Diagnostic Medical Physicist Salary in the United States

How much does a Diagnostic Medical Physicist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Diagnostic Medical Physicist in the United States is $90,384 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $43.

However, a Diagnostic Medical Physicist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $106,610
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $79,233 to $98,877
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $69,080

Key Factors That Influence Diagnostic Medical Physicist Salaries

A Diagnostic Medical Physicist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Diagnostic Medical Physicist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Diagnostic Medical Physicist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $71,404
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $89,760
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $105,292
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $137,026
  • Expert (over 8 years): $152,948
Levels Salary
Physicist... Level Diagnostic Medical Physicist$71,404
Diagnosti... Level Diagnostic Medical Physicist$89,760
Physicist... Level Diagnostic Medical Physicist$105,292
Physicist... Level Diagnostic Medical Physicist$137,026
Physicist... Level Diagnostic Medical Physicist$152,948

Top Paying Cities for Diagnostic Medical Physicists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $114,002
  • San Francisco: $112,754
  • Oakland: $110,377

What Skills Can Increase a Diagnostic Medical Physicist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 9.4% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Radiology (Mentioned in 5.66% Job Postings): Recording, analyzing, and measuring brain activities through electroencephalogram tests to detect, diagnose, and treat brain disorders.
  • Acceptance Testing (Mentioned in 1.67% Job Postings): Acceptance testing is the testing of the requirements of a specification. It may involve chemical tests, physical tests, or performance tests, and is typically found in engineering.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 9.4%
Radiology 5.66%
Acceptance Testing 1.67%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Diagnostic Medical Physicist's salary.

  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 42%.
  • Long Term Care: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Process Improvement $128,346
42%
Long Term Care $107,557
19%
Accountability $104,846
16%

Diagnostic Medical Physicist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Diagnostic Medical Physicist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 95% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Diagnostic Medical Physicist positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Diagnostic Medical Physicist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Diagnostic Medical Physicist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$126,538$61.040%
Biotechnology$112,980$54.025%
Pharmaceuticals$108,461$52.020%
Energy & Utilities$103,942$50.015%
Aerospace & Defense$99,423$48.010%

How Education impacts a Diagnostic Medical Physicist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Diagnostic Medical Physicists enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Diagnostic Medical Physicist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $87,941 and $98,449).

Diagnostic Medical Physicist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Diagnostic Medical Physicist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 34.6%
High School 19.2%
Associates 46.2%
Bachelors 34.6%
Masters 19.2%
Doctorate 46.2%

Diagnostic Medical Physicist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Diagnostic Medical Physicist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$79,233
Average $90,384/year
$98,877
$6,603
Average $7,532/month
$8,240
$1,524
Average $1,738/week
$1,901
$38
Average $43/hour
$48
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $98,877 $8,240 $1,901 $48
Average $90,384 $7,532 $1,738 $43
25th Percentile $79,233 $6,603 $1,524 $38

Most common benefits for Diagnostic Medical Physicist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Diagnostic Medical Physicist

Here are companies hiring for Diagnostic Medical Physicist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Diagnostic Medical Physicist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Diagnostic Medical Physicist?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Diagnostic Medical Physicist roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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