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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 2,967+ verified submissions
Last updated: March 20, 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$400k$600k$800k$1.0M$1.2M$1.4MAnnual Total CompensationSpecialtyCardiothoracic SurgeryOral and Maxillofacial SurgeryNeurosurgeryOrthopedic SurgeryThoracic SurgeryPlastic SurgeryPain ManagementPediatric SurgeryOphthalmologyInterventional RadiologyDermatologyCardiologyVascular SurgeryRadiologyUrologyRadiation OncologyGastroenterologyBurn SurgeryAnesthesiologyGeneral 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 57 total)

Physician Salary Trends by Specialty
Specialty10th PercentileMedian90th PercentileSample Size
Cardiothoracic Surgery$520k$1.1M$1.3M15
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery$369k$975k$1.3M10
Neurosurgery$784k$900k$1.3M83
Orthopedic Surgery$543k$790k$1.2M94
Thoracic Surgery$547k$790k$1.0M20
Plastic Surgery$626k$740k$1.1M65
Pain Management$405k$698k$890k12
Pediatric Surgery$597k$675k$860k15
Ophthalmology$422k$670k$1.1M87
Interventional Radiology$487k$625k$1.0M37
Dermatology$435k$625k$985k86
Cardiology$365k$620k$1.0M144
Vascular Surgery$518k$617k$1.0M49
Radiology$499k$590k$782k76
Urology$491k$590k$718k75
Radiation Oncology$452k$585k$641k39
Gastroenterology$450k$550k$700k81
Burn Surgery$469k$540k$780k13
Anesthesiology$354k$535k$796k136
General Surgery$400k$528k$762k113

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

Follow SalaryDr

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

© 2026 SalaryDr. All rights reserved.

Highest Paying Specialties

1Cardiothoracic Surgery
$1,150,000
2Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
$975,000
3Neurosurgery
$900,000
4Orthopedic Surgery
$790,000
5Thoracic Surgery
$790,000

Key Trends & Statistics

Highest Median Salary$1,150,000
Average Across All Specialties$495,842
Specialties Analyzed57
Total Data Points2,967

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?

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