Source: SalaryDr salary data for in California (N=408 verified submissions, updated August 17, 2026, data as of 2026-08-17). URL: https://www.salarydr.com
Physician Salary in California (2026)
The average physician salary in California is $588,960 across all specialties, based on 408 verified submissions on SalaryDr. The median is $530,000, with a typical range of $400,000–$700,000.
Source: SalaryDr verified data • Updated Aug 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 | $1,087,619 | 21 |
| Cardiothoracic Surgery | $782,000 | $782,000 | 1 |
| Thoracic Surgery | $770,000 | $661,250 | 4 |
| Plastic Surgery | $750,000 | $1,021,333 | 15 |
| Orthopedic Surgery | $732,000 | $693,786 | 14 |
| Gynecologic Oncology | $700,000 | $695,000 | 4 |
| Reproductive Endocrinology | $700,000 | $600,000 | 2 |
| Head and Neck Surgery | $700,000 | $700,000 | 1 |
| Pain Management | $695,000 | $620,000 | 3 |
| Dermatology | $680,000 | $657,000 | 22 |
| Ophthalmology | $680,000 | $749,583 | 12 |
| Cardiology | $670,000 | $691,958 | 24 |
| Vascular Surgery | $640,000 | $662,500 | 10 |
| Pediatric Surgery | $640,000 | $640,000 | 1 |
| Interventional Radiology | $630,000 | $643,125 | 8 |
| Radiation Oncology | $615,000 | $614,857 | 7 |
| General Surgery | $610,000 | $565,769 | 26 |
| Urology | $600,000 | $655,455 | 11 |
| Radiology | $590,000 | $648,214 | 14 |
| Gastroenterology | $570,000 | $806,538 | 13 |
| Anesthesiology | $560,000 | $598,289 | 19 |
| Otolaryngology | $535,000 | $533,333 | 3 |
| Hematology/Oncology | $520,000 | $591,065 | 14 |
| Burn Surgery | $505,000 | $505,000 | 1 |
| Psychiatry | $500,000 | $480,853 | 10 |
| Maternal-Fetal Medicine | $495,000 | $447,500 | 2 |
| Pulmonology | $455,000 | $442,727 | 11 |
| Critical Care | $445,000 | $440,000 | 3 |
| Emergency Medicine | $430,000 | $513,680 | 16 |
| Obstetrics & Gynecology | $420,000 | $411,143 | 7 |
| Nephrology | $410,000 | $395,000 | 5 |
| Sleep Medicine | $400,000 | $390,000 | 2 |
| Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation | $400,000 | $396,667 | 3 |
| Pathology | $391,000 | $464,200 | 5 |
| Neurology | $390,000 | $406,600 | 5 |
| Neonatology | $380,000 | $400,000 | 5 |
| Occupational Medicine | $365,000 | $389,000 | 5 |
| Allergy/Immunology | $360,000 | $375,000 | 5 |
| Sports Medicine | $355,000 | $368,333 | 3 |
| Internal Medicine | $350,000 | $394,616 | 14 |
| Rheumatology | $350,000 | $340,000 | 2 |
| Family Medicine | $345,000 | $343,906 | 8 |
| Infectious Disease | $340,000 | $324,500 | 6 |
| Endocrinology | $340,000 | $320,000 | 5 |
| 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 |
| 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 $588,960, with a median of $530,000, based on 408 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, Sacramento, San Jose. Urban areas tend to offer higher salaries but also higher living costs.
How many physicians report salary data in California?
SalaryDr currently has 408 verified physician salary submissions from California.
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