Medical Doctor Salary in the US in 2025 - 26: Based on Specialization, Location & Experience
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Table of Contents
- Average Doctors Salary in the USA in 2025 - 26
- Benefits and Incentives for US Doctors in 2025 - 26
- Doctor Salary in the US Based on Specialty
- Average Surgeon Salary in the USA
- Medical Doctor Salary by Experience in USA
- Average Doctor Salary by State in US
- Self-Employed vs Full-time Medical Doctor Income in the USA
- Explore Your Prospects of Working as a Doctor in the US
Doctors are among the highest paid professionals in the US. The medical doctor salary in the US in 2025 - 26 sees an upward trend reflecting the nation’s high demand for skilled healthcare professionals. According to the latest data from Medscape’s 2025 Physician Compensation Report, the average annual salary for physicians stands at $352,000 and for specialist doctors it is about $411,000.
Interestingly, doctors employed in the public sector tend to earn 15.65% higher than doctors in the private sector in the US. In this article we will explore doctors' salaries in the US based on speciality, experience, and other factors.
Average Doctors Salary in the USA in 2025 - 26
According to the Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2025, the average salary of a medical doctor in the USA was approximately $374,000 per year. The year 2024, as per the report highlights that doctors witnessed a modest growth rate of 2.9% (in total compensation) compared to the previous year.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that out of the 20 top highest paying occupations, 19 belonged to the healthcare department. This reflects that in the U.S., the doctor’s profession has great potential for earning.
|
Particular |
Details |
|
Annual Median Pay |
USD 239,200 |
|
Annual Hourly Median Pay |
USD 115 |
|
Average Annual Pay |
USD 374,000 - USD 376,000 |
|
Highest Paid Physicians by Metro Region |
West North Central Region with average salary of USD 404,000 |
|
Highest Paid Doctors by City |
Rural cities in Midwest & Southern states offer highest pay due to shortages |
|
Total Medical Job Vacancies in 2025 |
Projected at 1.1 million total healthcare vacancies with about 23,600 physician roles annually (2023 - 2033) |
|
Growth in Doctors’ Salary in 2025 |
Overall: +3.6% |
|
Job Growth for Doctors (2023–2033) |
A growth rate of +4% and annual new job opening of about 23,600 |
*The salary of a medical doctor in the USA includes base salary, housing facilities, and transportation benefits annually.
As we explore the average doctor's salary in the USA, let's first look at the benefits and bonuses physicians receive
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Benefits and Incentives for US Doctors in 2025 - 26
According to the latest reports about 57% - 60% were eligible for incentive bonuses and the average incentive bonus among the eligible physicians was approximately about $48,000 in 2024 (the reports state).
Recognizing their invaluable efforts, employers extend various benefits and bonuses as tokens of appreciation, such as:
- Health Insurance
- Retirement plans
- Sign-on bonuses
- Performance-based rewards
- Malpractice Insurance
- Opportunities for continuing education,
- Support for relocation
Doctor Salary in the US Based on Specialty
The doctor’s pay in the USA is influenced by their chosen area or field of expertise. Those practicing in high-demand sectors like cardiology, radiology, neurology, oncology, and orthopedics are among the top earning fields in healthcare in the US. The average doctors salary in the US based on speciality include:
|
Specialty |
Average Annual Compensation (in USD) |
|
Orthopedics & Orthopedic Surgery |
543,000 |
|
Radiology |
520,000 |
|
Plastic Surgery |
516,000 |
|
Cardiology |
506,000 |
|
Anesthesiology |
499,000 |
|
Gastroenterology |
495,000 |
|
Urology |
485,000 |
|
Otolaryngology (ENT) |
473,000 |
|
Oncology/Hematology |
452,000 |
|
Dermatology |
424,000 |
|
General Surgery |
420,000 |
|
Critical Care |
410,000 |
|
Pathology |
395,000 |
|
Ophthalmology |
394,000 |
|
Pulmonary Medicine |
387,000 |
|
Emergency Medicine |
374,000 |
|
OB/Gyn |
367,000 |
|
Nephrology |
359,000 |
|
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation |
354,000 |
|
Psychiatry |
336,000 |
|
Neurology |
322,000 |
|
Allergy & Immunology |
312,000 |
|
Internal Medicine |
286,000 |
|
Rheumatology |
277,000 |
|
Infectious Diseases |
277,000 |
|
Diabetes & Endocrinology |
277,000 |
|
Family Medicine |
276,000 |
|
Pediatrics |
258,000 |
|
Public Health & Preventive Medicine |
257,000 |
Source: Medscape
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Average Surgeon Salary in the USA
In the United States, surgeons are esteemed professionals who receive substantial compensation, based on their level of work experience. Upon completing a master's in surgery in the USA, individuals can pursue various specializations, each offering distinct salary ranges based on the specific area of expertise.
The data reflecting these specialized salary variations is outlined below in the table
|
Surgeon Occupation in USA |
Average Annual Salary (in USD) |
|
Neurosurgeon |
789,000 |
|
Thoracic Surgeon |
707,000 |
|
Orthopedic Surgeon |
625,000 |
|
Plastic Surgeon |
572,00 |
|
Vascular Surgeon |
558,000 |
|
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon |
557,000 |
|
General Surgeon |
452,000 |
|
Pediatric Surgeon |
450,000 |
|
Colon and Rectal Surgeon |
446,000 |
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Medical Doctor Salary by Experience in USA
Extensive professional experience holds great significance, signaling to employers your commitment and extensive knowledge. Physicians with a greater number of years in the field are deemed more dependable. The overview of how the salaries of U.S. doctors fluctuate based on their years of experience.
|
Experience Level |
Average Annual Salary (in USD ) |
|
0-1 years |
120,000 |
|
1-3 years |
150,000 |
|
4-6 years |
190,000 |
|
7-9 years |
220,000 |
|
10-14 years |
300,000 |
|
15-19 years |
409,000 |
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Average Doctor Salary by State in US
In addition to specialization, the geographical location of a doctor's practice significantly influences their income. Urban areas, particularly in states like California and New York, generally offer more substantial compensation compared to rural communities.
Provided below is the average salary in the USA for doctors across different states in the United States.
|
State |
Average Salary (USD) |
State |
Average Salary (USD) |
|
Alabama |
311,920 |
Montana |
232,567 |
|
Alaska |
236,821 |
Nebraska |
160,965 |
|
Arizona |
256,512 |
Nevada |
232,320 |
|
Arkansas |
214,697 |
New Hampshire |
242,351 |
|
California |
217,270 |
New Jersey |
296,682 |
|
Colorado |
270,074 |
New Mexico |
225,347 |
|
Connecticut |
201,217 |
New York |
234,345 |
|
Delaware |
160,707 |
North Carolina |
241,112 |
|
Florida |
185,402 |
North Dakota |
286,992 |
|
Georgia |
235,365 |
Ohio |
251,548 |
|
Hawaii |
190,366 |
Oklahoma |
228,219 |
|
Idaho |
233,526 |
Oregon |
267,825 |
|
Illinois |
262,914 |
Pennsylvania |
257,075 |
|
Indiana |
267,187 |
Rhode Island |
261,009 |
|
Iowa |
318,598 |
South Carolina |
248,954 |
|
Kansas |
289,522 |
South Dakota |
266,217 |
|
Kentucky |
262,048 |
Tennessee |
250,000 |
|
Louisiana |
268,768 |
Texas |
290,494 |
|
Maine |
193,508 |
Utah |
137,745 |
|
Maryland |
217,366 |
Vermont |
304,794 |
|
Massachusetts |
261,922 |
Virginia |
263,861 |
|
Michigan |
257,513 |
Washington |
258,575 |
|
Minnesota |
279,709 |
West Virginia |
281,613 |
|
Mississippi |
193,660 |
Wisconsin |
280,032 |
|
Missouri |
243,068 |
Wyoming |
266,267 |
*Source: Indeed
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Self-Employed vs Full-time Medical Doctor Income in the USA
According to Medscape Physician Compensation Report, the distribution of doctors in the United States reveals that self-employed doctors' income in the USA is less than that of a full-time doctor earning in the USA. Let's take a look at the table based on the findings in the report.
|
Aspect |
Self-Employed Physicians |
Full-Time Physicians |
|
Full-Time Physicians |
Approximately 47% |
Approximately 53% |
|
Specialty Variations |
Varies by specialty |
Dermatology: 70%, Emergency Medicine: 18% |
|
Average Salary (USD) |
USD 352,000 |
USD 281,000 |
|
Income Difference |
Approximately 25% higher |
- |
|
Considerations |
Additional expenses such as rent, equipment, and staff salaries impact net income |
Full-time employees enjoy benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off |
Explore Your Prospects of Working as a Doctor in the US
The medical doctor salary in the US remains among the highest among all professions and varies based on factors such as experience, location , specialization, etc. Despite the modest growth in recent years, doctors continue to benefit from strong demand, attractive packages & benefits and strong career prospects throughout the country.
If you are also looking to start your career as a doctor in US, you can achieve it with the professional guidance from GetGIS immigration experts. Our team effectively navigates you through the visa process, university selection, and much more needed for your smooth transition.
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