JOB REPORT / 29-1224 · 30 TASKS

Radiologists.

Can AI do the work of Radiologists?

Mostly it works alongside you. Here is what shifts, task by task.

YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS

How does this fit your work?

How many tasks do you use AI to assist with at work?

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The mark shows what’s typical for this job.

The parts of your job AI can already do most of:

Perform or interpret the outcomes of diagnostic imaging procedures
Develop or monitor procedures to ensure adequate quality control…
Compare nuclear medicine procedures with other types of procedures

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A guided certificate program in AI-assisted Radiologists work. It covers the 26 AI-affected parts of your job and ends in a capstone a person reviews.

WHAT WE LOOKED AT

Your job, task by task.

26 of 30 tasks reviewed

This job has 30 core tasks. We went through 26 of them, one at a time.

Task by task, from the work Radiologists actually do. How we describe AI use in each task is our own read of it, not a measurement of whether AI can replace the job.

TASK 01
Perform or interpret the outcomes of diagnostic imaging procedures including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), nuclear cardiology treadmill studies, mammography, or ultrasound.
AI DOES
Screens images for common findings, highlights areas of concern, and drafts preliminary reports
YOU DO
Apply clinical judgment, correlate with patient history, and take legal responsibility for the final diagnosis
TASK 02
Develop or monitor procedures to ensure adequate quality control of images.
AI DOES
Automatically checks image sharpness, noise levels, and artifacts across large batches of scans
YOU DO
Set quality standards, judge borderline cases, and update protocols based on clinical experience
TASK 03
Compare nuclear medicine procedures with other types of procedures, such as computed tomography, ultrasonography, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography.
AI DOES
Pulls up comparison studies, summarizes pros and cons of each imaging type, and flags relevant clinical guidelines
YOU DO
Weigh the full patient picture and decide which imaging path is safest and most useful
TASK 04
Advise other physicians of the clinical indications, limitations, assessments, or risks of diagnostic and therapeutic applications of radioactive materials.
AI DOES
Quickly retrieves protocols, drug interactions, dosage guidelines, and contraindication lists for radioactive materials
YOU DO
Apply nuanced clinical judgment to the individual patient's full picture and own the physician-to-physician conversation
TASK 05
Review procedure requests and patients' medical histories to determine applicability of procedures and radioisotopes to be used.
AI DOES
Scans medical records, highlights contraindications, and surfaces relevant guidelines instantly
YOU DO
Apply clinical judgment to edge cases and take legal responsibility for procedure approval
TASK 06
Formulate plans and procedures for nuclear medicine departments.
AI DOES
Drafts procedure templates, summarizes guidelines, and flags regulatory requirements
YOU DO
Apply local safety rules, clinical experience, and regulatory accountability to finalize plans
TASK 07
Teach nuclear medicine, diagnostic radiology, or other specialties at graduate educational level.
AI DOES
Drafts lecture slides, quizzes, case studies, and reading summaries
YOU DO
Mentor students through clinical reasoning and adapt teaching in real time
TASK 08
Participate in continuing education activities to maintain and develop expertise.
AI DOES
Finds relevant CME courses, summarizes new radiology research, and creates practice quizzes
YOU DO
Engage deeply with complex cases and apply new knowledge to real patient care
TASK 09
Participate in quality improvement activities including discussions of areas where risk of error is high.
AI DOES
Analyzes case data to spot error-prone patterns and summarizes risk trends across large volumes of studies
YOU DO
Lead the discussion, apply clinical context, and decide which process changes actually make sense
TASK 10
Calculate, measure, or prepare radioisotope dosages.
AI DOES
Suggests standard dosage formulas and checks math against patient weight and protocol tables
YOU DO
Verify every dose and take legal responsibility for patient safety
TASK 11
Check and approve the quality of diagnostic images before patients are discharged.
AI DOES
Scans images for noise, blur, artifacts, and flags potential quality issues automatically
YOU DO
Apply clinical judgment about whether image quality is truly sufficient for safe diagnosis
TASK 12
Establish and enforce radiation protection standards for patients and staff.
AI DOES
Monitors dose data, flags limit breaches, and surfaces updated regulatory guidelines
YOU DO
Own the accountability and enforce standards with real people in real spaces
TASK 13
Prescribe radionuclides and dosages to be administered to individual patients.
AI DOES
Reviews patient weight, kidney function, and scan type to suggest dosage ranges from published guidelines
YOU DO
Make the final prescription call and take legal responsibility for each patient's safety
TASK 14
Establish or enforce standards for protection of patients or personnel.
AI DOES
Summarizes radiation safety guidelines, flags gaps in existing protocols, and drafts policy documents
YOU DO
Own the decisions, sign off on standards, and hold people accountable in real clinical settings
TASK 15
Coordinate radiological services with other medical activities.
AI DOES
Drafts scheduling messages, flags urgent cases, and summarizes patient imaging histories
YOU DO
Build trust with clinical teams and make judgment calls on care priorities
TASK 16
Develop treatment plans for radiology patients.
AI DOES
Highlights key imaging findings and flags abnormalities to speed up review
YOU DO
Weigh patient context, risks, and collaborate with the care team to finalize the plan
TASK 17
Direct nuclear medicine technologists or technicians regarding desired dosages, techniques, positions, and projections.
AI DOES
Pulls up standard dosage protocols and positioning references instantly
YOU DO
Apply clinical judgment to each patient's specific condition and give clear, accountable directions to your team
TASK 18
Confer with medical professionals regarding image-based diagnoses.
AI DOES
Summarizes scan findings and highlights abnormalities to prep for discussion
YOU DO
Build clinical relationships and make shared judgment calls with other doctors
TASK 19SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Review or transmit images and information using picture archiving or communications systems.
AI DOES
Flags abnormal findings and routes images automatically
YOU DO
Make the final diagnostic call
About this analysis
55% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 20
Instruct radiologic staff in desired techniques, positions, or projections.
AI DOES
Drafts written guides, checklists, and training slides for positioning techniques
YOU DO
Demonstrate hands-on positioning and read the room when staff need extra coaching
TASK 21
Monitor handling of radioactive materials to ensure that established procedures are followed.
AI DOES
Flags documentation gaps and reviews digital safety logs for procedure compliance
YOU DO
Be physically present to observe and verify safe handling in real time
TASK 22SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Prepare comprehensive interpretive reports of findings.
AI DOES
Drafts sections and organizes data into report format
YOU DO
Interpret what findings actually mean
About this analysis
32% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 23SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Communicate examination results or diagnostic information to referring physicians, patients, or families.
AI DOES
Drafts clear summaries of test results
YOU DO
Deliver with care and answer hard questions
About this analysis
15% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 24SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Document the performance, interpretation, or outcomes of all procedures performed.
AI DOES
Generates templates and suggests standard documentation language
YOU DO
Judge what details matter most
About this analysis
0% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 25SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Obtain patients' histories from electronic records, patient interviews, dictated reports, or by communicating with referring clinicians.
AI DOES
Pulls and organizes records from multiple sources
YOU DO
Ask the right questions and listen
About this analysis
0% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 26SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Provide counseling to radiologic patients to explain the processes, risks, benefits, or alternative treatments.
AI DOES
Generates patient education materials and treatment explanations
YOU DO
Read emotions and build trust
About this analysis
0% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium

START LEARNING AI

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There are 26 short lessons for this job, about 15 minutes each. Each one starts from a task above and teaches the part that stays with you.

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AT A GLANCE

Occupation: Radiologists
SOC code: 29-1224
Tasks reviewed: 26 of 30

How we assess

PAY & OUTLOOK

Compare pay by state

Median pay (national): $420,860 · BLS OEWS 2025
Median pay (Colorado): $344,270 · BLS OEWS 2025
Employed (national): 26,770
Employed in Colorado: 500
Job outlook: +2.7% by 2034 · ~800 openings/yr

Wages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. National figures cover the United States. Job outlook is national.

How does this fit your work?

Earn a certificate in your job

Your job, task by task.

Perform or interpret the outcomes of diagnostic imaging procedures including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), nuclear cardiology treadmill studies, mammography, or ultrasound.

Develop or monitor procedures to ensure adequate quality control of images.

Compare nuclear medicine procedures with other types of procedures, such as computed tomography, ultrasonography, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography.

Advise other physicians of the clinical indications, limitations, assessments, or risks of diagnostic and therapeutic applications of radioactive materials.

Review procedure requests and patients' medical histories to determine applicability of procedures and radioisotopes to be used.

Formulate plans and procedures for nuclear medicine departments.

Teach nuclear medicine, diagnostic radiology, or other specialties at graduate educational level.

Participate in continuing education activities to maintain and develop expertise.

Participate in quality improvement activities including discussions of areas where risk of error is high.

Calculate, measure, or prepare radioisotope dosages.

Check and approve the quality of diagnostic images before patients are discharged.

Establish and enforce radiation protection standards for patients and staff.

Prescribe radionuclides and dosages to be administered to individual patients.

Establish or enforce standards for protection of patients or personnel.

Coordinate radiological services with other medical activities.

Develop treatment plans for radiology patients.

Direct nuclear medicine technologists or technicians regarding desired dosages, techniques, positions, and projections.

Confer with medical professionals regarding image-based diagnoses.

Review or transmit images and information using picture archiving or communications systems.

Instruct radiologic staff in desired techniques, positions, or projections.

Monitor handling of radioactive materials to ensure that established procedures are followed.

Prepare comprehensive interpretive reports of findings.

Communicate examination results or diagnostic information to referring physicians, patients, or families.

Document the performance, interpretation, or outcomes of all procedures performed.

Obtain patients' histories from electronic records, patient interviews, dictated reports, or by communicating with referring clinicians.

Provide counseling to radiologic patients to explain the processes, risks, benefits, or alternative treatments.

Practice AI.Use your judgment.

Practice AI.
Use your judgment.