Diagnostic Imaging Centers Revenue Benchmarks
The average diagnostic imaging centers business in the United States generates $3.0M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 4,626 diagnostic imaging centers businesses in the U.S., employing 97,809 workers with an average profit margin of 13.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $81K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Diagnostic Imaging Centers Business Actually Do?
Freestanding radiology and imaging centers providing MRI, CT, ultrasound, X-ray, mammography, PET scans. Compete with hospital imaging on price and access.
Who buys: Patients (via physician referral, insurance-paid), self-pay 'imaging tourism' patients.
Average Revenue
$3.0M
per year
Profit Margin
13.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$144K
per year
Total Businesses
4,626
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$395K
small business avg
Labor Cost
50.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$81K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.4
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Diagnostic Imaging Centers Charge?
Imaging centers charge per study with insurance-negotiated rates.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
MRI (without contrast) | $400–2,500 list; $300–800 insurance-paid |
CT scan | $300–1,500 list |
X-ray | $50–200 |
Ultrasound | $100–500 |
PET/CT | $3,000–8,000 list |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete diagnostic imaging centers business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a diagnostic imaging centers business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the diagnostic imaging centers industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Medical supplies & pharma | $13 | $393K | Disposables, medications, lab reagents, implants, and other direct patient supplies. |
Wages & benefits | $50 | $1.5M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $168K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $2 | $56K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $17 | $505K | Malpractice insurance, billing services, equipment leasing, regulatory compliance. |
Net profit | $13 | $395K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
28.27%
openings/year
Closure Rate
9.95%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
-3.98%
annual
Businesses Closed
822
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Diagnostic Imaging Centers Business?
Startup Cost
$75K – $300K
Break-Even
6 months
5-Year Survival Rate
70.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a diagnostic imaging centers business do?
- Freestanding radiology and imaging centers providing MRI, CT, ultrasound, X-ray, mammography, PET scans. Compete with hospital imaging on price and access. Patients (via physician referral, insurance-paid), self-pay 'imaging tourism' patients.
- How much do diagnostic imaging centers charge?
- Imaging centers charge per study with insurance-negotiated rates. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average diagnostic imaging centers make per year?
- The average diagnostic imaging centers business generates $3.0M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $395K per year at a 13.0% profit margin.
- How many diagnostic imaging centers businesses are there in the US?
- There are 4,626 diagnostic imaging centers businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 97,809 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a diagnostic imaging centers business?
- Startup costs for a diagnostic imaging centers business typically range from $75K to $300K, with a 5-year survival rate of 70.0%.
- What is the average salary in the diagnostic imaging centers industry?
- The average employee in the diagnostic imaging centers industry earns $81K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The diagnostic imaging centers industry is contracting — losing jobs at a net rate of 4.0% per year. More establishments are closing (10.0%) than opening (28.3%), suggesting market challenges.
Approximately 59% of diagnostic imaging centers businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 822 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the diagnostic imaging centers industry earns $80,938/year. This is significantly above the national average of ~$65K, reflecting the skilled nature of this work. With 7,230 establishments employing 82,690 people, the typical business has about 11 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The diagnostic imaging centers industry has grown 45% since 2000 (from 5,466 to 7,899 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Diagnostic Imaging Centers revenue with other industries: