Source: SalaryDr Medical Residency Salary Guide (2026). Based on 966 approved salary reports. Median salary: $71,657/year. URL: https://www.salarydr.com/residency-salary
Medical Residency Salary Guide (2026)
Real residency salary data from 966 approved salary reports. Median resident salary: $71,657/year. See pay by PGY year, moonlighting income, stipends, and how residency pay compares to attending physician salaries.
Quick Answer
The median medical resident salary in the United States is $71,657 per year (2026), based on 966 approved salary reports. PGY-1 residents earn a median of $70,000, increasing to $88,425 by PGY-6+. 4% of residents report additional moonlighting income.
Source: SalaryDr approved salary reports
Residency Salary by PGY Year (2026)
Median salary by postgraduate year level based on 966 approved resident salary reports.
| PGY Level | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| PGY-1 | $70,000 |
| PGY-2 | $74,000 |
| PGY-3 | $74,000 |
| PGY-4 | $76,386 |
| PGY-5 | $81,250 |
| PGY-6+ | $88,425 |
Based on approved salary reports to SalaryDr. Medians may shift as more data is collected.
Compare resident pay by hospital
SalaryDr tracks the published 2026–27 salary scales of 72 teaching hospitals and medical schools. Their median PGY-1 salary is $71,664. Ranked by pay after local cost of living:
- 1. Stanford$96,949 PGY-1 · $87,798 adjusted
- 2. UCLA$98,466 PGY-1 · $86,704 adjusted
- 3. NewYork-Presbyterian$96,600 PGY-1 · $85,819 adjusted
- 4. Yale New Haven$88,662 PGY-1 · $84,796 adjusted
- 5. Kaiser Permanente NorCal$97,940 PGY-1 · $84,714 adjusted
- 6. UCSF$96,953 PGY-1 · $83,860 adjusted
See all 72 in the Resident Pay Index · Compare the programs on your rank list · By state: California, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, all states
Moonlighting During Residency
Real moonlighting data reported by residents on SalaryDr. Moonlighting must comply with ACGME duty-hour regulations.
Important: Moonlighting must comply with ACGME duty-hour regulations (80-hour weekly limit averaged over 4 weeks). Not all programs permit external moonlighting. Always check your program’s policies first.
Residency Stipends & Benefits
Median annual stipends reported by residents, in addition to base salary.
Benefits Beyond Salary
Residency compensation extends beyond the base stipend. Most programs offer a benefits package that adds meaningful value.
Health & Dental Insurance
Most programs provide comprehensive health insurance for residents and dependents, often at reduced or no premium cost.
$8,000–$15,000/year value
Student Loan Benefits
Income-driven repayment plans, loan deferment options, and some programs offer PSLF-eligible employment.
PSLF can save $100,000+
Malpractice Insurance
Programs provide malpractice coverage during residency at no cost to the resident.
Included at no cost
Residency Salary by Specialty
Explore detailed residency salary data for specific specialties, including PGY-level breakdowns, moonlighting rates, stipends, and resident-to-attending salary gaps.
Top-Paying States for Residents
Median resident salary by state based on approved salary reports. Higher pay often correlates with higher cost of living.
| State | Median Salary | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $86,000 | 5 |
| District of Columbia | $85,000 | 5 |
| Connecticut | $84,750 | 16 |
| New York | $84,500 | 101 |
| Massachusetts | $80,000 | 24 |
| Maryland | $78,000 | 17 |
| California | $78,000 | 64 |
| New Jersey | $76,300 | 24 |
Residency vs. Attending Salary: The Gap by Specialty
The jump from residency to attending-level income is the single largest salary increase in a physician’s career. The gap varies significantly by specialty.
| Specialty | Residency Salary | Attending Median | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine | $63,000–$78,000 | $250,000 | 3.5x |
| Internal Medicine | $63,000–$78,000 | $280,000 | 3.9x |
| Emergency Medicine | $63,000–$78,000 | $415,000 | 5.8x |
| General Surgery | $63,000–$84,000 | $450,000 | 5.9x |
| Anesthesiology | $63,000–$81,000 | $535,000 | 7.4x |
| Cardiology | $79,000 | $600,000 | 7.6x |
| Orthopedic Surgery | $74,666 | $722,500 | 9.7x |
| Neurosurgery | $80,000 | $940,000 | 11.8x |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | $65,000 | $1,100,000 | 16.9x |
| Plastic Surgery | $73,000 | $975,000 | 13.4x |
| Cardiothoracic Surgery | $76,000 | $816,000 | 10.7x |
| Urology | $76,000 | $715,000 | 9.4x |
| Gastroenterology | $75,000 | $680,000 | 9.1x |
| Radiology | $78,050 | $680,000 | 8.7x |
| Interventional Radiology | $79,000 | $647,500 | 8.2x |
Attending salary figures are approximate medians from the SalaryDr Physician Salary Database. Multiplier represents attending median divided by average residency salary for that training path.
Disability Insurance During Training
Carriers run resident and fellow programs you can only apply to during training, and premiums are set by your age and health when you apply.
LeverageRx's quote form takes about 2 minutes and asks for your date of birth, specialty, income and contact details; an advisor may follow up. Partner link: SalaryDr earns a referral fee from LeverageRx when you request a quote. Your price is the same either way.
After Residency: What Comes Next
Completing residency is the gateway to attending-level compensation.
Straight to Practice
Physicians who do not pursue fellowship can enter practice immediately. Starting attending salaries range from $250,000 for primary care to $500,000+ for surgical specialties.
Explore attending salariesFellowship Training
Subspecialty fellowship adds 1–3 years of training at fellow-level pay. Fellowship-trained physicians often earn 20–50% more as attendings.
Fellowship salary guideBrowse Attending Salaries by Specialty
Residency Salary FAQ
How much do medical residents make in 2026?
Based on 966 approved salary reports on SalaryDr, the median medical resident salary is $71,657 per year in 2026. PGY-1 residents typically start at the low end of the range, with salary increasing roughly $2,000–$3,000 per year of training.
Do residency salaries vary by specialty?
Residency salaries are generally determined by the training institution and PGY level rather than specialty. However, programs in higher cost-of-living areas tend to pay more. The real salary difference by specialty emerges after residency when attending-level compensation can vary by 3x–10x.
Can residents moonlight to earn extra income?
Yes — 4% of residents on SalaryDr report moonlighting. Many programs allow internal moonlighting (within the same institution) or external moonlighting (at outside facilities). Rates and policies vary by program and must comply with ACGME duty-hour regulations.
What benefits do residents receive beyond salary?
Most residency programs provide health and dental insurance, meal stipends, housing allowances in some locations, a CME/education allowance, malpractice insurance, and relocation assistance. Some programs offer student loan deferment or repayment assistance.
How does residency pay compare to other professions?
At $63,000–$88,000 per year working 60–80+ hours per week, resident physicians earn roughly $15–$22 per hour. This is less than many other healthcare professionals on an hourly basis. However, residency training leads to attending physician salaries of $250,000–$800,000+, making it a long-term investment.
Do residency salaries keep up with inflation?
Residency salaries have increased approximately 2–3% per year over the past decade. While this roughly tracks inflation, the high cost of living in many academic medical centers means real purchasing power gains are modest. Some programs offer cost-of-living adjustments for high-expense areas.
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