic information to referring physicians, patients, or families.
Obtain patients' histories from electronic records, patient interviews, dictated reports, or by communicating with referring clinicians.

From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.

What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects

Fewer of these jobs, as artificial intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly adopted in clinical practice, making the radiologist workflow more efficient.

Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook

OptometristsHuman edge, growing, Index 89, +9.5%
Surgeons, all otherHuman edge, growing, Index 62, +4.0%
Dentists, all other specialistsHuman edge, steady, Index 43, +1.3%
ChiropractorsHuman edge, growing, Index 78, +8.7%

Also known as: Diagnostic Radiologist, Nuclear Medicine Physician, Physician, Radiologist, Attending Physician, Interventional Neuroradiologist, Interventional Radiologist, Musculoskeletal Specialty Radiologist (MSK Specialty Radiologist).

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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.