“Equal pay for equal work”: Exploring the gender pay gap in radiology

Abstract

Among the enduring disparities confronting the United States is the gender pay gap. Women experience lower wages than their male peers in nearly every major occupation, including medicine, and this further underscores how gender-based inequities within the practice of radiology are wide regarding pay, promotion opportunities, and leadership representation in diagnostic and interventional radiology. This review article analyzes the historical and current data for the gender pay gap in radiology relative to other medical specialties, as well as the influence of other intersecting factors, such as race or ethnicity. The manuscript identifies key root causes of the pay discrepancies, including underrepresentation of women in leadership positions, deeply held biases, stereotypes, and inequities in promotion practices. Several strategies have been explored to tackle these challenges, encompassing enhancing pay transparency, reinforcing the commitments of institutions to pay equity, and advocating for systemic changes.