Six large staffing conglomerates control most of the radiology locum tenens market in 2026, and picking the wrong one costs you weeks of credentialing delay or a contract with a mid-assignment rate cut buried in the fine print.
- CHG Healthcare (CompHealth and Weatherby Healthcare) wins for radiologists who want the deepest bench of open assignments in 2026 - Buy.
- LocumTenens.com is the strongest pick for subspecialty placements like neuroradiology and IR - Consider.
- Hayes Locums fits radiologists who want a single point of contact instead of a call-center handoff - Consider.
- Global Medical Staffing and Fusion Medical Staffing carry radiology as a smaller slice of a broader allied-health book - Hold.
- Direct-apply job boards like RadBoard surface the same locum listings without an agency markup on your rate.
Why this matters
Locum tenens pay in radiology moved higher through 2026 as hospitals leaned on temporary coverage to fill overnight and weekend reads. That demand pulled more staffing firms into the space, and not all of them run the same playbook.
Some agencies own their malpractice tail coverage and credentialing teams in-house. Others outsource both, which is where assignment starts get pushed back 30 to 60 days past the date a hospital actually needed coverage. The agency you sign with determines whether your first shift happens on schedule or gets stuck in a licensing queue.
RadBoard's aggregation of over 5,000 radiology positions from 20 sources includes locum tenens postings alongside permanent roles, which means you can compare an agency-sourced assignment against a direct-hire listing for the same facility before you sign anything. If you're weighing a locum contract against a permanent seat, the locum tenens radiology jobs listings on RadBoard let you see both sides of that decision in one search.
How this list was ranked
The ranking below weighs four factors: breadth of radiology-specific assignment volume, in-house versus outsourced credentialing, contract flexibility (assignment length and renewal terms), and subspecialty reach (IR, neuroradiology, breast imaging, teleradiology). Agencies that bundle radiology into a much larger allied-health or nursing book score lower here, even when their overall size is large, because radiologists get less dedicated attention from those recruiters.
None of these agencies publish real-time rate cards, so treat every dollar figure you're quoted as a starting point for negotiation, not a fixed number.
The ranked list
1. CHG Healthcare (CompHealth and Weatherby Healthcare) - the safe pick
CHG Healthcare owns both CompHealth and Weatherby Healthcare, making it the largest locum tenens staffing operation serving US radiology in 2026. Both brands run in-house credentialing and licensing teams, which shortens the gap between signing and your first shift compared to firms that outsource that step.
Radiologists working through either brand get access to a wide bench of hospital and outpatient imaging center assignments across general diagnostic, mammography, and teleradiology coverage. The tradeoff is scale: with a large roster of radiologists on file, you're one of many, and recruiter responsiveness can vary by region. Buy if you want the widest selection of open dates and don't mind a bigger operation.
2. LocumTenens.com - the subspecialty specialist
LocumTenens.com built its reputation on physician-specific staffing rather than a broader healthcare-worker book, and its radiology division leans into subspecialty placements: neuroradiology, interventional radiology, and breast imaging get dedicated recruiters rather than generalist staffing reps.
If your training is in a niche subspecialty, this matters more than raw assignment volume. A recruiter who understands the difference between a diagnostic-only IR role and a full procedural IR contract will negotiate a more accurate rate for you. Consider this agency if you're fellowship-trained and want a recruiter who speaks your subspecialty's language. If you're neuro-trained specifically, cross-reference open roles against the neuroradiology jobs postings on RadBoard before committing to an exclusive agency relationship.
3. Hayes Locums - the boutique play
Hayes Locums runs smaller than CHG Healthcare's brands or LocumTenens.com, and that's the point. Radiologists working with Hayes typically get one dedicated recruiter for the life of the relationship instead of rotating through a call center.
The smaller bench means fewer total openings at any given moment, but the assignments that do come through tend to move faster through credentialing because fewer radiologists are competing for the same in-house paperwork team's attention. Consider Hayes if you've had a bad experience with recruiter turnover at a larger firm and want continuity over volume.
4. Vista Staffing Solutions - the international bridge
Vista Staffing places US radiologists in both domestic locum assignments and international contracts, which sets it apart from the domestic-only firms on this list. If you're an IMG radiologist who may eventually want assignments outside the US, or you're weighing visa-sponsored international opportunities, Vista's reach covers ground the others don't.
For a radiologist focused purely on domestic locum coverage in 2026, this dual focus doesn't add much value and can mean less bandwidth dedicated to purely domestic openings. Hold unless international placement is genuinely on your radar. IMG radiologists working through visa sponsorship should also check the radiology jobs for IMGs listings on RadBoard for direct-hire alternatives that skip the agency layer entirely.
5. Global Medical Staffing - the volume house
Global Medical Staffing places physicians across dozens of specialties, with radiology as one line item among many. The size of the operation means a large number of postings cross its desk, but radiology-specific expertise on the recruiting side is thinner than at a firm built around physician staffing exclusively.
Expect a wider net of assignment options but less nuanced negotiation support on subspecialty-specific rate differentials. Hold for general diagnostic coverage assignments where subspecialty nuance matters less.
6. Fusion Medical Staffing (formerly Med Travelers) - the allied-health crossover
Fusion Medical Staffing's roots are in allied health and travel nursing, with radiology as a smaller addition to that book. Radiologists here are competing for recruiter bandwidth against a much larger population of travel nurses and techs.
For a radiologist prioritizing speed and subspecialty precision, this isn't the strongest fit in 2026. Skip unless you already have an existing relationship with a Fusion recruiter from a prior placement.
Compare locum listings directly
See locum tenens radiology openings without an agency layer between you and the posting.
Comparison table
| Agency | Best For | Credentialing | Subspecialty Reach | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHG Healthcare (CompHealth/Weatherby) | Widest assignment volume | In-house | Broad, general diagnostic strong | Buy |
| LocumTenens.com | Subspecialty placements | In-house | Deep in IR, neuro, breast imaging | Consider |
| Hayes Locums | Recruiter continuity | In-house, smaller team | Moderate | Consider |
| Vista Staffing Solutions | Domestic + international | Mixed | Moderate | Hold |
| Global Medical Staffing | High volume, general coverage | Outsourced elements | Thin | Hold |
| Fusion Medical Staffing | Existing relationships only | Outsourced | Thin | Skip |
Where to source assignments
- Verify malpractice tail coverage before signing. Some agencies cover it fully, others push the cost back to the radiologist at contract end - get this in writing, not verbally.
- Ask for credentialing timeline history, not promises. Credentialing across state licensing boards commonly runs 60 to 120 days; an agency with in-house teams tends to land at the shorter end.
- Cross-check the same facility on a direct job board. A hospital running a locum search through an agency is sometimes also posting directly - comparing both listings on RadBoard shows whether the agency markup is worth the convenience.
FAQ
What are the best radiology staffing agencies for locum tenens in 2026?
CHG Healthcare's CompHealth and Weatherby Healthcare brands lead on assignment volume, LocumTenens.com leads on subspecialty placements, and Hayes Locums leads on recruiter continuity in 2026. Larger allied-health crossover firms like Fusion Medical Staffing and Global Medical Staffing carry radiology as a smaller slice of a broader book.
Is it better to use a staffing agency or apply directly for locum tenens radiology jobs?
Agencies handle credentialing and malpractice tail coverage, which saves administrative time but usually comes with a rate markup. Direct-apply listings, including locum tenens roles aggregated on RadBoard, often let you negotiate rate directly with the facility.
How long does credentialing take for a locum tenens radiology assignment?
Credentialing typically runs 60 to 120 days depending on the state licensing board and whether the agency handles the paperwork in-house. Agencies with dedicated credentialing teams tend to move faster than those outsourcing the process.
Do locum tenens radiology agencies cover malpractice insurance?
Most staffing agencies provide malpractice coverage during the assignment, but tail coverage terms after the contract ends vary by agency and should be confirmed in writing before signing.
Which staffing agency is best for neuroradiology or IR locum assignments?
LocumTenens.com runs dedicated subspecialty recruiting for neuroradiology and interventional radiology, which gives fellowship-trained radiologists more accurate rate negotiation than generalist staffing desks.
Can international medical graduates use locum tenens agencies for radiology jobs?
Yes, though visa sponsorship terms vary by agency and assignment. IMGs should confirm sponsorship support directly with a recruiter and compare against direct-hire listings that specify visa sponsorship upfront.
Do locum tenens radiology rates differ by agency?
Rates are negotiated per assignment and per facility rather than fixed by agency, so the same opening can carry different net pay depending on the agency's markup and your negotiating position.
One last thing
The agency with the biggest name isn't always the one that gets you working fastest - a smaller firm with in-house credentialing can beat a national brand by weeks on start date, and that gap matters more than a marginal rate difference once you're mid-assignment.