What doctors actually get paid
Verified salary data from 10,000+ physicians
From Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic & more
What doctors actually get paid
Verified salary data from 10,000+ physicians. Anonymous and always free.
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2025 Physician Salary Guide by Medical Specialty
Comprehensive doctor salary data from real physicians across the United States. Compare physician compensation, medical doctor pay scales, and healthcare salaries by specialty.
💰Highest Paying Medical Specialties
- Cardiothoracic Surgery$1.2M+
- Neurosurgery$900K+
- Orthopedic Surgery$795K+
- Anesthesiology$535K+
- Emergency Medicine$415K+
📈Doctor Salary by Experience
🛠️Explore Physician Salaries
- Browse by Medical Specialty
- Filter by Geographic Location
- Compare Practice Settings
- Analyze Career Trajectories
- Real Physician Compensation
Physician Salaries by State and City in 2025
Discover regional variations in doctor compensation across the United States. Compare physician salaries by state, metropolitan area, and cost of living adjustments.
🗺️Top Paying States
🏙️Top Metro Areas
🏥By Practice Setting
⚖️Lifestyle Metrics
Geographic Salary Analysis: Cost of Living vs. Physician Compensation
Understanding physician salary variations by geographic location is crucial for career planning. Our data shows significant regional differences in doctor compensation, often reflecting local healthcare demand, cost of living, and competitive market dynamics.
High-Paying Regions
- West Coast: Premium salaries in California, Washington, and Oregon due to high demand and cost of living
- Northeast Corridor: Competitive compensation in New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey
- Texas Metro Areas: Strong physician salaries with favorable tax structures
Emerging Markets
- Southeastern Growth: Rising physician demand in Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia
- Rocky Mountain Region: Lifestyle-focused positions with competitive packages
- Midwest Opportunities: Excellent value proposition with lower cost of living
💡 Pro Tip: When evaluating physician job opportunities, consider both gross salary and cost-adjusted compensation. A $350K salary in Austin, TX might provide better purchasing power than a $450K salary in San Francisco, CA.
🎯 Real Physician Lifestyle Insights
Go beyond salary data. Discover what it's really like to practice in different medical specialties with authentic insights from real physicians about work-life balance, career satisfaction, and daily life.
Family Medicine
"Excellent work-life balance with strong patient relationships and diverse scope of practice..."
Read Full Insights →Internal Medicine
"Intellectually stimulating with broad scope of practice and strong diagnostic challenges..."
Read Full Insights →Emergency Medicine
"Fast-paced environment with immediate impact on patient outcomes and varied cases..."
Read Full Insights →Best Work-Life Balance
Discover which medical specialties offer the best work-life balance based on real physician experiences.
Highest Satisfaction
Find out which medical specialties have the highest physician satisfaction and career happiness ratings.
All Specialty Insights
Browse comprehensive lifestyle insights and career advice for all medical specialties from real physicians.
Common Career Questions We Answer
What's the work-life balance like in Emergency Medicine?
Real insights from EM physicians about shift work, burnout, and family time.
Should I choose Dermatology over Internal Medicine?
Side-by-side comparisons of lifestyle, satisfaction, and career prospects.
What do Orthopedic Surgery residents wish they knew?
Honest advice from practicing surgeons about training and career reality.
Which specialties have the happiest doctors?
Data-driven rankings based on satisfaction surveys from real physicians.
What's daily life like as a Radiologist?
Day-in-the-life descriptions from practicing radiologists across different settings.
How do you maintain work-life balance in surgery?
Practical tips and honest insights from surgical specialists.
Medical Career Planning: From Medical School to Attending Physician
Make informed decisions about your medical career path using real salary data. From specialty selection to residency matching and beyond.
Physician Career Salary Timeline
Medical School (4 years)
Average debt: $250,000 - $350,000
Focus on USMLE scores, research, and specialty exploration
Residency Training (3-7 years)
Salary: $55,000 - $65,000 annually
80+ hours/week, intensive clinical training
Fellowship (Optional, 1-3 years)
Salary: $65,000 - $75,000 annually
Subspecialty training, research opportunities
Attending Physician (Career)
Salary: $250,000 - $800,000+ annually
Varies significantly by specialty, location, and practice setting
📊 ROI Calculation
Despite 7-11 years of training at below-market wages, physician careers typically achieve positive ROI within 5-10 years post-graduation, with lifetime earnings significantly exceeding most other professions.
Specialty Selection Factors
💰Financial Considerations
- • Average starting salary and earning potential
- • Practice overhead and malpractice insurance costs
- • Length of training and opportunity cost
- • Geographic salary variations
- • Employment vs. private practice income
⚖️Lifestyle Factors
- • Work-life balance and call schedule
- • Average hours per week
- • Vacation time and flexibility
- • Burnout rates by specialty
- • Job satisfaction scores
🎯Competitiveness & Match Rates
- • USMLE Step scores by specialty
- • Research requirements and publications
- • Match rates for US MD vs DO vs IMG
- • Geographic preferences and flexibility
- • Backup specialty considerations
Top-Paying Medical Specialties in 2025
Explore Physician Salaries by Specialty and Location
Explore High-Quality Salary Data
Browse comprehensive salary insights from our most popular specialties and locations.