SOC 2254 Health professionals

Medical radiographers Salary

Median salary £44,324 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £44,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For medical radiographers, £48,439 is the typical (median) pay. That is above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +24% versus the national average. Experienced medical radiographers (top 25%) earn over £53,019.

About this role

Medical radiographers (2020 SOC) use ionising radiation, magnetic resonance, ultrasound and other imaging technologies to produce diagnostic images for clinical diagnosis and treatment planning. They work across general radiography, CT, MRI, fluoroscopy and other imaging modalities.

Key responsibilities

Performing diagnostic imaging examinations across modalities
Ensuring patient safety and radiation protection compliance
Assessing image quality and clinical adequacy
Operating and maintaining complex imaging equipment
Supporting image-guided interventional procedures

Qualifications and entry routes

Requires an HCPC-approved degree in Diagnostic Radiography and HCPC registration. Postgraduate training enables advanced roles in CT, MRI, ultrasound reporting and clinical specialisms.

Career outlook

Critical workforce shortage with significant NHS vacancy rates. AI-assisted imaging and reporting radiographer roles are transforming the profession.

Key skills

Multi-modality imaging Radiation protection Patient care Technical problem-solving Cross-sectional anatomy

Common industries

NHS radiology departments
Private imaging centres
Mobile imaging providers
Cardiac catheterisation labs
Breast screening programme

Data coverage

SOC code 2254

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 45,000

Median Salary

£44,324

Mean Salary

£43,386

Jobs (000s)

45k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £34,077Median: £44,324P75: £53,019

P10: £26kP25: £34kMedian: £44kP75: £53kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£26,085

0-2 years

Mid Level

£34,077

3-7 years

Senior

£53,019

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +103% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +43.4%Real growth: +3.9%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 22.9%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£44,324

Full-time Only

£48,439

Full-time premium: +£4,115

Medical radiographers salary: common questions

How much do medical radiographers earn in the UK?

Medical radiographers earn a median of £48,439 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £34,077 and £53,019.

Is £48,439 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for medical radiographers?

Entry-level medical radiographers typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £34,077, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £26,085.

Have medical radiographers salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median medical radiographers pay has risen from £34,457 to £48,439 — +41% in cash terms, or +2.0% after CPIH inflation. That is roughly in line with inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for medical radiographers?

Male medical radiographers earn a median £52,784 and female medical radiographers £40,673 — a gap of +23% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).