2026 Wealth & Salary Guide for Locum Tenens and Remote Radiologists

A practical “how-to” guide for physicians who want control over income, time, and longevity.

Radiology hasn’t gotten easier. It’s become faster, heavier, and more administratively complex. What has changed is how radiologists choose to work.

Some physicians want to maximize income and treat radiology like a high-earning business. Others want sustainable careers with real personal time. Locum tenens and teleradiology make both possible, if structured correctly.

This guide explains:

• What Locum Tenens Radiologists and Remote Radiologists are earning in 2026

• How to design your work around income or lifestyle (or both)

• How to measure “wealth” beyond just your annual pay

And finally, how to work with an agency that supports both ends of that spectrum.

The 2026 reality: flexibility is now the leverage

A useful baseline for traditional employment is the Doximity 2025 Physician Compensation Report, which places average radiology compensation around $571,749 (reflecting 2024 data).

For many radiologists, the issue isn’t whether locums or remote work can pay more, it’s whether the structure is clean enough to justify the switch.

At our agency, radiologists operate across the full spectrum:

• Some choose full-time equivalents exceeding $800,000+ annually

• Others intentionally work as little as 2 days per week to protect lifestyle, family time, or outside interests

Both approaches are valid. The difference is having access to roles that respect those priorities.

Interested in exploring what that could look like for you?
Work with us →

Part 1: How Locum Tenens and Remote Radiologists actually get paid

Locum Tenens Radiologists: premium pay for defined coverage

Locum tenens radiology compensation is driven by:

• Coverage urgency

• Subspecialty needs

• Shift type (day, swing, night)

• On-site vs remote responsibilities

• Volume clarity and turnaround expectations

Across the market, locum tenens daily and hourly rates often exceed traditional employed equivalents, especially when coverage needs are well-defined.

At our agency, on-site Locum Tenens Radiologists routinely earn 55%–200% more on daily rates compared to many permanent or loosely structured roles, because:

• Shifts are clearly scoped

• Volume expectations are transparent

• Physicians are paid for the work actually required

This is how locums becomes financially compelling without burning physicians out.

Remote Radiologists: flexibility without sacrificing income

Remote radiology is not one thing, it’s a spectrum.

Some teleradiology roles quietly replicate hospital workloads from home. Others are intentionally designed for sustainability.

Our Remote Radiologists fall into both high-earning and lifestyle-optimized paths:

• Some earn premium remote rates comparable to on-site locums

• Others choose lighter weekly schedules while maintaining strong effective hourly pay

In many cases, remote daily rates still land 55%–200% higher than comparable employed equivalents, when expectations, volume, and handoffs are clearly defined.

Remote does not have to mean “less.” It means intentional.

If remote work is your priority, we can show you what’s realistic.
Work with us →

Part 2: Redefining “wealth” for radiologists

Income matters. But it’s only one pillar of a wealthy life.

Time wealth: the hours you actually reclaim

Many physicians spend meaningful time each week on after-hours documentation, admin, and institutional overhead.

For Locum Tenens Radiologists and Remote Radiologists, time wealth is measured by:

• Shift containment (clear start/end)

• Fewer standing obligations

• Less institutional “background noise”

At our agency, some physicians intentionally design schedules like:

• 2 focused workdays per week

• No call, no meetings, no creeping expectations

That’s not under-working, that’s choosing where your energy goes.

Network wealth: optionality without politics

Locums naturally expands professional networks without requiring long-term institutional buy-in.

Physicians often gain:

• Repeat invitations from multiple facilities

• Direct relationships with medical directors

• The ability to choose who they work with next

That optionality is its own form of wealth.

Salary wealth: earning more without stretching further

When daily rates increase 55%–200%, physicians gain leverage:

• Fewer shifts for the same income

• Or higher income without increasing workload

This is how some radiologists reach $1M+ FTE equivalents, while others maintain strong earnings on reduced schedules.

The key is alignment, not simply chasing the highest number.

Part 3: How to structure locums or remote work without regret

Step 1: Decide what you’re optimizing for

Choose two:

• Maximum income

• Fewer workdays

• Fully remote

• No nights / no call

• Predictable schedule

Your best roles will align with those.

Step 2: Demand clarity (this is non-negotiable)

Whether on-site or remote, every role should clearly define:

• Volume expectations

• Modality mix

• Shift boundaries and handoffs

• Technology stack

• Cancellation and minimum guarantees

If a role can’t answer these cleanly then it’s not flexible, it’s risky.

Step 3: Work with an agency that doesn’t force a single model

The biggest mistake radiologists make is assuming there’s one “right” locums path.

There isn’t. At our agency:

• Some physicians build high-earning, near-full-time locums practices

• Others build low-frequency, high-rate schedules

• Others stay fully remote with sustainable workloads

Final takeaway

Locums and teleradiology aren’t about escaping medicine, they’re about reclaiming your work-life balance within it.

Whether your goal is:

• Maximizing earning potential

• Or working 2 days per week

• Or something in between

Locum Tenens Radiologists and Remote Radiologists now have real options, when the work is structured correctly.

If you want to understand what’s realistic for your goals, income, time, or balance–

Start the conversation.
Work with us →