Let’s start with the straight answer you’re looking for: At vRad, we have radiologists who make $450,000 a year, and high-volume readers who pull in well over $1,000,000 a year. Obviously, that’s quite a range. That’s because the answer to this question depends on you and the way you want to practice. The real answer is, however much you want.
I switched to vRad almost three years ago, when life circumstances pushed me to make a big change. Today, I make more reading every other week at vRad than I did working nearly every day of the year at my private practice. Plus, I get to spend time enjoying the number-one priority in my life—my family. But transitioning to vRad’s productivity-based compensation model—one where my income depended solely on the number of cases I read—was terrifying. For twenty years, I knew exactly what number to expect on my paycheck, and that was about to change. In fact, when I started at vRad I was so worried about my financial stability that I took a second job doing in-person breast imaging procedures during my seven days off. Turns out, I didn’t need it.
I’ll walk you through vRad’s compensation model and some of the ways you can leverage vRad’s platform and comp structure to reach, and even exceed, your financial goals. Then, the very best way to find out what you would make at vRad is to contact us for a personal comp calculation.
Throw out what you may have heard
When I first heard vRad’s average comp rate, I was worried. I did the math in my head, and the number wasn’t as high as I wanted. What I absolutely did not comprehend was how the vRad platform and team member organization are strategically designed to optimize my study rate. You will very likely read significantly more studies than you think. That means you’ll make significantly more money than you predict.
I’ve often wondered if this was just my experience—I’m a fast, productive reader; I always have been. But I recently attended a vRad radiologist conference and that’s exactly what I heard from other vRad radiologists, across the board. They read more productively than they thought they would, and they make more than they expected.
Another reason I underestimated my potential earnings at vRad was that I didn’t understand how vRad’s unique Work Unit differs from the standard Relative Value Unit (RVU). Both of these components—reading efficiency and the Work Unit—play a major role in determining how much a radiologist makes at vRad so I’ll explain each in a little more detail.
The true monetary value of efficiency
How much of your shift do you currently spend not reading? The American Society of Radiology Intersociety Committee recently found that the average radiologist spends as little as 36% of their shift reading. That’s mind-blowing to me. I spend, at minimum, 95% of my shift purely reading studies.
How? I don’t wait on hold while phoning physicians, or type in patient demographics, or spend time tracking down missing information. I don’t attend meetings or handle personnel issues. In my home reading room, I’m not interrupted by anyone, ever. I don’t even wait around for images to load. Basically, if there’s a task that doesn’t require a medical license to complete, a vRad team member or the technology platform does it for me. I just read studies. A lot of studies. And I love it.
vRad’s custom-built platform and support infrastructure are literally designed so you have a single focus: interpreting images. That means you’re reading more cases per hour, without extra effort or stress, and earning more money. Not to mention the patient care benefits of keeping your eyes on the images, without interruption. Or the professional satisfaction of prioritizing being a radiologist. Those are immensely fulfilling.
What you should know about RVUs
Every conversation about radiologist compensation typically centers around RVUs. But vRad doesn’t use RVUs. Why? Because they don’t accurately reflect the amount of time the radiologist puts into a study. Every radiologist who has ever worked with a cherry-picker knows this.
Instead, vRad developed a unique Work Unit based on the average read times for every one of the 1,000+ procedures we read. Theoretically, at vRad, you should be able to read any combination of modalities or procedures with the same energy and intensity and make the same amount of money at the end of any given hour. This is because we’re paid based on the average read time of any given procedure. vRad’s work units are backed by mountains of data and reviewed each year, to make sure every vRad radiologist is being paid fairly and equitably for their time and expertise.
The difference between Work Units and RVUs makes it difficult to estimate how much you’d earn at vRad on your own. Plus, there are other personal choices that play a big role, such as how many hours you want to work and what time of day. This is why it’s essential to reach out to a vRad recruiter and ask for a comp calculation. A few details from you, and they’ll give you a personalized estimate that reflects the way you want to practice.
Why I love the productivity model
Because I earn more and it’s fairer! I spent more than twenty years in a private practice where all the radiologists had equal profit sharing. I appreciated the principle of fairness that was intended, but it was frustrating for me. I knew I was reading more than most of the other radiologists in my practice. It didn’t bother me if another radiologist simply read at a slower pace. But some radiologists abused the system—taking long lunches or just chatting on the phone. That behavior created feelings of resentment, which isn’t healthy for any practice.
At vRad, you get paid for the studies you read. Period. Each shift has a compensation rate, and that rate reflects aspects like how desirable the time is, expected volume, or if it’s the weekend or a holiday. (All of those will be compensated at a higher rate.) Plus, everyone at vRad knows what that rate is. It’s transparent, it’s equitable, and because there are no minimum or maximum reading rates, you read at your own speed. A productivity model puts you, the radiologist, squarely in control of your own earnings, and that’s incredibly empowering.
In fact, if you’re not interested in pushing your salary higher, you should still give vRad a closer look. Since there are no minimum reading rates, if you’re hitting your financial and lifestyle goals while reading at a leisurely clip, then good for you. vRad would be happy to have you read at whatever speed you like.
Optional ways to earn even more
Even though my current schedule provides a salary I’m very happy with, everyone has times when they’d like to earn a bit extra—for whatever reason. This is another area where vRad shines. There are so many opportunities for extra shifts or extended hours at prime comp rates. If you choose to work outside your contracted hours, you’ll get paid more per study. The best part? These opportunities are always completely optional.
Here are some options that are always available.
- Extend your shift – Sometimes, as my shift ends, I’ll get a text asking if I want to stay on for another hour or two. There’s no pressure to say yes, but it’s an easy way to add to my paycheck.
- Work on holidays – If you’re not tied to celebrating certain holidays, opting to work can really pay off at a higher rate.
- Consider nights – Working deep nights comes with higher compensation. If you’re a night owl, this could be a great way to boost your earnings, either as your regular shift, or as extra hours now and then.
- Extra shifts – Always an option. And those rate increases? They stack. Let’s say it’s a late night, on a Friday, and it’s the 4th of July? That’s going to be a really nice comp rate. Just let your scheduler know you’ll take some of those prime hours.
My place is at vRad
Looking back now, I can confidently say that vRad exceeded my expectations—not only financially, but also in my work-life balance and career satisfaction. That’s why I left that second job behind. Yes, it is scary to leave the familiarity of a traditional salary, and I won't tell anyone to dismiss that concern.
What I discovered is that vRad's flexibility and structure put me in complete control of my salary, and I ended up making more, while working fewer days than I ever had in private practice. Ultimately, it's not just about your paycheck—it's about feeling empowered to design the career and lifestyle that works best for you. Would I choose vRad again? Absolutely. Do I wish I’d made this switch ten years ago? Without a doubt.
Request a personalized compensation estimate
It’s impossible to get an accurate estimate of how much you could make at vRad on your own, because it depends on so many variables. Get in touch with a vRad recruiter; they’re an outstanding resource and have a great compensation calculator. With a bit of input from you—preferred shift time, your reading speed, and other factors that are personal to you—they can give you a realistic range of what you would actually make here. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
