PACS Administrators rank salaries in just-released survey

PACS administrators are making, on average, $60,000 to $65,000, according to the PACS Administrator Salary Survey just published in the April issue of Health Imaging & IT magazine.

Here's a snapshot: The majority of respondents hold the title of PACS administrator, have a bachelors degree, are in charge of the PACS at their facility, which has 100 to 300 beds. The average facility in which the PACS administrator works does between 50,000 and 100,000 imaging procedures annually, is 90 to 100 percent filmless and is part of a network of six to 10 facilities in the Midwest. The majority of PACS administrators told us that they have been in their current role for one to three years and are between the ages of 35 and 40.

Almost 60 percent of respondents identify themselves as PACS administrators, while 20 percent are RIS/PACS managers and13 percent work at PACS coordinators.

The majority of survey respondents place their paychecks in the $45,000 to $80,000 range, with the most (18 percent) making $60,000 to $65,000 per year, closely followed by those making $50,000 to $55,000 and $70,000 to $75,000. The numbers show that PACS administrators are appreciated - with 43 percent getting a raise in 2003 of 3 to 6 percent and 32 percent receiving a raise of 1 to 3 percent. Almost 6 percent were among the lucky to receive salary increases of 9 percent or more, but 12 percent got no bump in pay. This year, almost half of respondents expect to get a raise of 3 to 6 percent, while 39 percent expect to see an increase of 1 to 3 percent in their paycheck.

The majority of PACS administrator's have 1 to 3 years of experience, followed equally by those reporting 3 to 6 years of experience and less than a year. Most PACS administrators hold a bachelor's degree (42 percent), followed by 32 percent who hold an associate degree. Overall, PACS administrators have been involved in radiology or cardiology for some time, with the majority (26 percent) chalking up 20 years or more, followed by 8 to 10 years (11 percent) and 12 to 14 years (10 percent). Some 73 percent of PACS administrators found their current position while working at their facility, followed by networking with colleagues (19 percent).

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