Compare high-paying freelance options for Pennsylvania radiologists: locums, telemedicine, AI training, consulting. Real pay ranges, requirements, and how to start.

TL;DR

Looking for freelance or contract work as a radiologist in Pennsylvania? Whether you want to supplement your income or transition to independent practice, Pennsylvania offers several high-paying options. Here's how the top opportunities compare.

1.

Expert Witness / Medical-Legal

$450-$850/hr

What You'll Do

Radiologists review medical imaging and records to provide expert opinions in legal cases involving malpractice, personal injury, or insurance disputes. Work includes preparing reports, affidavits, and testifying in depositions or trials on radiology standards of care. Assignments are project-based, focusing on case analysis rather than clinical practice.

Requirements

  • Active Pennsylvania license
  • Board certification
  • 5-10+ years clinical experience
  • Prior expert witness experience preferred

Malpractice Insurance: No

Where to Find Work

  • Expert Institute
  • SEAK 2024 Fee Study
  • ResidencyAdvisor

Pennsylvania notes: Philadelphia legal market premium; Pittsburgh moderate; Trial testimony $600-850/hr; Deposition $550-750/hr; Record review $450-650/hr
Typical start timeline: 1-4 weeks

2.

Healthcare Consulting / Advisory

$275-$475/hr

What You'll Do

Radiologists advise healthcare organizations on imaging department operations, AI integration, workflow optimization, or regulatory compliance. Projects involve assessing practices, recommending improvements, and training staff on best practices. Roles support strategic decisions for hospitals or teleradiology firms without direct patient care.

Requirements

  • Active or recent Pennsylvania license
  • Board certification
  • 10+ years experience
  • Leadership or consulting background

Malpractice Insurance: No

Where to Find Work

  • PhysicianSideGigs
  • GLG
  • AlphaSights
  • Guidepoint

Pennsylvania notes: Philadelphia pharma corridor (Merck/GSK) drives demand; Pharma advisory $375-475/hr; Expert networks $275-425/hr
Typical start timeline: 4-12 weeks

3.

AI Training & Annotation

$125-$475/hr

What You'll Do

Healthcare AI companies hire radiologist professionals to review, annotate, and validate training data for medical AI systems. Work involves radiology image annotation and ai model training — tasks like medical image labeling, ct/mri annotation, diagnostic accuracy validation.

Requirements

  • Active clinical background in radiologist
  • No malpractice insurance needed
  • Computer with reliable internet

Malpractice Insurance: No

Where to Find Work

  • Folio (folioworks.com)
  • Centaur Labs
  • Appen
  • Labelbox

Pennsylvania notes: Fully remote — available regardless of state. Pay based on specialty expertise, not location.
Typical start timeline: 1-2 weeks

Getting started: Join the expert community and make a free profile on Folio to browse current radiologist AI training projects.

4.

Locum Tenens / Per Diem

$140-$440/hr

What You'll Do

Radiologists provide temporary diagnostic imaging coverage at hospitals or clinics, interpreting X-rays, CTs, MRIs, and performing procedures during short-term assignments. These roles fill staffing gaps, often involving high-volume reads in various modalities like ER, MSK, and light IR. Assignments are typically on-site with regular daytime shifts, Monday through Friday.

Requirements

  • Active Pennsylvania medical license
  • Board certification
  • Recent experience in diagnostic radiology

Malpractice Insurance: Typically provided by employer

Where to Find Work

  • LocumTenens.com
  • $375-400/hr Kittanning)
  • AMN
  • Indeed
  • Weatherby

Pennsylvania notes: Philadelphia +5-10%; Rural western PA (Kittanning) $360-400/hr posted; Interventional $375-440/hr; General Diagnostic $140-400/hr; Tele-rad $375-440/hr posted; Neuro $350-400/hr
Typical start timeline: 4-8 weeks

5.

TeleRadiologist / Telemedicine

$120-$300/hr

What You'll Do

Radiologists remotely interpret imaging studies such as X-rays, CTs, MRIs, and nuclear medicine from home workstations, providing overnight or daytime reads for facilities. Work focuses on high-volume diagnostic cases without patient contact, often covering ER or outpatient needs. Assignments allow geographic flexibility while maintaining standard shift hours.

Requirements

  • Active Pennsylvania license or IMLC
  • Board certification
  • 5+ years experience for some roles
  • PACS proficiency

Malpractice Insurance: Typically provided by employer

Where to Find Work

  • AMN Healthcare
  • vRad
  • LocumTenens.com
  • DocCafe

Pennsylvania notes: No geo variation (remote); PA license or IMLC required; Subspecialty teleRadiologist $200-300/hr; Overnight ED $180-280/hr; Daytime $120-200/hr
Typical start timeline: 2-6 weeks

Common Questions People Ask

Q: What are the highest-paying freelance options for radiologists in Pennsylvania?

A: Based on current market data, the top 3 are: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal ($450-$850/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory ($275-$475/hr), AI Training & Annotation ($125-$475/hr).

Q: Which freelance options for radiologists don't require malpractice insurance?

A: 3 options don't require malpractice insurance: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal ($450-$850/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory ($275-$475/hr), AI Training & Annotation ($125-$475/hr). This can save $20-$50K annually compared to options requiring coverage.

Q: Can radiologists work remotely in Pennsylvania?

A: Yes, 4 options are fully or partially remote: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal ($450-$850/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory ($275-$475/hr), AI Training & Annotation ($125-$475/hr), TeleRadiologist / Telemedicine ($120-$300/hr).

Q: What Pennsylvania license do radiologists need for freelance work?

A: An active Pennsylvania license from State Board of Medicine is required for most clinical freelance options.

Q: How quickly can radiologists start freelance work?

A: Timeline varies by option: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal typically takes 1-4 weeks, while Healthcare Consulting / Advisory typically takes 4-12 weeks, while AI Training & Annotation typically takes 1-2 weeks.

Q: What's the pay range for radiologists doing AI training work?

A: AI training pays $125-$475/hour for radiologists, varying by experience level and project complexity. No malpractice insurance required.

Getting Started with AI Training

Folio connects Pennsylvania radiologists with frontier research labs and healthcare AI companies looking for clinical expertise. The platform vets AI companies for project quality, handles contracting and payment, and matches projects to your area of expertise.

Typical timeline:
- Application: 3 minutes
- Credential review: 2-3 business days
- Platform orientation: 1 hour
- First project: 3-7 days from application

Current project focus (February 2026): Medical image labeling, CT/MRI annotation, diagnostic accuracy validation

Most radiologists start with 5-10 hours weekly, then scale based on preference. No minimum commitment.

Explore AI Training Opportunities

Questions? Email experts@folioworks.com

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Frequently asked questions

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How do I get started with freelance radiologist work in Pennsylvania?