Understanding a Gi Doctor Salary is crucial for physicians considering or currently practicing in gastroenterology. Knowing your worth in the job market empowers you during contract negotiations and ensures you are fairly compensated. This article provides a detailed breakdown of gastroenterologist salaries in 2024, offering salary transparency and data-driven insights to help you navigate your career.
Understanding the Data Behind Gastroenterologist Salaries
The gastroenterologist salary data presented here is based on 90 anonymous data points collected between mid-2023 and mid-2024. While we strive for larger datasets, this initial analysis provides valuable insights into current compensation trends in gastroenterology. Unless specified otherwise, the salary statistics below pertain to full-time attending gastroenterologists, defined as those working 36 or more hours per week on average. Data from residents and fellows has been excluded to focus on practicing physician compensation.
It’s important to remember that smaller datasets may be less representative of the broader gastroenterology landscape. We encourage you to utilize our comprehensive and free doctor salary and negotiation database to compare your individual situation against a wider range of data points.
We are committed to continually updating this information as more salary contributions are received, allowing for more robust and detailed analysis in the future.
We invite you to contribute your 2024 physician salary and negotiation data to help enhance the accuracy and scope of this report for your fellow gastroenterologists.
2024 Gastroenterologist Salary: What to Expect
In 2024, the average annual gastroenterologist salary across all contributors in our dataset was $606,000, encompassing both full-time and part-time practitioners.
However, a single average can be misleading due to various influencing factors. To provide a more nuanced understanding of GI doctor salary, we have further segmented the data to offer more relevant points of comparison.
Average Full-Time Gastroenterologist Salary in 2024
While part-time opportunities exist in gastroenterology, the vast majority – over 90% – of gastroenterologists in our salary database reported working full-time.
When we focus exclusively on full-time positions, the average gastroenterologist salary for 2024 rises to $625,000. To illustrate the salary range around this average, consider these additional statistics:
- Highest Reported Salary: $1,600,000 per year, demonstrating the high earning potential for some gastroenterologists.
- Salaries Above $1 Million: 5 reported salaries exceeded $1,000,000 annually.
- Lowest Reported Salary: $230,000 per year, representing the lower end of the salary spectrum.
- Salaries in the $300,000s Range: An additional 11 salaries were reported in the $300,000s range.
- Median Salary: $600,000, providing a more typical midpoint of gastroenterologist salaries.
Further insights into the highest earners in gastroenterology are discussed in the “Who Earns the Most in Gastroenterology?” section below.
Gastroenterologist Salary Variations by Subspecialization
Similar to other specialized medical fields covered in our “how much doctors make by specialty” series, current data limitations prevent definitive average salary conclusions for each gastroenterology subspecialty. However, we can observe qualitative trends from the available data.
We encourage you to contribute your doctor salary and compensation data anonymously to help expand this section in future updates.
Advanced Endoscopy: Gastroenterologists specializing in advanced endoscopy consistently reported salaries exceeding the overall averages in our dataset. This suggests a higher earning potential within this subspecialty.
Hepatology: Salaries for hepatology specialists in gastroenterology showed a wide range, from the lower end of the overall spectrum at $345,000 to well above average at $750,000. Interestingly, the lowest salaries were associated with academic hospital settings, while the highest were in private practices, highlighting the impact of practice environment on physician salaries.
Pediatric Gastroenterology: We have separate data available for “the average salary for physicians in pediatric specialties,” including pediatric gastroenterology, for those interested in this specific area.
Gender Differences in Gastroenterologist Salary
Analyzing the data by gender reveals notable differences in average earnings between female and male gastroenterologists.
Female gastroenterologists in our dataset reported an average salary of $522,000. In contrast, male gastroenterologists reported a significantly higher average salary of $689,000.
This translates to a 32% average earnings gap, with male gastroenterologists earning considerably more than their female counterparts. This gender disparity is more pronounced than observed across other specialties in our “how much doctors make by specialty” series, but aligns with procedure-heavy specialties like surgery (refer to our “How much do Surgeons Make?” article for comparison).
Notably, all of the top 12 highest reported gastroenterologist salaries in our data were earned by male physicians.
While we briefly examined factors potentially influencing these salary differences, a comprehensive understanding of this gender gap requires further investigation with more extensive data.
Impact of Practice Environment on GI Doctor Salary
Practice environment significantly influences gastroenterologist salary. Our data analysis reveals substantial pay variations based on where physicians are employed.
- Group Private Practice (Non-Private Equity Backed): $719,000 – Representing the highest average GI doctor salary among practice environments with sufficient data.
- Academic Hospital Employee: $471,000 – Significantly lower than other environments, reflecting the typical pay structure in academic settings.
- Non-Academic Hospital Employee: $686,000 – Higher than academic hospitals but lower than private practices.
Among practice environments with at least 10 data points, gastroenterologists in non-private equity backed group private practices reported the highest average salaries. They earned 5% more than those in non-academic hospitals and a substantial 53% more than colleagues in academic hospitals.
Looking at broader categories, 39% of our gastroenterologists worked in private practice settings, earning an average salary of $645,000. Conversely, 59% were employed in hospital settings, averaging 5% less at $615,000.
It is crucial to remember that academic hospitals often qualify for Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). This benefit can significantly impact the overall compensation package, emphasizing the importance of evaluating the entire offer beyond just the base salary.
Gastroenterologist Salary by Employment Type
Employment type is another key factor influencing GI doctor salary. Our data differentiates between W2 employees and practice owners/partners.
While our database focuses on these primary employment types, it’s important to note that we maintain a separate locums pay and compensation database for locum tenens positions. You can explore locum tenens compensation statistics for doctors separately for detailed information on this employment model.
W2 employees in gastroenterology averaged $592,000 annually. Partners and owners in practices, however, reported significantly higher average salaries, earning $787,000 for 2024 – a 33% increase compared to W2 employees. Many partners may also have ownership stakes in Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs), further contributing to their income.
The partner/owner track offers a clear pathway to increased earning potential in gastroenterology, although it typically involves additional administrative responsibilities.
Who Are the Top Earners in Gastroenterology?
Within our dataset, 9 gastroenterologists reported salaries exceeding $900,000, with 5 of those reaching the 7-figure range. Analyzing this group of highest earners reveals some common characteristics:
Further details on the characteristics of top earners will be added as data analysis continues.
Gastroenterologist Salary and Location
Geographic location is a well-known determinant of physician compensation. While our gastroenterologist data spans the US, current data density is insufficient to provide average salaries by state. We are working to expand our data to include state-level salary breakdowns in future updates.
Contribute your physician salary and compensation data today to help us expand this section and provide location-specific GI doctor salary information.
Hours Worked and Gastroenterologist Salary
The “eat what you kill” nature of some medical specialties suggests a correlation between hours worked and income. We examined this relationship for gastroenterologists in 2024, analyzing average salaries based on reported weekly hours.
- 36-40 hours/week: $597,000
- 41-45 hours/week: $577,000
- 46-50 hours/week: $631,000
- 51+ hours/week: $713,000
Generally, gastroenterologists working more hours tend to earn more. However, the data reveals an interesting anomaly: those working 36-40 hours per week reported 3% higher average salaries than those working 41-45 hours. This may be skewed by the presence of 3 of the highest-paid gastroenterologists within the 36-40 hour group, highlighting the influence of factors like employment type and practice environment which may outweigh the direct impact of hours worked on GI doctor salary.
Gastroenterologist Work Hours: An Overview
Beyond salary, understanding typical work hours is important for career planning.
The majority of gastroenterologists in our dataset work between 36-45 hours per week on average.
In addition to patient-facing hours, charting demands significant time. 27% of gastroenterologists reported spending at least five hours per week charting at home, beyond their reported work hours. If charting burdens your work-life balance, consider exploring AI scribing solutions, such as the AI scribing solution available through our practice resources for physicians, which offers a free trial and long-standing discount.
Trends in Gastroenterologist Salary Over Time
Our analysis included data from mid-2023 to mid-2024, drawing from our most recent salary database. To understand salary trends over time, we also examined our previous database, dating back to 2018. We focused on full-time gastroenterologists (36+ hours/week) post-residency/fellowship for consistent comparison. For 2023 data, we combined data from both databases, carefully avoiding data duplication.
- 2018-2019: $467,000
- 2020-2021: $462,000
- 2022-2023: $491,000
- 2024: $625,000
As with many specialties involving elective procedures, we observed a salary dip during the COVID-19 pandemic, reinforcing the “eat what you kill” compensation model in some medical fields.
We see a 6% salary increase from 2022-2023 compared to 2020-2021, followed by a significant jump in 2024. However, caution is advised when interpreting the 2024 surge. Our previous physician salary and negotiation database may have had a higher proportion of hospital-employed contributors compared to private practice partners/owners in the current dataset. Since employment type strongly influences salary, differences in contributor demographics may partially explain the substantial 2024 increase. While a general upward trend in gastroenterologist salaries is evident, direct comparisons between 2024 and previous years should consider potential dataset variations.
Beyond Salary: Gastroenterologist Compensation Packages
Beyond base salary, physician compensation encompasses various benefits and incentives. We plan to explore complete compensation packages in detail in future reports. For now, here are key insights into additional compensation elements relevant to gastroenterologists:
Sign-On and Relocation Bonuses for GI Doctors
Sign-On Bonuses: 55% of gastroenterologists reported receiving a sign-on bonus, averaging $31,000. Bonuses ranged widely from $5,000 to $100,000. Some members noted that sign-on bonuses were structured as retention bonuses, paid over multiple years.
Learn more about signing bonuses for physicians.
Relocation Bonuses: 33% of gastroenterologists received relocation bonuses, with an average of $12,000 and a range of $3,000 to $25,000.
Vacation Time for Gastroenterologists
The average annual vacation time for gastroenterologists was 24 days, with a median of 20 days, indicating some data variability. Reported vacation time ranged from three to seven weeks of paid time off. Some members noted their vacation time was combined with sick and CME days into a single paid time off pool.
CME Stipends for Gastroenterologists
CME Stipends: 72% of gastroenterologists reported receiving CME stipends, ranging from $1,000 to $8,000 annually, with an average of $3,500.
Student Loan Debt for Gastroenterologists
While not direct compensation, student loan burden is a significant financial factor for physicians. Among gastroenterologists reporting student loan debt at graduation, the average was $267,000. High federal student loan debt makes repayment and loan forgiveness programs particularly valuable.
Learn more about doctor student loans. Explore student loan refinancing options if you are seeking debt management strategies.
Additional Insights from Gastroenterologists
Our physician online community members contributing salary data also provide valuable qualitative comments. Key insights from gastroenterologists regarding job selection and contract negotiations include:
Specific insights from gastroenterologists will be added as data analysis continues.
Strategies to Increase Your GI Doctor Salary
If this salary information prompts you to re-evaluate your current compensation, several strategies can help increase your gastroenterologist salary. However, remember to consider the complete picture. Salary is vital, but only one component of a well-negotiated physician employment contract.
If you are satisfied with your current workplace but not your pay, consider initiating a conversation with management. As a valued team member, they may be willing to renegotiate your contract to avoid losing you. While there are no guarantees, it’s worth exploring. Approach the conversation with realistic expectations and respect. Leveraging salary and compensation data for physicians for comparable situations can inform your negotiation target.
Exploring new career opportunities can also be beneficial. Sometimes, current employers may be unable or unwilling to meet your compensation expectations. Interviewing for other positions provides market insights into employer offers. Explore opportunities on our Physician Side Gigs job board and utilize our physician career resources and education to guide your job search.
While our data and database are valuable negotiation tools, we strongly recommend engaging a local contract review attorney for physicians to review your contract. Their expertise in physician contract negotiation, including identifying potential red flags, is invaluable.
If you are seeking income growth beyond your market rate, even as a high-earning gastroenterologist, consider exploring:
Side gigs for gastroenterologists to supplement your income.
Additional Resources for Gastroenterologist Salary and Career Information
Explore our related articles and resources on physician compensation and salaries:
Please contribute a few minutes to update our data! Your anonymous data helps physicians negotiate better compensation through salary transparency. Contribution links are available on our compensation data for physicians page. Data is exclusively for members of our Physician Side Gigs Facebook group.
Seeking new career opportunities? Browse the Physician Side Gigs job board for current listings.
For contract negotiation guidance, explore:
Also, discover side gigs for gastroenterologists to expand your income streams.
