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Physician Salary Trends

Discover the latest compensation trends across 30+ medical specialties. Interactive analysis showing 10th percentile, median, and 90th percentile salaries based on verified submissions from practicing physicians.

For a quick summary, see our Doctor Salary Guide (2026).

Based on 3,320+ verified submissions
Last updated: April 17, 2026

Interactive Salary Trends by Specialty

Each dot represents the 10th percentile, median, and 90th percentile total compensation for physicians in that specialty. Specialties are ranked by median salary and include only those with 10 or more verified submissions.

10th Percentile, Median, 90th Percentile$0k$200k$400k$600k$800k$1.0M$1.2MAnnual Total CompensationSpecialtyCardiothoracic SurgeryNeurosurgeryOral and Maxillofacial SurgeryThoracic SurgeryOrthopedic SurgeryPlastic SurgeryPediatric SurgeryOphthalmologyDermatologyCardiologyVascular SurgeryInterventional RadiologyPain ManagementRadiation OncologyUrologyRadiologyGastroenterologyBurn SurgeryGynecologic OncologyGeneral Surgery
10th - 90th Percentile Range
Median Salary
10th/90th Percentile

Interactive: Hover over specialties to highlight, click to see detailed values

Showing top 20 specialties by median salary (out of 52 total)

Physician Salary Trends by Specialty
Specialty10th PercentileMedian90th PercentileSample Size
Cardiothoracic Surgery$311k$1.1M$1.3M18
Neurosurgery$695k$890k$1.2M89
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery$70k$875k$1.2M14
Thoracic Surgery$547k$790k$1.0M20
Orthopedic Surgery$485k$773k$1.1M102
Plastic Surgery$600k$740k$1.1M68
Pediatric Surgery$597k$675k$860k15
Ophthalmology$300k$670k$1.1M96
Dermatology$436k$620k$981k87
Cardiology$240k$620k$1.0M169
Vascular Surgery$509k$616k$1.0M50
Interventional Radiology$487k$605k$1.0M47
Pain Management$414k$600k$870k27
Radiation Oncology$452k$585k$641k39
Urology$76k$585k$708k86
Radiology$339k$570k$1.1M108
Gastroenterology$430k$550k$702k87
Burn Surgery$469k$540k$780k13
Gynecologic Oncology$460k$525k$840k14
General Surgery$72k$523k$776k134

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Specialties
  • All Physician Salaries
  • Salaries by City
  • General Surgery
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Cardiology
  • Salaries by State
  • Residency Salaries
For Dentists
  • All Dentist Salaries
  • Dental Salary Database
  • Dentist Salary by State
  • Submit Dental Salary
  • Dental Calculator
Tools
  • Salary Comparison
  • Financial Calculators
  • Take Home Calculator
  • Offer Analyzer
  • Compare Specialties
  • Salary Negotiation
Salary Data
  • Physician Careers
  • Salary Benchmarks
  • Salary Trends
  • Compensation Analysis
  • Lifestyle Insights
  • Compensation Components
  • Annual Report
  • Benchmark Reports
Community
  • SalaryDen
  • Latest Discussions
  • Submit Your Salary
  • Share Feedback
  • Salary FAQ
  • Physician Resources
Company
  • About
  • Methodology
  • Contact
  • Partner with Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Community Guidelines
  • DMCA Policy
  • Data Retention
  • Cookie Policy
  • Safe Harbor
  • Data Requests

Follow Us

  • TikTok (@salarydr)
  • Instagram (@salarydr_)
  • X (Twitter) (@salarydr)

© 2026 SalaryDr. All rights reserved.

Highest Paying Specialties

1Cardiothoracic Surgery
$1,125,000
2Neurosurgery
$890,000
3Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
$875,000
4Thoracic Surgery
$790,000
5Orthopedic Surgery
$772,500

Key Trends & Statistics

Highest Median Salary$1,125,000
Average Across All Specialties$491,788
Specialties Analyzed52
Total Data Points3,320

How to Use This Salary Trend Data

Salary Negotiation

Use percentile data to understand your market position and negotiate fair compensation.

Career Planning

Compare specialties to make informed decisions about fellowship training and career paths.

Market Research

Understand compensation trends and regional variations in physician salaries.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do the dots in the salary chart represent?

Each dot represents a salary percentile: the left dot shows 10th percentile (10% of physicians earn less), the middle dot shows median salary (50% earn less), and the right dot shows 90th percentile (90% earn less). The horizontal line connects the 10th and 90th percentiles to show the salary range.

How often is the salary trend data updated?

The salary trend data is updated daily with new verified physician submissions. The page shows the last updated date and includes only specialties with 10 or more submissions to ensure data reliability.

How can I use this salary trend data for negotiations?

Use the percentile data to understand your market position. If your salary is below the median for your specialty, you have room to negotiate. The 10th-90th percentile range shows the typical salary spread, helping you set realistic expectations.

Which medical specialties pay the highest salaries?

Based on our data, surgical specialties typically pay the highest salaries, with neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, and plastic surgery often leading the compensation rankings. However, salary varies significantly by location, experience, and practice setting.

Want More Detailed Trend Analysis?

Get access to location-specific salary data, practice setting breakdowns, and years of experience analysis.

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