Determinants of differences among radiologists in starting salaries

We sought to ascertain the actual effect of each of a broad range of factors that plausibly might affect starting salary.

We surveyed radiologists who completed training in 1997 and obtained 487 relevant responses. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify the independent effects of characteristics of the physician, his or her job and employment search, and market area characteristics of his or her practice locality.

Academic starting salaries were, other things equal, 6% below private practice. Residency-only graduates had incomes 7% below a typical fellowship income. Only a few fellowship fields garnered incomes that were significantly different from the typical income. More managed care in a locality was associated with lower income, and a higher percentage of elderly in the locality was associated with a higher income. We found no statistically significant (p < 0.05) effects of sex, job location constraints, local per capita income, local cost of living, or (generally) graduate quality as measured by the ranking of a graduate's residency program.

The determinants of income are multiple and varied, including physician characteristics, such as field of subspecialty training; job characteristics, such as academic versus private practice employment; and market area characteristics. However, the study yielded as many puzzling, negative findings, such as the lack of effect of physician quality or of even severe locational constraints, as positive, expected findings.