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Highest Paying Medical Specialties
Medical specialties ranked by median total compensation
Physician-Reported Data|Updated November 2026|4,400+ Responses
📋 Key Takeaways
- •#1 Specialty: Neurosurgery ($880K median)
- •Data Source: Based on 4,400+ approved physician reports on SalaryDr.
- •Minimum Sample: Only specialties with 5+ responses included for statistical reliability.
| Rank | Specialty | Median Salary | Responses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neurosurgery | $880K | 116 | View → |
| 2 | Cardiothoracic Surgery | $862K | 39 | View → |
| 3 | Thoracic Surgery | $810K | 20 | View → |
| 4 | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | $780K | 38 | View → |
| 5 | Plastic Surgery | $740K | 85 | View → |
| 6 | Orthopedic Surgery | $732K | 158 | View → |
| 7 | Interventional Pain Management | $730K | 6 | View → |
| 8 | Pediatric Surgery | $675K | 15 | View → |
| 9 | Vascular Surgery | $610K | 61 | View → |
| 10 | Ophthalmology | $600K | 125 | View → |
| 11 | Dermatology | $600K | 95 | View → |
| 12 | Cardiology | $600K | 218 | View → |
| 13 | Interventional Radiology | $595K | 66 | View → |
| 14 | Urology | $585K | 114 | View → |
| 15 | Radiation Oncology | $580K | 56 | View → |
| 16 | Gastroenterology | $550K | 107 | View → |
| 17 | Gynecologic Oncology | $540K | 14 | View → |
| 18 | Burn Surgery | $540K | 14 | View → |
| 19 | Radiology | $530K | 156 | View → |
| 20 | Otolaryngology | $515K | 46 | View → |
| 21 | Pain Management | $515K | 29 | View → |
| 22 | Maternal-Fetal Medicine | $505K | 15 | View → |
| 23 | Anesthesiology | $491K | 225 | View → |
| 24 | Hematology/Oncology | $490K | 139 | View → |
| 25 | Critical Care | $480K | 34 | View → |
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this ranking calculated?
Rankings are based on aggregated data from approved physician reports submitted to SalaryDr. We only include specialties with at least 5 responses to ensure statistical reliability. Salaries are ranked by median total compensation to reduce the impact of outliers.
How often is this data updated?
Our database is continuously updated as new physician responses are submitted and approved. This page reflects the latest available data as of November 9, 2026.