More than 200,000 euros per year … Are radiologists really “best paid doctors”?

Radiologists have come up. In addition, Very reassembled. Furthermore, In a report published on July 15. Moreover, the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (IGAS) and the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) point the finger at “relevance” and “efficiency of radiology expenditure”. However, Basically: this specialty would cost too much (3.8 billion euros in 2024, up 22 % since 2019) and radiologists would be too paid.

The report indicates that radiologists are “the best paid doctors of all medical specialties if two specialties are excluded whose workforce is clearly less. Moreover, nuclear doctors and radiotherapists”. In addition, He evokes “remuneration twice that of other specialist doctors”. Consequently, But are the 9,140 radiologists working in France so well paid?

From 100. Furthermore, 000 to 212,700 euros per year – More than 200,000 euros per

In their report, IGF and IGAS are based on DREES data, including a mission published in 2024 entitled “Liberal and more than 200,000 euros per employee income of doctors with a liberal activity in France in 2021”. Meanwhile, An average income of 124,000 euros per year has been reported there for doctors. A figure that rises to 153,300 euros for specialists and… 212,700 euros for radiologists.

“Personally, I would like to win as much!” », Says Jean-Philippe Masson, President of the National Federation of Radiologists Doctors (FNMR). Tax leaf in front of him. he claims to have won 105,000 euros last year, despite his status as a partner in a clinic in Carcassonne.

Significant operating costs

“I do not know how they do their calculations. but we are very far from reality,” says the doctor. The radiologist prefers to base himself on the figures of the Carmf. the autonomous retirement fund of the doctors of France. Additionally, The latter is based on tax notices sent by doctors to calculate average income by specialty. According to CARMF data, the more than 200,000 euros per non -commercial profits of radiologists range from 112,000 to 142,000 euros per year. “This figure could not be more transparent. it is half of what the Dress announces,” retorts the president of the FNMR.

But then, why such dress figures? According to Doctor Masson, it is because they “integrate in the income of radiologists the amount of technical plans”. Refunded by health insurance, this package aims to cover the costs of acquiring and maintaining radiology equipment. “But this package is not going in our pocket. it is used in particular to pay the maintenance of machines, salaries of manipulators and secretaries and electricity,” says the doctor.

Disparities between hospital and liberal

Who says returns declared therefore does not say that which falls into the pocket. “An ultrasound device is worth between 100,000 and 200,000 euros and it must be changed every 5 years on average, illustrates the radiologist. The cost of our equipment more than 200,000 euros per is colossal. we cannot compare this with a psychiatrist who has only material a possible dictaphone. Psychiatry and pediatrics are in contrast, part of the specialties located at the bottom of the income scale. According to Jean-Philippe Masson, 70 % of his income leaves in these operating costs.

“Radiologists earn a good life. but there is a difference between hospital and liberals,” recalls the Radiology Professor Louis Boyer, head of the Clermont-Ferrand CHU Radiology Pole and President of the Professional National Council (CNP) of radiology. “At the hospital, the salary is the same regardless of the specialty. It varies according to seniority, responsibilities and the number of guards. Note that in 2024, 58 % of radiologists exercised exclusively in the liberal more than 200,000 euros per sector and 22 % exclusively in the hospital sector.