Healthgrades for ProfessionalsHighest and Lowest Physician Salaries by Specialty

Physician salaries in 2023 have increased across all specialties, with primary care physicians earning an average of $265,000 and specialists earning $382,000. The highest-paying specialties include plastic surgery, orthopedics, cardiology, urology, gastroenterology, otolaryngology, radiology, oncology, anesthesiology, and dermatology, while the lowest-paying specialties are public health and preventive medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, infectious disease, diabetes & endocrinology, internal medicine, rheumatology, allergy & immunology, physical medicine & rehab, and psychiatry. The gender pay gap persists but is starting to narrow, with male primary care physicians earning 19% more than their female counterparts, and the gap for specialists being 27%. Despite ongoing challenges such as staffing shortages, reimbursement pressures, and administrative burdens, the majority of doctors (73%) express satisfaction in their profession and highlight the rewards of being skilled practitioners, fostering patient relationships, and making a positive impact on the world.