Complete 2026 ranking of 30 medical specialties by compensation with training length analysis, compensation per hour worked, subspecialty premiums, and links to detailed salary data for every specialty.
Key Takeaways
- Neurosurgery leads all specialties at $810,000 median total compensation
- The gap between the highest and lowest-paying specialties exceeds $550,000
- Compensation per hour worked changes the rankings significantly — dermatology and ophthalmology rise to the top
- This page links to detailed salary data for every major specialty on SalaryDr
How much do doctors make? The answer varies by more than half a million dollars depending on specialty. This page provides the definitive 2026 ranking of medical specialties by total compensation, drawing on self-reported, moderated physician data from SalaryDr's compensation database alongside MGMA and AMGA benchmarks.
Bookmark this page — it is updated regularly and links to detailed salary breakdowns for every major specialty.
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Complete 2026 Specialty Compensation Rankings
| Rank | Specialty | Median Total Comp | Training (Yrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neurosurgery | $810,000 | 7 |
| 2 | Orthopedic Surgery | $700,000 | 5-6 |
| 3 | Cardiothoracic Surgery | $690,000 | 6-7 |
| 4 | Gastroenterology | $580,000 | 6 |
| 5 | Plastic Surgery | $575,000 | 6 |
| 6 | Vascular Surgery | $560,000 | 5-7 |
| 7 | Cardiology (Interventional) | $550,000 | 7-8 |
| 8 | Urology | $520,000 | 5-6 |
| 9 | Cardiology (General) | $510,000 | 6-7 |
| 10 | Radiology | $500,000 | 5 |
| 11 | ENT / Otolaryngology | $480,000 | 5 |
| 12 | Ophthalmology | $470,000 | 4 |
| 13 | Dermatology | $455,000 | 4 |
| 14 | General Surgery | $435,000 | 5 |
| 15 | Anesthesiology | $430,000 | 4 |
| 16 | Emergency Medicine | $360,000 | 3-4 |
| 17 | Pulmonology / Critical Care | $355,000 | 6 |
| 18 | Hematology / Oncology | $440,000 | 6 |
| 19 | Nephrology | $340,000 | 5 |
| 20 | Psychiatry | $300,000 | 4 |
| 21 | OB/GYN | $335,000 | 4 |
| 22 | Physical Medicine & Rehab | $310,000 | 4 |
| 23 | Neurology | $310,000 | 4 |
| 24 | Rheumatology | $300,000 | 5 |
| 25 | Hospital Medicine | $300,000 | 3 |
| 26 | Internal Medicine (Outpatient) | $285,000 | 3 |
| 27 | Sports Medicine | $280,000 | 4-5 |
| 28 | Family Medicine | $265,000 | 3 |
| 29 | Pediatrics | $260,000 | 3 |
| 30 | Geriatrics | $255,000 | 4 |
Training Length vs. Lifetime Earnings
A common question: does the extra training time for high-paying specialties actually pay off financially? The answer is usually yes, but the math is more nuanced than most people realize.
Consider two scenarios:
- Family Medicine (3-year residency): Start earning attending salary at age 29. At $265,000/year for 30 years, lifetime pre-tax earnings are approximately $7.95 million.
- Orthopedic Surgery (5-year residency + 1 fellowship): Start earning attending salary at age 32. At $700,000/year for 27 years, lifetime pre-tax earnings are approximately $18.9 million.
The orthopedic surgeon earns $10.95 million more over a career despite starting 3 years later. However, the family medicine physician likely graduated with less debt, has lower malpractice costs, works fewer hours, and may have a better work-life balance. There is no universally "right" answer — it depends on your values and priorities.
Compensation Per Hour Worked
This metric changes the rankings significantly. Specialties with heavy call and long hours look less attractive on a per-hour basis, while lifestyle-friendly specialties move up.
| Specialty | Median Comp | Avg Hours/Week | Effective $/Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dermatology | $455,000 | 42 | $208 |
| Ophthalmology | $470,000 | 45 | $201 |
| Psychiatry | $300,000 | 40 | $144 |
| Neurosurgery | $810,000 | 60 | $260 |
| Orthopedic Surgery | $700,000 | 55 | $245 |
| General Surgery | $435,000 | 58 | $144 |
| Family Medicine | $265,000 | 42 | $121 |
| Emergency Medicine | $360,000 | 38 | $182 |
Highest-Paying Subspecialties Within Each Field
Within most specialties, certain subspecialties command significant compensation premiums:
- Surgery: Spine surgery (ortho or neuro) — $850,000-$1.2M+
- Cardiology: Interventional/structural — $550,000-$700,000
- Radiology: Interventional radiology — $550,000-$650,000
- Dermatology: Mohs surgery — $550,000-$900,000
- Anesthesiology: Pain medicine — $500,000-$700,000
- Gastroenterology: Interventional/ERCP — $600,000-$750,000
- Pediatrics: Pediatric cardiology — $400,000-$450,000
Emerging Specialties and Compensation Trends
Several specialties are seeing notable compensation growth driven by demand-supply imbalances:
- Psychiatry: Salaries have increased 15-20% over the past 5 years due to a nationwide mental health provider shortage. Telepsychiatry has expanded practice opportunities and pushed compensation higher.
- Palliative Care: Growing demand as the population ages. Still relatively low-paying ($280,000-$320,000) but rising faster than the physician average.
- Obesity Medicine: The GLP-1 medication boom has created enormous demand. Physicians specializing in obesity medicine and metabolic health are seeing rapid compensation growth.
- Pain Medicine: Procedural pain management continues to command premium compensation, with interventional pain physicians earning $500,000-$700,000+.
Help Fellow Physicians — Share Your Salary Data
SalaryDr’s compensation insights come from self-reported physician salaries, moderated before publication. Add your data anonymously to help colleagues benchmark their pay. Submit your salary data →
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Click any specialty above to see detailed compensation data, or submit your salary to contribute to the most accurate physician compensation database available. For detailed analysis of specific specialties, read our deep-dive guides on dermatologist salary, anesthesiologist salary, surgeon salary by specialty, pediatrician salary, and sports medicine salary.