Per diem mammography jobs let breast-imaging-trained radiologists pick up single shifts at outpatient centers, hospitals, or teleradiology platforms without signing a multi-year contract, and 2026 staffing shortages in MQSA-qualified readers keep opening up extra shifts faster than practices can fill them.
- Locum tenens mammography coverage pays the highest per-shift rate among per diem mammography jobs in 2026 — Buy.
- Remote breast imaging reads suit radiologists who already clear the 960-exam MQSA volume requirement — Consider.
- Outpatient center per diem shifts offer the steadiest hours but the lowest per-shift ceiling — Consider.
- Skip per diem mammography jobs that bundle stereotactic biopsy call without separate pay.
- Hospital weekend fill-in shifts pay well for cash but rarely lead to permanent offers — Buy for income, Skip for stability.
Why this matters
Breast imaging is one of the few subspecialties where a federal regulation, not just a hospital policy, dictates who can pick up a shift. The FDA's MQSA rule requires interpreting radiologists to have read or multi-read at least 960 mammography exams in the prior 24 months and to log 60 hours of category 1 CME in mammography before initial qualification. That volume floor thins the per diem pool, which is exactly why per diem mammography jobs pay a premium over general diagnostic per diem work in 2026.
RadBoard's 2026 US Radiology Job Market Report, built from 3,700+ active listings, shows breast imaging sitting among the subspecialties with the widest gap between open per diem shifts and qualified applicants. If you already hold current MQSA certification, that gap is your leverage point going into 2026 contract talks.
Who this is for
This guide is for radiologists who already hold active MQSA certification — attendings picking up income between contracts, breast-imaging fellows testing markets before a permanent search, and part-time or semi-retired mammographers who want shifts without call. It is not for residents or radiologists without a current mammography interpretation qualification; per diem work will not substitute for the supervised volume MQSA requires before initial certification.
RadBoard's job search platform aggregates radiology jobs from 20 sources, including per diem and locum mammography postings that rarely show up on a single hospital career page.
What to look for in per diem mammography jobs
MQSA credentialing match
Every posting should state whether it needs 2D digital mammography only or full tomosynthesis (3D) privileges. A site running 3D on every patient in 2026 will not onboard you mid-shift if your credentialing only covers 2D — confirm the modality match before you accept, not after you arrive.
Modality and procedure mix
Some per diem mammography jobs are screening-only reads; others fold in diagnostic workup, ultrasound correlation, and stereotactic or ultrasound-guided biopsy. Biopsy privileges change your liability exposure and your hourly rate, so treat "mammography" postings that quietly include procedures as a different job category, not a bonus.
Pay structure and RVU exposure
Per diem work is billed as an hourly rate, a flat day rate, or per-study RVU — and each rewards a different kind of shift. A slow suburban outpatient center on an hourly rate beats a busy urban center on per-study pay if your read speed is average; know your own numbers before you compare offers.
Schedule commitment and notice period
Some per diem mammography jobs want a shift confirmed six weeks out; others fill same-week gaps and pay a rush premium. If you need income predictability, favor the former; if you want maximum flexibility around a primary job, the latter fits better even at a lower base rate.
Malpractice and PACS access
Confirm who carries malpractice coverage for the shift and how fast you get PACS and VPN credentials. A one-day per diem shift that takes three days of IT onboarding to access images is not actually a one-day commitment — it is three lost mornings for one paid afternoon.
Top picks for flexible extra mammography shifts
Outpatient breast imaging centers — the steady option. Screening-heavy volume, predictable hours, usually 2D and 3D combined, booked weeks in advance. Read speed matters more than procedure skill here since most days are screening-only. Verdict: Consider — reliable but capped upside.
Locum tenens mammography coverage — the highest per-shift pay. These assignments run one to four weeks, often at practices with an active MQSA staffing gap, and typically bundle travel and malpractice into the contract. Locum tenens mammography jobs tend to pay above standard per diem rates precisely because the practice is short-staffed on a federally regulated credential. Verdict: Buy for radiologists who can travel or work remotely for the read component.
Remote breast imaging reads — the fully remote pick. Some breast imaging groups now route screening mammograms to remote MQSA-qualified readers, with diagnostic and biopsy work staying on-site. Remote breast imaging jobs work best for radiologists who already clear the 960-exam volume floor through a primary job and want supplemental per diem shifts without a commute. Verdict: Consider — check state licensing overlap before you sign.
Hospital weekend and night fill-in shifts — the last-minute call. These postings fill within days, often paying a call differential on top of the base per diem rate, but rarely convert into permanent offers since hospitals use them as pure gap coverage. Verdict: Buy for cash, Skip if you're job-searching — the volume won't build a lasting relationship with the department.
Multi-site imaging chain float pool — the volume play. Chains with several outpatient locations sometimes run an internal float pool paying a per diem rate plus a volume bonus once you clear a screening-read threshold for the month. Verdict: Consider if you can tolerate rotating sites and inconsistent PACS systems.
Find per diem mammography shifts now
Search 5,000+ radiology postings from 20 sources and swipe to save the ones that fit.
What to avoid
- Postings that hide biopsy call inside a "mammography" listing. If stereotactic or ultrasound-guided biopsy isn't priced separately, you're accepting procedural liability at a screening rate.
- Agencies vague about malpractice coverage for the shift. Ask in writing before the first day; "we'll sort it out" is not coverage.
- Sites that can't confirm your modality credentialing matches their equipment. A 2D-only credential at a 3D-only site means you show up and can't work the list.
Verdict comparison
| Work type | Pay model | Schedule flexibility | Credentialing needed | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outpatient imaging center | Hourly or day rate | Book weeks ahead | MQSA cert, 2D/3D | Consider |
| Locum tenens mammography | Day rate, often with travel | 1-4 week blocks | MQSA cert, agency-carried malpractice | Buy |
| Remote breast imaging reads | Per-study or hourly | Own hours, home-based | MQSA cert, PACS/VPN, state license | Consider |
| Hospital weekend/night fill-in | Hourly plus call differential | Short notice, 1-2 shifts | MQSA cert, biopsy privileges optional | Buy for cash |
| Multi-site chain float pool | Hourly plus volume bonus | Rotating sites | MQSA cert, high read volume | Consider |
FAQ
What are per diem mammography jobs?
Per diem mammography jobs are single-shift or short-block assignments reading screening and diagnostic mammograms, paid by the day or hour instead of a salaried contract. They let MQSA-certified radiologists fill gaps at outpatient centers, hospitals, or remote platforms without a long-term commitment.
How much do per diem mammography jobs pay?
Pay varies by region, modality mix, and whether biopsy privileges are included, and most postings quote an hourly or day rate rather than a fixed salary. Locum tenens mammography assignments generally command a premium over standard outpatient per diem shifts because of the MQSA staffing gap.
Do per diem mammography shifts count toward MQSA volume requirements?
Yes, mammograms interpreted during per diem or locum shifts count toward the 960-exam requirement over 24 months, as long as the reads are properly logged with the site. Keep your own exam log independent of any single employer's records.
Is remote per diem mammography reading legal in every state?
No, remote mammography interpretation requires an active medical license in the state where the patient is imaged, and some states add telemedicine-specific rules. Confirm licensing overlap before accepting a remote per diem mammography job.
What credentials do you need for per diem mammography jobs in 2026?
You need active MQSA interpreting physician qualification, which requires 960 mammography exams in the prior 24 months and 60 hours of category 1 CME initially, plus 15 hours every three years to maintain it. Sites will also verify state licensure and malpractice coverage before scheduling a shift.
Can a general radiologist pick up per diem mammography shifts?
Only if that radiologist already holds current MQSA certification; general diagnostic training alone does not qualify someone to interpret mammograms. Radiologists without an active mammography credential should look at general per diem diagnostic radiology jobs instead.
How do locum tenens mammography jobs differ from per diem hospital shifts?
Locum tenens mammography jobs run one to four week blocks with travel and malpractice usually built into the contract, while per diem hospital shifts are single days filling immediate gaps. Locum assignments generally pay more per shift but require more schedule commitment upfront.
Where can radiologists find per diem mammography jobs in 2026?
Per diem mammography jobs are posted across hospital career pages, staffing agencies, and telehealth radiology platforms, which is why aggregators that pull from multiple sources save the most search time. RadBoard tracks 5,000+ radiology postings from 20 sources, including per diem and locum mammography listings.
One last thing
The 960-exam MQSA floor is the real gatekeeper in this market, not experience level or subspecialty pedigree — a radiologist five years out of fellowship with a thin recent mammography volume gets passed over for per diem shifts in favor of someone two years out who reads breast imaging daily. If your current job doesn't keep you near that volume, a per diem mammography shift or two per month in 2026 isn't just extra income, it's the maintenance work that keeps your credential usable at all.