Salary transparency is crucial for physicians to understand their market value and negotiate effectively. Having solid data on doctor salaries empowers physicians to come to the negotiation table well-prepared, advocating for fair compensation based on their specialty, experience, and responsibilities. However, accessing reliable physician salary information can be challenging, often hidden behind paywalls or not easily available during contract negotiations. Even when salary databases are accessible, they frequently lack a comprehensive view of the entire compensation package, making accurate comparisons difficult. It’s essential to recognize that physician salaries vary significantly, even within the same specialty, due to factors such as location, subspecialty, benefits, PTO, practice type (private practice, academic, hospital-employed, government, direct primary care, etc.), call schedules, bonus structures, partnership opportunities, and hours worked.
To address this information gap, we at physician communities have been diligently gathering salary and compensation data from physicians. This allows us to provide both aggregated insights and specific data points with detailed contextual information. This data also helps track salary trends, enabling physicians to recognize when it’s time to renegotiate their employment agreements.
Disclaimers/Disclosures: Please be aware that this page may include information about our sponsors and affiliate links. These partnerships support our work and may offer benefits to you, at no cost to you. Consider them introductions rather than formal endorsements. The data presented here is derived from our physician salary and compensation databases and is subject to self-reporting variations and the availability of data from our online communities. This information is for educational purposes only, intended to support individual physicians in their career decisions. It is not intended for collective bargaining purposes. For further details, please refer to the disclaimers on our physician salary data pages. Always conduct your own research before making any decisions based on this information. We are not financial, legal, or tax professionals and do not provide personalized advice. Consult with appropriate professionals as needed. We strongly advise having your physician employment agreement reviewed by a physician contract review attorney to ensure you have the most current and relevant information for your specific situation.
Using our physician salary data points, we’ve analyzed average physician compensation across general practice areas. For specialties with sufficient data, we’ve also created detailed articles, linked below, that delve deeper into specific factors. While we explore some key factors influencing doctor salaries, such as hours worked, gender, and location, these specialized articles provide a more granular view of how these and other variables impact earnings within each specialty.
The aggregate data presented below is compiled from approximately 5,000 data points collected between mid-2023 and mid-2024. We are continuously expanding our physician salary database, aiming to make it an even more valuable resource for our physician community members seeking detailed salary insights.
Average Physician Salary in 2024: An Overview
As discussed in our comprehensive article on doctor compensation and salary statistics, the average physician salary in the US, encompassing both full-time and part-time data, is approximately $368,000.
Primary Care Physician Salaries
It’s important to highlight the salary range for primary care physicians, recognizing that salaries can vary considerably not just by specialty but also within primary care itself. Before examining specific specialties and subspecialties, we want to focus on the earnings of physicians in general primary care, excluding those with subspecializations within internal medicine, pediatrics, and family medicine.
The average annual salary for primary care physicians – defined here as general internal medicine physicians, general family medicine physicians, and general pediatricians – is $281,000. For a more detailed breakdown of salaries within primary care subspecialties, please refer to the articles linked below.
Explore further:
Doctor Salary by Medical Specialty: 2024 Averages
Specialization is a primary determinant of physician compensation. Let’s examine the average doctor salary across various medical specialties.
Unless stated otherwise, the salary figures presented below represent full-time physicians, defined as working 36 or more hours per week on average.
While we are still gathering data to provide averages for every subspecialty in 2024, the following are the average full-time attending physician salaries for specialties where we have sufficient data to ensure reliable reporting.
- Allergy & Immunology – $290,000
- Anesthesiology – $518,000
- Cardiology – $583,000
- Critical Care – $451,000
- Dermatology* – $527,000
- Emergency Medicine – $437,000
- Endocrinology – $281,000
- Family Medicine – $289,000
- Gastroenterology – $625,000
- Geriatrics – $293,000
- Hematology Oncology – $496,000
- Hospice/Palliative Care – $262,000
- FM/IM Hospital Medicine – $324,000
- Infectious Disease – $286,000
- Internal Medicine – $295,000
- Nephrology – $357,000
- Neurology – $360,000
- Neurosurgery – $1,075,000
- Obstetrics & Gynecology – $383,000
- Ophthalmology – $509,000
- Orthopedic Surgery – $745,000
- Otolaryngology (ENT) – $579,000
- Pain Management – $457,000
- Pathology – $367,000
- Pediatrics – $253,000
- Physiatry (PM&R) – $364,000
- Plastic Surgery – $717,000
- Psychiatry – $329,000
- Pulmonary – $434,000
- Radiation Oncology – $593,000
- Radiology – $558,000
- Rheumatology – $287,000
- Surgery (All) – $569,000
- Surgery, General – $464,000
- Urgent Care – $318,000
- Urology – $564,000
*For dermatology, full-time equivalent is defined as 31+ hours per week.
These figures represent average doctor salaries within each specialty, based on submitted full-time data. It is important to remember that a wide salary range exists within each specialty, influenced by factors like location, practice setting, employer type, hours worked, call responsibilities, partnership status, and more. To provide more detailed insights, we are developing dedicated articles on doctor salaries by specialty for 2024.
Explore these specialties in detail:
Note: You might observe minor discrepancies between the average salaries listed above and those in individual specialty articles. This can be due to article updates incorporating the latest data.
If you don’t find a dedicated article for your specialty, it indicates we currently lack sufficient data to create one. Please consider contributing a few minutes of your time to our physician salary and compensation database if you haven’t already this year. Your anonymous contributions are vital for enhancing salary transparency and helping physicians in your specialty understand their worth.
Specialties with fewer practitioners will naturally have fewer data points, which can potentially skew averages. While these averages can offer a general expectation, we encourage you to explore our comprehensive, free compensation data for physicians to find comparable data tailored to your specific circumstances.
Check back for updates and new specialty-specific articles as we continuously add data.
Highest Paid Doctor Specialties
Analyzing the average full-time salaries, we’ve ranked the top-paying specialties and subspecialties. Keep in mind that some of these datasets, particularly surgical subspecialties, have a smaller number of data points. Averages may shift as more physicians contribute, and additional subspecialties could join these rankings as our data expands.
- Neurological Surgeons: $1,075,000
- Orthopedic Surgeons: $745,000
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons: $717,000
- Interventional Radiologists: $635,000
- Gastroenterologists: $625,000
- Vascular Surgeons: $624,000
- Radiation Oncologists: $593,000
- Cardiologists: $583,000
- Otolaryngologists (ENTs): $579,000
- Urologists: $564,000
- Diagnostic Radiologists: $538,000
- Dermatologists: $527,000
- Trauma Surgeons: $521,000
- Anesthesiologists: $518,000
- Ophthalmologists: $509,000
Across specialties, surgeons, particularly within various subspecialties, tend to command the highest salaries. This aligns with the current US healthcare system’s higher compensation for procedural work under the RVU system. It’s not surprising that physicians performing procedures average higher salaries, especially given that many doctor compensation structures are RVU-based or entirely collections-based.
Learn more about RVU based contracts.
Lowest Paid Doctor Specialties
In contrast to the top earners, we also examined the specialties and subspecialties where physicians typically earn the lowest salaries.
- Adolescent Medicine Physicians: $200,000
- Pediatric Endocrinologists: $203,000
- Pediatric Hematologist Oncologists: $220,000
- Pediatric Hospitalists: $225,000
- Pediatric Nephrologists: $227,000
- Developmental-Behavioral Pediatricians: $230,000
- General Pediatricians: $248,000
- Pediatric Gastroenterologists: $252,000
- Hospice and Palliative Care Doctors: $262,000
- Pediatric Pulmonologists: $263,000
Conversely, many primary care specialties are represented among the lowest-paid physician categories. These specialties typically do not involve procedures that receive higher insurance reimbursements. Physicians in these fields often express frustration about reimbursement levels and explore strategies to increase revenue, especially in private practice settings.
Learn more about:
A common concern among physicians in these specialties is reducing charting time. Excessive charting can limit patient volume per day or negatively impact work-life balance with after-hours charting. AI scribes are gaining traction and can significantly reduce charting time, as discussed in our physician communities.
Related PSG perks:
Explore our physician burnout and support resources.
The Impact of Procedures on Physician Income
As mentioned, procedural specialties generally earn more due to the current insurance reimbursement structure in US healthcare. Let’s examine a few specialties with both interventional and non-interventional practitioners to illustrate how procedures impact salaries.
In our database, radiologists can specify their subspecialization as diagnostic or interventional radiology. Looking at the highest paid doctor specialties, interventional radiologists average $635,000 annually, while diagnostic radiologists average $538,000—nearly a 20% difference.
Cardiologists also specify their subspecialization. Noninvasive cardiologists in our data average $542,000, whereas invasive cardiologists average $575,000. While the gap is smaller at 6%, interventional cardiology still yields higher compensation.
These examples underscore that incorporating procedural elements can significantly increase a doctor’s earning potential.
Physician Work Hours and Salary
When considering average physician salaries, context is crucial. Ensure you’re comparing data relevant to your situation.
While the average physician salary is around $368,000, salary data shows significant variation. The median doctor salary for 2024 is $321,000. These figures encompass physicians working from 6-10 hours per week to over 70 hours. This range might not align with your desired work-life balance and career goals, especially if you aim to reduce physician burnout.
Since hours worked significantly affect salary, and physician definitions of full-time and part-time vary, let’s examine average weekly hours and corresponding salaries.
The distribution of average weekly hours reported by our physician members is as follows:
Doctor Salary by Hours Worked
Focusing on full-time physicians (36+ hours/week), the average reported salary is $385,000. Many physicians also work part-time. For part-time averages, we consider attending physicians working 16-35 hours/week. The average part-time doctor in this category earns $303,000.
With a larger dataset, we can further break down salaries by average weekly hours. Consistent with our observations in doctor salaries by specialty articles, income generally increases with hours worked.
- 16-20 hours/week average – $185,000/year
- 21-25 hours/week average – $245,000/year (32% more)
- 26-30 hours/week average – $306,000/year (25% more)
- 31-35 hours/week average – $329,000/year (7.5% more)
- 36-40 hours/week average – $347,000/year (5.5% more)
- 41-45 hours/week average – $369,000/year (6.3% more)
- 46-50 hours/week average – $403,000/year (9.2% more)
- 51-60 hours/week average – $445,000/year (10% more)
- 61-70 hours/week average – $466,000/year (4.7% more)
Note: Data for 71+ hours/week is omitted due to potential skewing from 7-on, 7-off hospitalists and similar schedules where reported weekly hours might not reflect consistent weekly work.
Generally, physicians who work more hours earn more. However, the increase isn’t always proportional. Adding a few part-time shifts can significantly boost income, while increasing full-time hours by 12% might only yield a 5-7% pay increase.
Consider your priorities when making these trade-offs. If you’re contemplating changes, explore our resources. Given our focus on physician side gigs, consider directing extra effort towards a side gig, which may offer a better return on your time in terms of income, passive income opportunities, or income diversification. It could also be a stimulating way to utilize different skills or learn something new!
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Doctor Salary by Practice Environment
Practice environment is a significant factor influencing doctor salaries and negotiating power. While our specialty-specific articles delve into details, let’s examine average pay across all specialties by practice environment.
- Active Duty Military: Average salary of $205,000/year
- Corporate Group, Non-Private Equity: Average salary of $379,000/year
- Corporate Group, Private Equity: Average salary of $367,000/year
- FQHC and Other Non-profits: Average salary of $278,000/year
- Government Facility (VA, City Hospital, etc.): Average salary of $297,000/year
- Group Private Practice, Non-Private Equity Backed: Average salary of $492,000/year
- Group Private Practice, Private Equity Backed: Average salary of $443,000/year
- Hospital Employee, Academic: Average salary of $334,000/year
- Hospital Employee, Non-Academic: Average salary of $409,000/year
- Locums: Average salary of $475,000/year
- Solo Private Practice, Non-Private Equity Backed: Average salary of $390,000/year
Government-related positions (military, FQHCs, non-profits, government facilities) generally report the lowest salaries. However, these roles often qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). The PSLF benefit may offset lower salaries for doctors with substantial federal student loans. The military also offers programs to mitigate medical school debt.
Non-private equity backed group private practices report the highest average salaries. Interestingly, primary care physicians in solo private practice (family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics) reported the highest earnings within their specialties. While demanding, requiring physicians to be both clinicians and business owners, solo private practice can be financially rewarding. We offer extensive private practice resources for doctors if you’re considering this path.
Private equity (PE) backed practices, on average, pay less than non-PE-backed practices (3% lower in corporate groups, 11% lower in private practice groups). Our primer on private equity and physician medical practices discusses the pros, cons, and key considerations for doctors regarding PE. Many PE-backed practices still have partners from recent buyouts, but the salary gap may widen as more physicians become employees without significant ownership.
Academic hospitals pay less than non-academic hospitals but may offer better work-life balance and compensation packages when considering factors like time off and call requirements.
Salary is not the only factor, but understanding these differences is crucial for informed negotiation and career decisions.
Doctor Practice Environment Choices
Examining practice environment choices, we looked at the distribution of doctors across different settings.
Over 50% of our respondents work in hospital systems, either academic or non-academic.
Private practice, both group and solo, accounts for approximately 21% of our database contributors.
*This distribution is based on our salary and compensation database. We have a separate locums doctor compensation database, which may skew this percentage as locums physicians tend to contribute data there.
Doctor Salary by State
Location significantly impacts average doctor salaries. Our doctor salaries by specialty series highlights substantial salary variations across states. We’ve reviewed average salaries by state across all specialties to rank the highest and lowest paying states for doctors in 2024.
Infographic displaying 'Highest doctor salaries by state', showcasing states with the highest average physician compensation.
Infographic displaying 'Lowest doctor salaries by state', showcasing states with the lowest average physician compensation.
Some states with limited data, like Hawaii and Wyoming, are excluded from these rankings. We will update as more data becomes available.
Louisiana, the highest-paying state, averages 38% higher physician salaries than Minnesota, the lowest-paying state.
While cost of living varies within states and influences net income after taxes, comparing salary options across states relative to cost of living can offer geoarbitrage opportunities for physicians willing to relocate. Remember to consider all aspects of cost of living, including often-overlooked state and local taxes.
Crucially, use relevant data points. State rankings vary by specialty. A state’s overall ranking may not reflect salary levels within your specific specialty. Consulting a local physician contract attorney familiar with your area provides invaluable insights into local market conditions for your specialty.
Gender Pay Gap in Doctor Salaries
Our specialty series has revealed significant gender-based salary differences. We examined this across all specialties.
The average salary for full-time female doctors in our data is $347,000 per year. Male doctors average 31% higher at $454,000.
Acknowledging criticisms of gender pay gap statistics, microscopic data analysis reveals factors contributing to this gap:
- Higher rates of ownership/partnership among male physicians.
- Longer average work hours for male doctors.
- Female physicians’ preference for practice environments offering better work-life balance but potentially lower pay.
- Different specialty distributions, with higher female representation in lower-paying primary care specialties.
HOWEVER, even controlling for job profiles, hours worked, and RVUs generated, a gender pay gap persists. This may stem from lower RVU rates for female physicians, lower base salary offers, or other factors.
We plan further analysis to explore these macroscopic differences. Check back for updates. In the meantime, we hope this open access to data empowers all physicians to negotiate more effectively, regardless of gender.
Conclusion
Doctor salaries are influenced by numerous factors, including:
- Specialty and Subspecialty
- Procedures performed
- Geographic Location
- Practice Environment
- Hours Worked
- Gender
- And more…
Additional factors like call responsibilities also impact compensation, as detailed in our statistics on physician on-call pay.
We hope this overview of doctor salaries, based on data from our salary and negotiation database for physicians, provides valuable insights for your career decisions. We strongly encourage you to delve deeper into specialty-specific trends with our doctor salary by specialty series, explore the data yourself, and consult with a local contract attorney during contract negotiations to secure the most competitive offer possible.
Additional Salary and Career Resources for Doctors
Explore our related articles and resources on doctor compensation and salaries:
If you haven’t recently, please contribute to our database! Your anonymous data helps physicians negotiate better compensation through salary transparency. Data is exclusively available to members of our Physician Side Gigs Facebook group. Contribution links are on our compensation data for physicians page.
Seeking new career opportunities? Explore the Physician Side Gigs job board.
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