Physician Salary FAQ (2026)

The median cardiologist salary is approximately $550,000 per year in 2026, with a typical range of $380,000 to $850,000. Interventional cardiologists tend to earn more than non-invasive cardiologists. Source: SalaryDr verified physician submissions.

General surgeons earn a median salary of approximately $450,000 per year in 2026, ranging from $320,000 to $700,000. Surgical subspecialties such as orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery command significantly higher compensation. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Anesthesiologists earn a median of approximately $535,000 annually in 2026. The 25th percentile is around $380,000 and the 75th percentile reaches $700,000. Private practice anesthesiologists often earn more than employed positions. Source: SalaryDr verified data.

Dermatologists earn a median salary of approximately $445,000 per year in 2026, ranging from $320,000 to $600,000. Cosmetic dermatology procedures can substantially increase total compensation. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Orthopedic surgeons are among the highest-paid physicians, with a median salary of approximately $795,000 in 2026. Total compensation ranges from $550,000 to over $1.1 million, depending on subspecialty and practice setting. Source: SalaryDr verified submissions.

Radiologists earn a median salary of approximately $485,000 per year in 2026, with a range of $350,000 to $650,000. Interventional radiologists generally earn more than diagnostic radiologists. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Emergency medicine physicians earn a median of approximately $415,000 per year in 2026. The typical range is $300,000 to $550,000, with higher rates for physicians in underserved areas. Source: SalaryDr verified data.

Psychiatrists earn a median salary of approximately $300,000 per year in 2026, ranging from $240,000 to $400,000. Psychiatrists in private practice or offering specialized services can earn significantly more. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Pediatricians earn a median salary of approximately $245,000 per year in 2026, with a range of $195,000 to $325,000. Pediatric subspecialties like pediatric cardiology command higher salaries. Source: SalaryDr verified submissions.

Family medicine physicians earn a median of approximately $250,000 annually in 2026, ranging from $200,000 to $330,000. Rural practices and those offering expanded services often pay more. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Internal medicine physicians earn a median salary of approximately $280,000 per year in 2026. The range is $220,000 to $380,000, with hospitalists often earning at the higher end. Source: SalaryDr verified data.

Neurosurgeons are among the highest-earning physicians, with a median salary exceeding $750,000 per year in 2026. Many neurosurgeons earn well over $1 million in total compensation, particularly in private practice. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Gastroenterologists earn a median salary of approximately $490,000 per year in 2026. Endoscopy volume and practice ownership significantly influence total compensation, ranging from $350,000 to $700,000. Source: SalaryDr verified submissions.

Ophthalmologists earn a median salary of approximately $420,000 per year in 2026. Subspecialties like retina and cornea surgery command higher compensation, ranging from $300,000 to $600,000. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Urologists earn a median salary of approximately $470,000 per year in 2026, ranging from $340,000 to $650,000. Surgical volume and subspecialty focus influence total compensation. Source: SalaryDr verified data.

Pulmonologists earn a median salary of approximately $380,000 per year in 2026. Pulmonary-critical care physicians who manage ICU patients tend to earn at the higher end, from $300,000 to $500,000. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Medical oncologists earn a median salary of approximately $420,000 per year in 2026, with a range of $320,000 to $580,000. Radiation oncologists and surgical oncologists may earn more. Source: SalaryDr verified submissions.

Neurologists earn a median salary of approximately $310,000 per year in 2026, ranging from $250,000 to $430,000. Subspecialties like interventional neurology can command higher compensation. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Plastic surgeons earn a median salary of approximately $500,000 per year in 2026. Cosmetic plastic surgeons in private practice can earn significantly more, ranging from $350,000 to over $1 million. Source: SalaryDr verified data.

Pathologists earn a median salary of approximately $340,000 per year in 2026, ranging from $270,000 to $450,000. Subspecialties like dermatopathology can influence compensation. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Physicians in California earn a median salary ranging from $320,000 to $480,000, depending on specialty. While salaries are competitive, California's high cost of living and malpractice premiums should be factored into net income calculations. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

States with the highest physician salaries typically include Kentucky, Indiana, Alabama, and Wisconsin, where lower cost of living combines with high demand. When adjusting for cost of living, many midwestern and southern states offer the best real purchasing power. Source: SalaryDr verified submissions.

Rural areas typically offer 10-20% higher base salaries due to physician shortages, plus loan forgiveness programs and signing bonuses. Urban areas may offer higher total compensation through productivity bonuses, but the cost of living is usually much higher. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

High-paying cities include Indianapolis, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, and Nashville, which combine competitive salaries with reasonable cost of living. Large cities like New York and San Francisco offer high nominal salaries but lower purchasing power. Source: SalaryDr verified data.

Texas physicians earn a median salary of $300,000 to $460,000, depending on specialty. Texas has no state income tax, which significantly increases take-home pay. Major metro areas like Houston, Dallas, and Austin have competitive medical markets. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Physicians in New York earn a median salary ranging from $310,000 to $470,000, varying by specialty and region. Upstate New York often pays higher base salaries than New York City. High state income taxes and cost of living should be considered. Source: SalaryDr verified submissions.

Florida physicians earn competitive salaries ranging from $290,000 to $440,000 by specialty. Like Texas, Florida has no state income tax, increasing take-home pay. Growing population and retiree demographics drive strong demand. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

States with lower physician salaries include Vermont, Rhode Island, and Montana, though these states often have lower costs of living. Academic medical centers in northeastern states tend to pay less than community practices. Source: SalaryDr verified data.

Cost of living can create a 30-50% difference in purchasing power between states. A $400,000 salary in Mississippi provides significantly more purchasing power than $500,000 in San Francisco. State income tax rates ranging from 0% to over 13% also affect take-home pay. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

After cost-of-living adjustments, states like Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Indiana, and Kentucky frequently offer the highest real compensation. These states combine competitive salaries with no or low state income tax and affordable living. Source: SalaryDr verified submissions.

Medical residents earn between $58,000 and $78,000 annually, depending on their year of training and geographic location. PGY-1 residents typically start around $58,000-$62,000, with incremental raises of $2,000-$3,000 each year. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

New attending physicians (0-2 years post-training) typically earn $250,000-$400,000, depending on specialty. Surgical specialties start higher ($350,000-$500,000+) while primary care starts at $220,000-$280,000. Many also receive signing bonuses of $20,000-$50,000. Source: SalaryDr verified submissions.

Physician salaries typically increase 40-80% from early career to peak earnings around 15-20 years of practice. Early-career physicians earn $250,000-$350,000, mid-career (5-10 years) earn $350,000-$450,000, and senior physicians (10+ years) earn $450,000-$600,000+. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Most physicians begin earning their full attending salary between ages 29 and 35, depending on specialty training length. Primary care physicians finish training earliest (age 29-30), while surgical subspecialists may not start attending-level income until age 33-35. Source: SalaryDr verified data.

Fellows earn approximately $65,000-$85,000 per year, which is 75-85% less than attending-level compensation. Fellowship training typically lasts 1-3 years beyond residency. The salary jump from fellowship to attending is the largest single increase in a physician's career. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Physician salaries generally peak between ages 50 and 60, after 15-25 years of practice. After this peak, some physicians reduce clinical hours or transition to advisory roles. Physicians who own practices may see continued earnings growth into their 60s. Source: SalaryDr verified submissions.

A typical physician salary trajectory: Residency ($60K), Years 1-3 ($280K-$350K), Years 4-10 ($350K-$450K), Years 10-20 ($450K-$600K+). Total career earnings for a physician average $8-$15 million, depending on specialty and practice setting. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Part-time physicians (0.5-0.8 FTE) typically earn 50-80% of full-time compensation, roughly $150,000-$400,000 depending on specialty and hours worked. Hourly rates for part-time work may be comparable to or slightly higher than full-time equivalents. Source: SalaryDr verified data.

First-year attending physician salaries average $280,000-$400,000 across all specialties. Primary care starts at $220,000-$280,000, while surgical specialists start at $350,000-$500,000+. Many positions include productivity bonuses that increase total compensation in subsequent years. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Physician salaries grow most rapidly in the first 5 years after completing training, with annual increases of 5-15%. Growth then slows to 2-5% per year in mid-career. Physicians who develop niche expertise may see accelerated growth. Source: SalaryDr verified submissions.

Private practice physicians typically earn 15-25% more than hospital-employed physicians, with medians of $320,000-$450,000 vs. $280,000-$400,000. However, private practice involves higher overhead and more administrative responsibility. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Academic physicians earn approximately 20-35% less than private practice counterparts. Academic salaries range from $240,000-$350,000, while private practice ranges from $320,000-$500,000+. Academic positions offer research opportunities and more predictable schedules. Source: SalaryDr verified submissions.

Locum tenens physicians earn $150-$350 per hour ($1,200-$2,800 per day), which can translate to $300,000-$500,000+ annually. Locum rates are typically 20-40% higher than employed positions to compensate for the lack of benefits and travel requirements. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Employed physicians earn a median of $300,000-$400,000 with benefits, while independent contractors earn $350,000-$500,000 but must cover their own benefits, malpractice, and retirement. Net compensation after expenses is often comparable. Source: SalaryDr verified data.

Telemedicine-only physicians earn approximately $200,000-$350,000 per year, generally 10-20% less than in-person counterparts. However, telemedicine offers geographic flexibility and reduced overhead. Urgent care telemedicine pays $120-$200 per hour. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Practice-owning physicians earn 30-50% more than employed physicians on average, with medians of $400,000-$600,000+. This comes with significant business risk, administrative burden, and upfront capital requirements. Owner earnings also fluctuate more. Source: SalaryDr verified submissions.

Hospital-based physicians (hospitalists, intensivists, ER docs) earn a median of $320,000-$420,000, while outpatient-focused physicians earn $280,000-$380,000. Hospital-based positions often include night and weekend differentials. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Concierge medicine physicians earn approximately $250,000-$500,000 per year. With panels of 300-600 patients paying $2,000-$5,000 annually, gross revenue ranges from $600K to $3M before expenses. Net income is often competitive with traditional practice. Source: SalaryDr verified data.

Yes, physician salaries have increased approximately 15-20% over the past five years. In 2026, the median physician salary across all specialties is approximately $390,000-$430,000. Growth has been driven by physician shortages, post-pandemic demand, and increased healthcare utilization. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

A competitive wRVU rate ranges from $45-$65 for primary care and $55-$85 for surgical specialties. National benchmarks suggest the median wRVU conversion factor is approximately $55-$60. Rates above $70 are considered highly competitive. Source: SalaryDr verified submissions.

Physicians earn more than most professionals, with median salaries of $390,000-$430,000 compared to lawyers ($130,000), software engineers ($160,000), and investment bankers ($200,000). However, physicians start earning full salaries 7-15 years later and carry an average of $200,000-$250,000 in debt. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Medical school is generally worth it financially, but the return varies by specialty. Average medical school debt is $200,000-$250,000, while lifetime physician earnings average $8-$15 million. Primary care physicians break even around age 40-45, while surgical specialists break even around age 38-42. Source: SalaryDr verified data.

Physicians in the highest tax brackets pay an effective federal rate of 28-35%, plus state taxes of 0-13%. Combined with FICA, total tax burden ranges from 30-45% of gross income. States like Texas, Florida, and Tennessee save significantly with no state income tax. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Financial advisors recommend physicians save 20-25% of gross income for retirement, or approximately $80,000-$120,000 per year. Maxing out 401(k), backdoor Roth IRA, and utilizing employer match provides a strong foundation. Most physicians can retire comfortably by age 55-60 with disciplined saving. Source: SalaryDr verified submissions.

Studies show female physicians earn approximately 20-25% less than male counterparts, even after adjusting for specialty, hours, and experience. The gap is largest in surgical specialties and smallest in primary care. Organizations are working to address these disparities. Source: SalaryDr Physician Salary Database.

Physician signing bonuses range from $10,000 to $100,000+, with a median of $25,000-$35,000. They typically require a 2-3 year commitment with pro-rated repayment if the physician leaves early. Surgical specialties and rural positions offer the largest bonuses. Source: SalaryDr verified data.