Source: SalaryDr Plastic Surgery Residency Salary Data (2026). Median: $73,000/year. Sample: 8 verified submissions. URL: https://www.salarydr.com/residency-salary/plastic-surgery
Plastic Surgery Residency Salary (2026)
The median plastic surgery resident salary is $73,000 per year, based on 8 verified submissions on SalaryDr. After training, plastic surgery attendings earn a median of $1,200,000 — a 16.4x increase.
Source: SalaryDr verified data • Updated Aug 2026
Plastic Surgery Resident Salary by PGY Year
How plastic surgery resident compensation changes by postgraduate year level.
| PGY Level | Median Salary | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| PGY-1 | $61,500 | 2 |
| PGY-2 | $73,000 | 5 |
| PGY-4 | $78,000 | 1 |
Plastic Surgery: Resident vs. Attending Salary
The salary jump from residency to attending is the largest increase in a physician’s career.
Plastic Surgery Resident Salary by State
Top-paying states for plastic surgery residents based on verified submissions.
| State | Median Salary | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| California | $94,000 | 2 |
Plastic Surgery Residency Training
Training Length
3–5 years
Salary Progression
Resident salary increases ~$2,000–$3,000 per PGY year. After completing training, attending plastic surgery physicians earn a median of $1,200,000.
Frequently Asked Questions: Plastic Surgery Residency Salary
How much do plastic surgery residents make in 2026?
Plastic Surgery residents earn a median salary of $73,000 per year based on 8 verified submissions on SalaryDr. Salaries range from $60,000 to $154,000 depending on PGY level and location.
How long is plastic surgery residency?
Plastic Surgery residency training is 3–5 years. Salary increases with each year of training, typically by $2,000–$3,000 per PGY level.
How much more do plastic surgery attendings make compared to residents?
Plastic Surgery attending physicians earn a median of $1,200,000, which is 16.4x more than the median resident salary of $73,000. This gap represents the largest salary jump in a physician's career.
Are plastic surgery residents satisfied with their specialty choice?
Plastic Surgery residents rate their career satisfaction at 3.4/5.0 on average. 60% say they would choose plastic surgery again if given the choice. They work an average of 77 hours per week.
Explore More Plastic Surgery Data
Browse Residency Salaries by Specialty
Are you a plastic surgery resident?
Share your salary anonymously and help future residents make informed decisions about plastic surgery training programs. It takes less than 2 minutes.