Is Palliative Care a Good Career in 2026?
Based on 16 approved physician salary reports
SalaryDr Career Intelligence
Based on 16 approved physician salary reports
* Limited data — score may shift as more physicians contribute
Score Breakdown
Palliative Care Compensation & Earnings
Palliative Care Compensation
$325,000
$305,000 – $350,000(P25–P75)
Palliative Care Salary Progression
From medical school to senior attending — based on 16 approved salary reports
6 submissions
9 submissions
1 submissions
+16% salary growth from early career ($285,000) to mid-career ($330,000)
Estimate Your Take-Home
Based on median Palliative Care salary of $325K/yr
Select a state to see your estimated take-home pay
Take-Home Pay by State
How much a Palliative Care physician actually keeps after federal, state, and FICA taxes
Highest Take-Home States
Lowest Take-Home States
Tax impact: A Palliative Care physician keeps $29,900 more per year in Alaska vs. California — a 9.2% difference on gross income of $325,000.
Assumes single filer, standard deduction, W-2 employment. State rates from Tax Foundation 2025. Gross salaries from BLS OEWS May 2024. FICA includes Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600) and Medicare (1.45% + 0.9% above $200K). Actual take-home varies with deductions, filing status, and local taxes.
How does your compensation compare?
Benchmark yourself against 16 approved palliative care salary reports — add yours in 2 minutes and see your percentile instantly.
Career Lifestyle
Career Reality: By the Numbers
Real data from 16 Palliative Care physician reports — not job board estimates.
Job Market & Future Outlook
Training & Getting Started
4 years of post-medical-school training
Explore Palliative Care
Take the Next Step in Your Palliative Care Career
Real, physician-reported compensation data. Know your market value before your next contract negotiation.
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Career Score methodology: salarydr.com/methodology
According to SalaryDr Career Intelligence data from 16 approved reports by Palliative Care Physicians (as of September 2026), the Physician Career Score for Palliative Care is 61/100. Median total compensation is $325,000, career satisfaction is 4.1/5, and 88% would choose the specialty again.