The average annual salary for a physician is $248,640.Neurosurgeons rank as the highest-paid doctors, while pediatric endocrinologists are the specialists who tend to be paid the least. The top 1% of doctors make about $4 million annually.
This contrasts withprimary care physiciansor other general doctors who see patients for various care and check-ups. These providers make less than specialists who work in a particular field.
Hero Images / Getty Images
Highest Paying Physician Specialties
In addition to the compensation information, current and projected trends in health care also affect the most lucrative and in-demand physician careers.
Note, however, that changes in medical insurance are significantly impacting medical careers, and those changes are increasingly difficult to predict.
What Is the Hardest Doctor to Become?While all medical fields are competitive, the five most competitive specialties according to Med School Insiders include:Plastic surgeryENT (Ear nose and throat)DermatologyOrthopedic surgeryNeurosurgery
What Is the Hardest Doctor to Become?
While all medical fields are competitive, the five most competitive specialties according to Med School Insiders include:Plastic surgeryENT (Ear nose and throat)DermatologyOrthopedic surgeryNeurosurgery
While all medical fields are competitive, the five most competitive specialties according to Med School Insiders include:
According to Doximity’s report, the top 20 highest earners in the medical profession are as follows.
#1 Neurosurgeons
Neurosurgeons, also known as neurological surgeons, are the highest-paid doctors. They diagnose and treat conditions of the brain, spine, and nervous system.
Average annual salary:$788,313
#2 Thoracic Surgeons
Thoracic surgeons perform chest surgeries. They operate on organs and structures that include the heart, lungs,esophagus, andtrachea.
Average annual salary:$706,775
#3 Orthopedic Surgeons
Orthopedic surgeons specialize in surgeries on the bones and joints, including sports-related injuries, trauma, and joint deterioration fromarthritis.
Average annual salary:$624,043
#4 Plastic Surgeons
Plastic surgeriesare procedures to reshape or restore areas of the body for reconstructive or cosmetic purposes.
Reconstructive surgeries may be done to address birth defects or traumatic injuries, such as deformities from accidents or burns.
Cosmetic surgeries, also called aesthetic procedures, are used to try to enhance certain features, such aschanging the size or shape of breastsorliposuctionto suction out fat tissue from certain areas.
Average annual salary:$571,373
#5 Vascular Surgeons
Vascular surgeons treatdiseases of arteries and veins.
Procedures can help restore blood flow and can includeangioplastyto open a blocked blood vessel or removal of plaques in diseased arteries or veins.
Average annual salary:$557,632
#6 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Oral andmaxillofacialsurgeons focus on reconstructive surgeries of the face, head, neck, and jaw.
Thesesurgeriescan include complex dental procedures that involve the jawbone and facial reconstruction after traumatic injuries or removing cancerous masses.
Average annual salary:$556,642
#7 Radiation Oncologists
Radiation oncologists treat solid tumors using radiation.
Average annual salary:$547,026
#8 Cardiologists
Cardiologists diagnose and treat diseases and disorders of the heart andcirculatory system, the system of blood vessels that transports blood to and from the heart.
Average annual salary:$544,201
#9 Urologists
Urologiststreat disorders of the female and male urinary tract as well as male reproductive organs. Organs a urologist treats include the kidneys,adrenal glands, ureter, bladder, and urethra as well as the testes,epididymis,prostate gland, and penis.
Average annual salary:$505,745
#10 Radiologists
Radiologists use medical imaging technology to diagnose and sometimes treat medical conditions, disorders, and illnesses.
Average annual salary:$503,564
#11 Gastroenterologists
Gastroenterology, like oncology and cardiology, is a sub-specialty of internal medicine.
Gastroenterologists specialize in the treatment of digestive and gastrointestinal disorders and diagnosis of cancers and disorders of the digestive tract.
Most gastroenterologists also treat diseases of the liver, with additional training in hepatology, the area of medicine that focuses on the liver.
Average annual salary:$496,667
#12 Otolaryngologists (ENT)
Otolaryngologistsspecialize in the treatment of the ears, nose, throat, sinuses, head, and neck. They are also referred to as anENT.
This type of doctor performs medical and surgical treatment for conditions such as chronic ear infections,sinus issues,trouble swallowing, ordizziness.
Average annual salary:$488,536
#13 Dermatologists
Dermatologistsspecialize in treating diseases that affect the skin, hair, and nails.
Reasons to see a dermatologist might include an annualskin cancercheck, treatment for acne, dandruff, eczema, or cellulitis, or a cosmetic procedure.
Average annual salary:$468,509
#14 Anesthesiologists
Anesthesiologistsare trained to safely give anesthesia—medicine that controls pain and may put you to sleep during surgery. They also monitor people while they are still under the effects of these drugs after surgery.
Average annual salary:$462,506
#15 General Surgeons
General surgeonshave knowledge of the entire surgical process and are responsible for patient care before, during, and after surgery.
They perform a broad range of surgical procedures involving the following:
They are also trained in trauma care and surgical oncology.
Average annual salary:$451,489
#16 Ophthalmologists
Anophthalmologistdiagnoses and treats all eye diseases, performs eye surgery, and prescribes and fits eyeglasses and contact lenses to correct vision problems.
Average annual salary:$449,315
#17 Oncologists
Oncologistsspecialize in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. There are three main types of oncologists:
Average annual salary:$447,312
#18 Colorectal Surgeons
Acolon and rectal surgeon, also called a colorectal surgeon, treats conditions affecting the large intestine (thecolon, rectum, and anus.)
Average annual salary:$445,685
#19 Pulmonologists
Pulmonologistsspecialize in diseases of therespiratory tract. This includes the lungs, airways (mouth, nose,pharynx, larynx, and trachea), and respiratory muscles (including thediaphragmand intercostal muscles).
Average annual salary:$400,650
#20 Nuclear Medicine Radiologists
Nuclear medicine radiologists, also called nuclear radiologists, are doctors who use radioactive materials, calledradiopharmaceuticals, to diagnose and treat disease.
Nuclear medicine radiologists use radiopharmaceuticals to treat hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, solid tumors, hematologic malignancies, andbone metastases.
Average annual salary:$392,196
Lowest-Paying Physician Specialties
According to Doximity, the lowest-paid doctor is a pediatric endocrinologist. The 20 specialties with the lowest average salary tend to be pediatric and primary care specialties, including:
Gender Disparities in Pay
The gender pay gap for doctors decreased slightly from 28% in 2021 to 26% in 2022. The average pay gap in 2022 was still significant: Physicians who identify as female earned nearly $110,000 less than male physicians, even when salaries were controlled for specialty, location, and years of experience.
Doximity’s report could not find a single medical specialty in which physicians who identified as women earned the same or more than those who identified as men. The largest wage gaps also included some of the highest-paying specialties.
For example, male oral and maxillofacial surgeons earned $568,679 on average, whereas female orthopedic surgeons earned an average annual salary of $395,687.
Summary
Even among the highest salaries, the report identified wage gaps of about 26% between male and female physicians with the same qualifications.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational employment and wage statistics.Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR).Just how much do physicians earn — and why?Medical Group Management Association.Provider compensation data report 2023.Med School Insiders. Updated 2022:The 10 most competitive specialties in medicine.Doximity.2023 Physician Compensation Report.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational employment and wage statistics.Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR).Just how much do physicians earn — and why?Medical Group Management Association.Provider compensation data report 2023.Med School Insiders. Updated 2022:The 10 most competitive specialties in medicine.Doximity.2023 Physician Compensation Report.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational employment and wage statistics.Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR).Just how much do physicians earn — and why?Medical Group Management Association.Provider compensation data report 2023.Med School Insiders. Updated 2022:The 10 most competitive specialties in medicine.Doximity.2023 Physician Compensation Report.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Occupational employment and wage statistics.
Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR).Just how much do physicians earn — and why?
Medical Group Management Association.Provider compensation data report 2023.
Med School Insiders. Updated 2022:The 10 most competitive specialties in medicine.
Doximity.2023 Physician Compensation Report.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
