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Create CVIf you’re researching doctor salary US, you’re likely asking a deeper question: what can I realistically earn as a physician—and how do top doctors push into the highest income brackets?
The answer is not a single number. In the U.S., physician compensation varies dramatically based on specialization, experience, geography, employer type, and compensation structure (base salary vs total compensation).
This guide breaks down real-world salary data, compensation structures, recruiter insights, and negotiation strategies so you understand not just what doctors earn—but why they earn it and how to maximize your income.
The average doctor salary in the United States varies widely:
Minimum (entry-level / residency): $60,000 – $75,000
Primary care physicians: $220,000 – $300,000
Specialists (average): $300,000 – $500,000
Top specialists (surgeons, cardiologists): $500,000 – $900,000+
Median salary: ~$310,000
Average salary: ~$350,000
Residency salary: $60,000 – $75,000
First attending role: $200,000 – $260,000
Recruiter insight:
Hospitals intentionally compress early salaries due to high supply of residents and limited leverage.
Primary care: $240,000 – $320,000
Specialists: $350,000 – $550,000
At this stage, compensation becomes tied to productivity metrics (RVUs) and patient volume.
Primary care: $280,000 – $350,000
Orthopedic Surgery: $550,000 – $900,000+
Cardiology: $500,000 – $800,000
Gastroenterology: $500,000 – $750,000
Radiology: $450,000 – $700,000
Anesthesiology: $400,000 – $650,000
Emergency Medicine: $300,000 – $450,000
Internal Medicine: $250,000 – $350,000
Top 10% of physicians: $600,000 – $1M+
Entry-level: $5,000 – $6,500
Mid-career: $18,000 – $30,000
High earners: $40,000 – $80,000+
Specialists: $450,000 – $700,000
Senior doctors gain leverage through:
Established patient panels
Reputation and referrals
Leadership roles
These are typically:
Surgeons in private practice
High-volume specialists
Physicians with equity or ownership stakes
Psychiatry: $250,000 – $400,000
Pediatrics: $200,000 – $280,000
Family Medicine: $220,000 – $300,000
Key insight:
Lower-paying specialties often offer better lifestyle and lower burnout—this trade-off directly impacts compensation.
Fixed income tied to employment contract
Typically 70%–90% of total compensation
Doctors often receive:
Productivity bonuses (RVUs)
Quality bonuses (patient outcomes)
Signing bonuses: $20,000 – $100,000+
Retention bonuses: multi-year incentives
Less common in hospital employment, but huge in private practice:
Profit sharing
Practice ownership
Surgery center investments
This is where physicians move from $400K → $1M+ income.
Health insurance
Retirement plans (401k + match)
Malpractice insurance
Paid CME (continuing education)
PTO (3–6 weeks typical)
California: $300,000 – $600,000+
New York: $280,000 – $550,000
Texas: $300,000 – $650,000
Rural doctors often earn 20%–40% more
Urban roles offer prestige but lower base salaries
Recruiter insight:
Hospitals in rural areas increase compensation due to talent shortages.
Surgeons = high demand, low supply → higher salaries
Primary care = high supply → lower salaries
Doctors are paid based on:
Procedures performed
Insurance reimbursements
Patient volume
Hospital-employed → stable, lower upside
Private practice → higher risk, higher income ceiling
Academic roles → lower pay, higher prestige
Most physicians are paid using:
Relative Value Units (RVUs)
Direct link between work output and compensation
Two doctors with identical experience can earn vastly different salaries depending on negotiation.
Your specialty choice impacts lifetime earnings by millions.
Weak Example:
“I’m happy with the offer.”
Good Example:
“Given market benchmarks and my specialization, I’d like to discuss a higher signing bonus and productivity upside.”
Rural and underserved areas offer:
Higher base salaries
Loan repayment programs
Faster promotions
Doctors who move from fixed salary → RVU-based compensation often increase earnings by 20%–50%.
Private practice
Surgery centers
Specialty clinics
This is the biggest leap in compensation potential.
Hospitals use:
MGMA benchmarks
Internal salary bands
Budget constraints
Lack of negotiation
Accepting first offer
Staying too long in one role
High-demand specialty
Geographic scarcity
Strong negotiation leverage
Physician shortages → upward salary pressure
Increased demand for specialists
Telemedicine expanding earning models
Psychiatry (mental health demand)
Geriatrics (aging population)
Cardiology and oncology
Most doctors earn between $250,000 and $500,000
Specialists can reach $600,000+
Top 1% can exceed $1M annually
But the real differentiator is not just your degree—it’s:
Your specialty
Your negotiation skills
Your willingness to take ownership risk
Your positioning in the market
Bottom line: Medicine offers one of the highest earning ceilings in the U.S.—but only for those who understand how compensation actually works and actively optimize for it.
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