Source: SalaryDr salary data for in California (N=379 verified submissions, updated February 10, 2026, data as of 2026-02-10). URL: https://www.salarydr.com
Physician Salary in California (2026)
The average physician salary in California is $590,069 across all specialties, based on 379 verified submissions on SalaryDr. The median is $535,000, with a typical range of $400,000–$696,000.
Source: SalaryDr verified data • Updated Feb 2026
Cost of Living in California
The cost of living in California is significantly above the national average (index: 1.42x). While nominal salaries may be higher, physicians should account for elevated housing and living costs when comparing offers.
Physician Salaries by Specialty in California
| Specialty | Median Salary | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neurosurgery | $880,000 | $1,086,000 | 20 |
| Bariatric Surgery | $800,000 | $800,000 | 1 |
| Thoracic Surgery | $770,000 | $661,250 | 4 |
| Plastic Surgery | $760,000 | $1,040,714 | 14 |
| Cardiac Electrophysiology | $750,000 | $750,000 | 1 |
| Orthopedic Surgery | $730,000 | $687,533 | 15 |
| Pain Management | $700,000 | $697,500 | 2 |
| Reproductive Endocrinology | $700,000 | $600,000 | 2 |
| Medical Oncology | $700,000 | $700,000 | 1 |
| Gynecologic Oncology | $700,000 | $695,000 | 4 |
| Head and Neck Surgery | $700,000 | $700,000 | 1 |
| Dermatology | $680,000 | $657,000 | 22 |
| Ophthalmology | $680,000 | $780,973 | 11 |
| Interventional Radiology | $650,000 | $669,000 | 5 |
| Vascular Surgery | $640,000 | $680,556 | 9 |
| Pediatric Surgery | $640,000 | $640,000 | 1 |
| Cardiology | $630,000 | $674,167 | 18 |
| Urology | $630,000 | $665,000 | 10 |
| Radiation Oncology | $615,000 | $613,167 | 6 |
| General Surgery | $610,000 | $573,095 | 21 |
| Radiology | $590,000 | $656,000 | 15 |
| Breast Surgery | $575,000 | $575,000 | 1 |
| Gastroenterology | $570,000 | $756,667 | 12 |
| Anesthesiology | $560,000 | $601,250 | 18 |
| Pediatric Urology | $560,000 | $560,000 | 1 |
| Hematology/Oncology | $550,000 | $672,845 | 7 |
| Hospital Medicine | $545,400 | $445,200 | 2 |
| Otolaryngology | $535,000 | $533,333 | 3 |
| Surgical Critical Care | $535,000 | $535,000 | 1 |
| Diagnostic Radiology | $525,000 | $517,500 | 2 |
| Oncology | $510,000 | $500,000 | 4 |
| Burn Surgery | $505,000 | $505,000 | 1 |
| Psychiatry | $500,000 | $510,504 | 7 |
| Maternal-Fetal Medicine | $495,000 | $447,500 | 2 |
| Neurology | $490,000 | $436,250 | 4 |
| Transplant Nephrology | $480,000 | $480,000 | 1 |
| Pain Medicine | $465,000 | $465,000 | 1 |
| Pulmonary | $455,000 | $442,727 | 11 |
| Critical Care | $445,000 | $392,500 | 2 |
| Hematology | $440,000 | $432,500 | 2 |
| Emergency Medicine | $430,000 | $414,286 | 14 |
| Obstetrics & Gynecology | $420,000 | $411,143 | 7 |
| Nephrology | $410,000 | $408,333 | 3 |
| Pathology | $405,000 | $511,833 | 6 |
| Sleep Medicine | $400,000 | $390,000 | 2 |
| PM&R | $400,000 | $396,667 | 3 |
| Neonatology | $390,000 | $410,000 | 4 |
| Endocrinology | $370,000 | $350,000 | 4 |
| Occupational Medicine | $365,000 | $389,000 | 5 |
| Internal Medicine | $360,000 | $445,000 | 6 |
| Allergy & Immunology | $360,000 | $375,000 | 5 |
| Sports Medicine | $355,000 | $368,333 | 3 |
| Rheumatology | $350,000 | $340,000 | 2 |
| Family Medicine | $345,000 | $343,542 | 6 |
| Infectious Disease | $340,000 | $324,500 | 6 |
| Clinical Informatics | $335,000 | $335,000 | 1 |
| Palliative Care | $325,000 | $325,000 | 1 |
| Addiction Medicine | $320,000 | $320,000 | 1 |
| Pediatrics | $315,000 | $334,462 | 26 |
| Geriatrics | $315,000 | $315,000 | 1 |
| Preventive Medicine | $310,000 | $306,667 | 3 |
| Child Neurology | $310,000 | $280,000 | 2 |
| Child Psychiatry | $300,000 | $285,000 | 2 |
| Medical Genetics | $270,000 | $270,000 | 1 |
Top Cities for Physicians in California
Frequently Asked Questions: Physician Salary in California
What is the average physician salary in California?
The average physician salary in California is $590,069, with a median of $535,000, based on 379 verified submissions on SalaryDr.
Which medical specialty pays the most in California?
Based on SalaryDr data, Neurosurgery has the highest median salary in California at $880,000.
How does the cost of living in California affect physician pay?
The cost of living in California is significantly above the national average. Physicians should factor in housing, taxes, and everyday expenses when evaluating offers.
What cities in California pay physicians the most?
Top cities for physician employment in California include Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento. Urban areas tend to offer higher salaries but also higher living costs.
How many physicians report salary data in California?
SalaryDr currently has 379 verified physician salary submissions from California.
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