Highest Paying Medical Specialties in 2026

Complete salary rankings for every physician specialty, based on 2,961 verified responses from practicing doctors. See median compensation, training length, and lifestyle factors to make informed career decisions.

NPI-Verified Physicians|Updated March 2026|2,961+ Data Points

Key Takeaways

Highest Paying

Cardiothoracic Surgery

$1,200,000/yr

Salary Range (Top 25)

$527,000 – $1,200,000

Median total compensation

Specialties Ranked

with 5+ verified responses

Top 5 Highest Paid Specialties

Complete Salary Rankings by Specialty

Rank	Specialty	Median Salary	25th-75th %ile	Avg Hours/Wk	Satisfaction	Training	Responses
1	Cardiothoracic Surgery	$1,200,000	$1,150,000 – $1,800,000	76h	4.1/5	7yr	16	Details →
2	Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery	$1,090,000	$850,000 – $1,400,000	37h	4.5/5	4yr	11	Details →
3	Neurosurgery	$900,000	$850,000 – $1,100,000	63h	4.1/5	8yr	88	Details →
4	Interventional Cardiology	$850,000	$800,000 – $1,000,000	59h	4/5	4yr	5	Details →
5	Thoracic Surgery	$810,000	$710,000 – $850,000	62h	4.1/5	4yr	20	Details →
6	Orthopedic Surgery	$800,000	$696,000 – $900,000	54h	4.2/5	6yr	92	Details →
7	Plastic Surgery	$750,000	$710,000 – $890,000	55h	4.6/5	7yr	67	Details →
8	Pain Management	$700,000	$600,000 – $800,000	47h	4.4/5	4yr	11	Details →
9	Ophthalmology	$675,000	$510,000 – $850,000	44h	4.4/5	5yr	88	Details →
10	Pediatric Surgery	$675,000	$625,000 – $750,000	62h	4.1/5	4yr	15	Details →
11	Interventional Radiology	$650,000	$560,000 – $865,000	51h	4/5	6yr	35	Details →
12	Dermatology	$650,000	$520,000 – $700,000	40h	4.5/5	4yr	84	Details →
13	Medical Oncology	$650,000	$477,000 – $700,000	55h	4.1/5	4yr	8	Details →
14	Cardiology	$630,000	$553,000 – $720,000	52h	4/5	6yr	142	Details →
15	Pulmonology	$622,500	$462,000 – $750,000	58h	3.7/5	4yr	6	Details →
16	Vascular Surgery	$620,000	$580,000 – $750,000	61h	4/5	7yr	48	Details →
17	Radiation Oncology	$600,000	$550,000 – $620,000	49h	4.1/5	4yr	36	Details →
18	Urology	$590,000	$550,000 – $630,000	54h	4.1/5	6yr	73	Details →
19	Radiology	$590,000	$550,000 – $620,000	46h	4.1/5	6yr	75	Details →
20	Gastroenterology	$550,000	$505,000 – $580,000	50h	4.3/5	6yr	79	Details →
21	Burn Surgery	$540,000	$505,000 – $675,000	63h	3.9/5	4yr	13	Details →
22	Gynecologic Oncology	$540,000	$490,000 – $670,000	54h	4.1/5	4yr	14	Details →
23	Anesthesiology	$535,000	$480,000 – $625,000	48h	3.8/5	5yr	128	Details →
24	General Surgery	$530,000	$480,000 – $620,000	66h	4.2/5	6yr	106	Details →
25	Diagnostic Radiology	$527,000	$385,000 – $800,000	48h	3.4/5	4yr	25	Details →
26	Otolaryngology	$525,000	$475,000 – $550,000	50h	4.2/5	6yr	38	Details →
27	Hematology/Oncology	$505,000	$490,000 – $620,000	47h	4/5	4yr	58	Details →
28	Pain Medicine	$505,000	$465,000 – $800,000	46h	4.3/5	5yr	15	Details →
29	Maternal-Fetal Medicine	$505,000	$475,000 – $535,000	53h	4.1/5	4yr	15	Details →
30	Oncology	$500,000	$470,000 – $525,000	49h	4.1/5	4yr	25	Details →
31	Critical Care	$480,000	$400,000 – $520,000	57h	3.8/5	4yr	26	Details →
32	Pulmonary	$460,000	$340,000 – $520,000	52h	4.2/5	6yr	78	Details →
33	Obstetrics & Gynecology	$430,000	$410,000 – $500,000	51h	4.1/5	4yr	72	Details →
34	Neurology	$425,000	$395,000 – $470,000	46h	4.1/5	5yr	55	Details →
35	Physical Medicine	$420,000	$316,000 – $500,000	43h	4.3/5	4yr	8	Details →
36	Hematology	$420,000	$390,000 – $440,000	48h	3.9/5	4yr	21	Details →
37	PM&R	$400,000	$370,000 – $420,000	44h	4.2/5	4yr	25	Details →
38	Emergency Medicine	$400,000	$360,000 – $445,000	38h	3.7/5	3yr	115	Details →
39	Nephrology	$400,000	$350,000 – $500,000	50h	3.6/5	5yr	31	Details →
40	Sleep Medicine	$400,000	$370,000 – $410,000	42h	4.2/5	4yr	14	Details →
41	Neonatology	$395,000	$370,000 – $415,000	51h	4.1/5	4yr	28	Details →
42	Pathology	$390,000	$320,000 – $420,000	44h	3.9/5	5yr	43	Details →
43	Sports Medicine	$375,000	$310,000 – $450,000	46h	4.3/5	4yr	15	Details →
44	Allergy & Immunology	$370,000	$350,000 – $390,000	41h	4.2/5	4yr	30	Details →
45	Occupational Medicine	$370,000	$350,000 – $380,000	42h	4.2/5	4yr	28	Details →
46	Infectious Disease	$360,000	$345,000 – $385,000	43h	4/5	5yr	69	Details →
47	Endocrinology	$360,000	$335,000 – $370,000	42h	4.2/5	5yr	59	Details →
48	Psychiatry	$360,000	$340,000 – $395,000	40h	4/5	4yr	74	Details →
49	Clinical Informatics	$355,000	$330,000 – $375,000	42h	4.2/5	4yr	12	Details →
50	Rheumatology	$350,000	$335,000 – $365,000	44h	3.8/5	5yr	58	Details →
51	Child Psychiatry	$350,000	$300,000 – $450,000	38h	4.1/5	4yr	7	Details →
52	Internal Medicine	$345,000	$300,000 – $380,000	47h	3.6/5	3yr	91	Details →
53	Hospital Medicine	$340,000	$300,000 – $370,000	47h	3.9/5	4yr	29	Details →
54	Child Neurology	$335,000	$279,790 – $345,000	45h	4/5	4yr	23	Details →
55	Palliative Care	$325,000	$305,000 – $350,000	43h	4.1/5	4yr	16	Details →
56	Preventive Medicine	$325,000	$310,000 – $340,000	41h	4.1/5	4yr	18	Details →
57	Geriatrics	$320,000	$289,201 – $345,000	42h	4.1/5	4yr	19	Details →
58	Family Medicine	$315,000	$280,000 – $350,000	44h	3.6/5	3yr	121	Details →
59	Addiction Medicine	$315,000	$285,000 – $340,000	42h	4.1/5	4yr	16	Details →
60	Pediatrics	$310,000	$275,000 – $350,000	45h	4/5	3yr	261	Details →
61	Medical Genetics	$300,000	$275,000 – $300,000	42h	4.2/5	4yr	17	Details →
62	Allergy/Immunology	$300,000	$270,000 – $350,000	32h	3.7/5	4yr	6	Details →

Salary vs. Training Length: Is the Trade-off Worth It?

One of the most important factors medical students overlook is the opportunity cost of additional training years. A specialty requiring 7+ years of post-medical school training means years of earning a trainee salary (~$65,000-$75,000/year) instead of an attending salary. Here is how the top specialties break down:

High Pay, Shorter Training (3-4 yrs)

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery$1,090,000
Interventional Cardiology$850,000
Thoracic Surgery$810,000
Pain Management$700,000
Pediatric Surgery$675,000

Highest Pay, Longer Training (5+ yrs)

What Medical Students Should Know About Specialty Salaries

Total compensation matters more than base salary

Physician compensation includes base salary, productivity bonuses (often tied to wRVUs), signing bonuses, loan repayment, and benefits. Our data captures total compensation to give you the most accurate picture. Two offers with the same base salary can differ by $100K+ in total compensation.

Geographic variation is significant

Salary can vary by $100K-200K+ for the same specialty depending on location. Rural areas and underserved regions typically pay more due to supply-demand dynamics. Explore our state-by-state salary data for location-specific compensation.

Salary is only one factor in specialty choice

Consider work-life balance, call schedule, clinical interest, and long-term satisfaction. Our lifestyle specialties page ranks specialties by hours worked and satisfaction. Some lower-paying specialties report significantly higher career satisfaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest paying medical specialty in 2026?

Cardiothoracic Surgery is the highest paying medical specialty with a median total compensation of $1,200,000 per year, based on 16 verified physician responses. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $1,150,000 to $1,800,000.

What are the top 5 highest paid doctor specialties?

The top 5 highest paid physician specialties are: Cardiothoracic Surgery ($1,200,000), Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery ($1,090,000), Neurosurgery ($900,000), Interventional Cardiology ($850,000), Thoracic Surgery ($810,000). These rankings are based on median total compensation from verified physician data.

Do highest paying specialties require longer training?

Generally, yes. Surgical subspecialties requiring 5-8 years of post-medical school training tend to pay more. However, some specialties like Dermatology offer competitive compensation with relatively shorter training (4 years total). The ROI depends on your individual situation -- check our specialty explorer tool to compare options based on your priorities.

Which specialties have the best salary-to-lifestyle ratio?

Specialties like Dermatology, Ophthalmology, and Psychiatry offer strong compensation with more predictable schedules and limited overnight call. Visit our best lifestyle specialties page for detailed work-life balance rankings.

How is this salary data collected?

All salary data is self-reported by verified physicians through SalaryDr. Every submission is verified through NPI lookup against the CMS NPPES registry. We report median total compensation (not averages) to reduce the impact of outliers. Learn more on our methodology page.

Explore More

Best Lifestyle Specialties

Ranked by work-life balance and satisfaction

Specialty Explorer

Interactive tool to find your ideal specialty

Compare Specialties

Side-by-side salary and lifestyle comparison

Browse All Salaries

Complete specialty salary directory

Help Other Physicians Make Better Decisions

Share your salary anonymously and contribute to the most transparent physician compensation database.

Share My Salary

Highest Paying Medical Specialties in 2026

NPI-Verified Physicians|Updated March 2026|2,961+ Data Points

Key Takeaways

Highest Paying

Cardiothoracic Surgery

$1,200,000/yr

Salary Range (Top 25)

$527,000 – $1,200,000

Median total compensation

Specialties Ranked

with 5+ verified responses

Complete Salary Rankings by Specialty

Rank	Specialty	Median Salary	25th-75th %ile	Avg Hours/Wk	Satisfaction	Training	Responses
1	Cardiothoracic Surgery	$1,200,000	$1,150,000 – $1,800,000	76h	4.1/5	7yr	16	Details →
2	Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery	$1,090,000	$850,000 – $1,400,000	37h	4.5/5	4yr	11	Details →
3	Neurosurgery	$900,000	$850,000 – $1,100,000	63h	4.1/5	8yr	88	Details →
4	Interventional Cardiology	$850,000	$800,000 – $1,000,000	59h	4/5	4yr	5	Details →
5	Thoracic Surgery	$810,000	$710,000 – $850,000	62h	4.1/5	4yr	20	Details →
6	Orthopedic Surgery	$800,000	$696,000 – $900,000	54h	4.2/5	6yr	92	Details →
7	Plastic Surgery	$750,000	$710,000 – $890,000	55h	4.6/5	7yr	67	Details →
8	Pain Management	$700,000	$600,000 – $800,000	47h	4.4/5	4yr	11	Details →
9	Ophthalmology	$675,000	$510,000 – $850,000	44h	4.4/5	5yr	88	Details →
10	Pediatric Surgery	$675,000	$625,000 – $750,000	62h	4.1/5	4yr	15	Details →
11	Interventional Radiology	$650,000	$560,000 – $865,000	51h	4/5	6yr	35	Details →
12	Dermatology	$650,000	$520,000 – $700,000	40h	4.5/5	4yr	84	Details →
13	Medical Oncology	$650,000	$477,000 – $700,000	55h	4.1/5	4yr	8	Details →
14	Cardiology	$630,000	$553,000 – $720,000	52h	4/5	6yr	142	Details →
15	Pulmonology	$622,500	$462,000 – $750,000	58h	3.7/5	4yr	6	Details →
16	Vascular Surgery	$620,000	$580,000 – $750,000	61h	4/5	7yr	48	Details →
17	Radiation Oncology	$600,000	$550,000 – $620,000	49h	4.1/5	4yr	36	Details →
18	Urology	$590,000	$550,000 – $630,000	54h	4.1/5	6yr	73	Details →
19	Radiology	$590,000	$550,000 – $620,000	46h	4.1/5	6yr	75	Details →
20	Gastroenterology	$550,000	$505,000 – $580,000	50h	4.3/5	6yr	79	Details →
21	Burn Surgery	$540,000	$505,000 – $675,000	63h	3.9/5	4yr	13	Details →
22	Gynecologic Oncology	$540,000	$490,000 – $670,000	54h	4.1/5	4yr	14	Details →
23	Anesthesiology	$535,000	$480,000 – $625,000	48h	3.8/5	5yr	128	Details →
24	General Surgery	$530,000	$480,000 – $620,000	66h	4.2/5	6yr	106	Details →
25	Diagnostic Radiology	$527,000	$385,000 – $800,000	48h	3.4/5	4yr	25	Details →
26	Otolaryngology	$525,000	$475,000 – $550,000	50h	4.2/5	6yr	38	Details →
27	Hematology/Oncology	$505,000	$490,000 – $620,000	47h	4/5	4yr	58	Details →
28	Pain Medicine	$505,000	$465,000 – $800,000	46h	4.3/5	5yr	15	Details →
29	Maternal-Fetal Medicine	$505,000	$475,000 – $535,000	53h	4.1/5	4yr	15	Details →
30	Oncology	$500,000	$470,000 – $525,000	49h	4.1/5	4yr	25	Details →
31	Critical Care	$480,000	$400,000 – $520,000	57h	3.8/5	4yr	26	Details →
32	Pulmonary	$460,000	$340,000 – $520,000	52h	4.2/5	6yr	78	Details →
33	Obstetrics & Gynecology	$430,000	$410,000 – $500,000	51h	4.1/5	4yr	72	Details →
34	Neurology	$425,000	$395,000 – $470,000	46h	4.1/5	5yr	55	Details →
35	Physical Medicine	$420,000	$316,000 – $500,000	43h	4.3/5	4yr	8	Details →
36	Hematology	$420,000	$390,000 – $440,000	48h	3.9/5	4yr	21	Details →
37	PM&R	$400,000	$370,000 – $420,000	44h	4.2/5	4yr	25	Details →
38	Emergency Medicine	$400,000	$360,000 – $445,000	38h	3.7/5	3yr	115	Details →
39	Nephrology	$400,000	$350,000 – $500,000	50h	3.6/5	5yr	31	Details →
40	Sleep Medicine	$400,000	$370,000 – $410,000	42h	4.2/5	4yr	14	Details →
41	Neonatology	$395,000	$370,000 – $415,000	51h	4.1/5	4yr	28	Details →
42	Pathology	$390,000	$320,000 – $420,000	44h	3.9/5	5yr	43	Details →
43	Sports Medicine	$375,000	$310,000 – $450,000	46h	4.3/5	4yr	15	Details →
44	Allergy & Immunology	$370,000	$350,000 – $390,000	41h	4.2/5	4yr	30	Details →
45	Occupational Medicine	$370,000	$350,000 – $380,000	42h	4.2/5	4yr	28	Details →
46	Infectious Disease	$360,000	$345,000 – $385,000	43h	4/5	5yr	69	Details →
47	Endocrinology	$360,000	$335,000 – $370,000	42h	4.2/5	5yr	59	Details →
48	Psychiatry	$360,000	$340,000 – $395,000	40h	4/5	4yr	74	Details →
49	Clinical Informatics	$355,000	$330,000 – $375,000	42h	4.2/5	4yr	12	Details →
50	Rheumatology	$350,000	$335,000 – $365,000	44h	3.8/5	5yr	58	Details →
51	Child Psychiatry	$350,000	$300,000 – $450,000	38h	4.1/5	4yr	7	Details →
52	Internal Medicine	$345,000	$300,000 – $380,000	47h	3.6/5	3yr	91	Details →
53	Hospital Medicine	$340,000	$300,000 – $370,000	47h	3.9/5	4yr	29	Details →
54	Child Neurology	$335,000	$279,790 – $345,000	45h	4/5	4yr	23	Details →
55	Palliative Care	$325,000	$305,000 – $350,000	43h	4.1/5	4yr	16	Details →
56	Preventive Medicine	$325,000	$310,000 – $340,000	41h	4.1/5	4yr	18	Details →
57	Geriatrics	$320,000	$289,201 – $345,000	42h	4.1/5	4yr	19	Details →
58	Family Medicine	$315,000	$280,000 – $350,000	44h	3.6/5	3yr	121	Details →
59	Addiction Medicine	$315,000	$285,000 – $340,000	42h	4.1/5	4yr	16	Details →
60	Pediatrics	$310,000	$275,000 – $350,000	45h	4/5	3yr	261	Details →
61	Medical Genetics	$300,000	$275,000 – $300,000	42h	4.2/5	4yr	17	Details →
62	Allergy/Immunology	$300,000	$270,000 – $350,000	32h	3.7/5	4yr	6	Details →

Salary vs. Training Length: Is the Trade-off Worth It?

High Pay, Shorter Training (3-4 yrs)

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery$1,090,000
Interventional Cardiology$850,000
Thoracic Surgery$810,000
Pain Management$700,000
Pediatric Surgery$675,000

Highest Pay, Longer Training (5+ yrs)

What Medical Students Should Know About Specialty Salaries

Total compensation matters more than base salary

Geographic variation is significant

Salary is only one factor in specialty choice

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest paying medical specialty in 2026?

What are the top 5 highest paid doctor specialties?

Do highest paying specialties require longer training?

Which specialties have the best salary-to-lifestyle ratio?

How is this salary data collected?

Explore More

Best Lifestyle Specialties

Ranked by work-life balance and satisfaction

Specialty Explorer

Interactive tool to find your ideal specialty

Compare Specialties

Side-by-side salary and lifestyle comparison

Browse All Salaries

Complete specialty salary directory

Help Other Physicians Make Better Decisions

Share your salary anonymously and contribute to the most transparent physician compensation database.

Share My Salary

Key Takeaways

Top 5 Highest Paid Specialties

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Neurosurgery

Interventional Cardiology

Thoracic Surgery

Complete Salary Rankings by Specialty

Salary vs. Training Length: Is the Trade-off Worth It?

High Pay, Shorter Training (3-4 yrs)

Highest Pay, Longer Training (5+ yrs)

What Medical Students Should Know About Specialty Salaries

Total compensation matters more than base salary

Geographic variation is significant

Salary is only one factor in specialty choice

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest paying medical specialty in 2026?

What are the top 5 highest paid doctor specialties?

Do highest paying specialties require longer training?

Which specialties have the best salary-to-lifestyle ratio?

How is this salary data collected?

Explore More

Explore Individual Specialty Salaries

Help Other Physicians Make Better Decisions

Key Takeaways

Top 5 Highest Paid Specialties

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Neurosurgery

Interventional Cardiology

Thoracic Surgery

Complete Salary Rankings by Specialty

Salary vs. Training Length: Is the Trade-off Worth It?

High Pay, Shorter Training (3-4 yrs)

Highest Pay, Longer Training (5+ yrs)

What Medical Students Should Know About Specialty Salaries

Total compensation matters more than base salary

Geographic variation is significant

Salary is only one factor in specialty choice

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest paying medical specialty in 2026?

What are the top 5 highest paid doctor specialties?

Do highest paying specialties require longer training?

Which specialties have the best salary-to-lifestyle ratio?

How is this salary data collected?

Explore More

Explore Individual Specialty Salaries

Help Other Physicians Make Better Decisions