Is Palliative Care a Good Career in 2026?

Based on 16 verified physician submissions

SalaryDr Career Intelligence

Based on 16 verified physician submissions

0
/ 100
Good

* Limited data — score may shift as more physicians contribute

Score Breakdown

Salary
0
Satisfaction
0
Demand
0
Would Choose Again
0
Work-Life Balance
0
Training ROI
0
AI Resilience
0
$325,000
Median Salary
4.1/5
Satisfaction
88%
Would Choose Again

Palliative Care Compensation & Earnings

Palliative Care Compensation

$325,000

$305,000 – $350,000(P25–P75)

SalaryDr Median · 16 verified reports
See Full Palliative Care Salary Data →

Palliative Care Salary Progression

From medical school to senior attending — based on 16 verified submissions

Training
8 years
Med School Debt
$200,000
Attending Salary
$322,500
Break-Even
~1 years
1
Medical School
4 years
-$200,000
2
Residency
3-5 years
Limited data
3
Early Career
0-5 years experience
$285,000/yr

6 submissions

4
Mid-Career
6-15 years experience
$330,000/yr

9 submissions

5
Senior Attending
16+ years experience
Limited data

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

Full Take-Home Calculator

Take-Home Pay by State

How much a Palliative Care physician actually keeps after federal, state, and FICA taxes

Highest Take-Home States

1
Alaska
Gross: $325,000 · 29.3% tax
$229,695
+$29,900/yr
2
Florida
Gross: $325,000 · 29.3% tax
$229,695
+$29,900/yr
3
Nevada
Gross: $325,000 · 29.3% tax
$229,695
+$29,900/yr
4
New Hampshire
Gross: $325,000 · 29.3% tax
$229,695
+$29,900/yr
5
South Dakota
Gross: $325,000 · 29.3% tax
$229,695
+$29,900/yr

Lowest Take-Home States

47
California
Gross: $325,000 · 38.5% tax
$199,795
−$29,900/yr
48
Oregon
Gross: $325,000 · 38.3% tax
$200,445
−$29,250/yr
49
District of Columbia
Gross: $325,000 · 38.2% tax
$200,770
−$28,925/yr
50
Hawaii
Gross: $325,000 · 38.1% tax
$201,095
−$28,600/yr
51
Minnesota
Gross: $325,000 · 37.5% tax
$203,045
−$26,650/yr

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.

Calculate your exact take-home pay →Need physician-specific tax planning? Talk to Doc Wealth

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.

Median: $325,000/yr
Palliative Care Physician Salary (2026)

How does your compensation compare?

Benchmark yourself against 16 verified palliative care salaries — add yours in 2 minutes and see your percentile instantly.

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Career Lifestyle

Career Reality: By the Numbers

Real data from 16 verified Palliative Care physicians — not job board estimates.

⏱️-15% vs avg
43hrs
Avg Hours/Week
📟+67% vs avg
100%
Take Call
🌙
~5 days
all-physician avg
Avg Call Days/Mo
🏖️
~28 days
all-physician avg
Avg PTO Days/Year
🤝
Varies
Partnership Track
🌛
0%
Moonlighting
88% would choose palliative care again
Physician Satisfaction (2026)
Is Palliative Care Worth It? →
Detailed ROI analysis, satisfaction deep-dive, and physician perspectives

Job Market & Future Outlook

Training & Getting Started

4 years of post-medical-school training

Explore Palliative Care

Full Salary Data
Percentiles, trends, comparisons
Is It Worth It?
ROI analysis and satisfaction deep-dive
Practice Settings
Academic vs private vs employed
Salary Trends
Historical compensation changes
Best Cities
Top cities by salary and lifestyle
Salary Explorer
Compare all specialties side by side

Take the Next Step in Your Palliative Care Career

Real compensation data from verified physicians. Know your market value before your next contract negotiation.

See Real Palliative Care SalariesCheck Your Market ValueSubmit Your Salary

Powered by SalaryDr Career Intelligence

Data sources: SalaryDr verified physician submissions • BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (May 2024) • BLS Employment Projections (2024-2034)
Career Score methodology: salarydr.com/methodology

According to SalaryDr Career Intelligence data from 16 verified Palliative Care Physicians (as of August 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.