In the United States, the average starting salary for a doctor is high. A starting salary for a doctor working in a group practice with a specialty is higher than a starting salary for a doctor who is a general practitioner. To become a medical doctor, one must complete four years of undergraduate studies and then four years of medical school. During their undergraduate studies, students take basic science courses. In medical school, physicians-in-training receive training in all facets of caring for patients, from performing operations to prescribing medications. Most physicians go on to specialize. That being said, collegelearners has put together an amazing article on Starting Salary For Doctors In USA, md doctor salary in us per month, list of doctors salaries, doctor salary in u.s. 2020, salary of doctor in usa in rupees & highest salary of doctor in usa
As a matter of fact, preparing for medical school can be fun and at the same time, quite tasking. However, there is really nothing like finally seeing your dreams come true; your dreams of becoming a doctor in this case. Moving on, how much do you know though, about starting salary for doctors in usa? Read on to find out more.
The article below brings you the latest information on starting salary for doctors in usa, doctor salary in us per month, mbbs doctor salary in us per month, how much money do doctors make an hour, how much do doctors make a year & how much money do doctors make a month. You will also find related posts on starting salary for doctors in usa on collegelearners.
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Having a job in medicine has always been held in high regard in society. After all, being a doctor is undisputedly noble, beneficial, and practically life-saving in certain cases. However, looking back on their medical studies, it wasn’t always so easy for them. What is more, their current situation differs greatly from specialty to specialty.
Compensation-related questions have always been a hot topic in this profession, as the average doctor salary is considered one of the highest paying salaries on the market today. But how much does it actually amount to, really? More importantly, what is the actual cost of reaching that goal, if any? And is it all worth it?
The Average Salary of a Doctor in the US
- The average salary of a medical doctor in the US is estimated at $209.044
The latest estimates on doctors’ salaries for the year 2020 show that they average around $209,044, with a few discrepancies; up to $162,000 at a time.
Source: ZipRecruiter
2. The minimum and maximum thresholds vary distinctly — the lowest being $45,500, whereas the highest is $359,000.
With this in mind, it is important to point out that the data is taken on a national level, which explains the wide gap between the various medical doctor salary thresholds. After all, cities and states, each with their own living standards, are bound to affect this aspect as well. Hence, a more realistic range of the doctors’ pay in the US would be along the lines of $45,500 (low-end), up to $359,000 (high-end).
Source: ZipRecruiter
3. Last year, ZipRecruiter estimated that $209,044 was the average salary for medical doctors, specifically.
According to doctor salary statistics, there has been a minor reduction in the doctor’s overall paycheck. However, the results for 2021 are yet to be defined — a steady growth is expected for this year as much as it was recorded over the past decade.
Source: The Street
4. The Medscape annual report shows a gradual increase of 4.6% since 2018’s average salary.
The percentage is based on the comparison of the average salary from 2018, which was estimated to be at around $299,000, and the overall annual doctors’ paycheck of 2019 — $313,000.
Source: Medscape
5. The highest average salary in the US thus far goes to healthcare professions, with wider differences across specialties.
About a dozen medical care professions take up the highest-ranking positions in terms of average annual pay in the US.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
6. Preview of the top 25 highest paying medical jobs in the US for 2019, and comparatively, their 2018 averages, including the average doctor salary across multiple fields.
| Job Position | 2019 | 2018 |
| Anesthesiologist | $267,020 | $265,990 |
| Surgeon | $267,020 | $265,090 |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon | $242,370 | $242,740 |
| Obstetrician/Gynecologist | $238,320 | $235,240 |
| Orthodontist | $225,760 | $229,380 |
| Psychiatrist | $220,380 | $216,090 |
| Physician | $203,880 | $214,700 |
| Family and General Practice Physician | $211,780 | $208,560 |
| Internist, General | $196,490 | $198,370 |
| Prosthodontist | $191,400 | $1196,050 |
| CEO | $200,140 | $196,960 |
| Pediatrician, General | $183,240 | $180,010 |
| Dentist | $175,840 | $187,540 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $174,790 | $169,450 |
| Pilot and Flight Engineer | $169,560 | $161,280 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $156,370 | $154,780 |
| Information Systems Manager | $152,860 | $149,730 |
| Podiatrist | $148,220 | $148,470 |
| Architecture and Engineer Manager | $148,970 | $143,530 |
| Marketing Manager | $147,240 | $145,620 |
| Financial Manager | $146,830 | $146,290 |
| Attorney | $144,230 | $141,890 |
| Sales Manager | $140,320 | $140,600 |
| Natural Sciences Manager | $139,680 | $133,670 |
| Compensation and Benefits Manager | $132,860 | $130,010 |
Source: Investopedia
As a point of reference, the average American income in 2019 was $68,703, meaning that the average anesthesiologist yearly makes almost four times the salary of an average American.
7.The average cost of medical school in the US amounts to $34,592 per year.
This figure is estimated to cover the expenses for a whole year of in-state studies at a medical school including books, tuition, and other expenses. For out-of-state students at these schools, expenses average around $58,668 a year.
Source: American Medical Student Association
8. Private med schools are costly — Tufts University currently holds the record at $61,436 in annual expenses for tuition and school fees alone.
Honorable mentions include Columbia University, Dartmouth, Northwestern University, and Case Western Reserve University, making them the top five most expensive schools for medical studies in the USA.
Source: American Medical Student Association
9. The total cost of medical school in the US amounts to around $800,000 in overall expenses (including lost opportunity earnings).
The Bureau of Labor Statistics calculated that, per annum, would-be doctors are losing as much as $57,304. Overall, $229,216 for the first four years of their medical school studies. Now, this is only the beginning. The estimates for “lost opportunity earnings” paired with book costs, tuition fees, living and other expenses, rake up a total amount of $800,000; meaning, the cost of medical school is one heck of an investment, for sure!
Source: Best Medical Degrees
10. Gender compensation gap was persistent in 2020 among the physicians: Male doctors earn 25% more than female doctors, which is a wider gender pay gap than last year’s 18%.
But the gender compensation gap decreased among the specialists in 2020.
Data regarding male and female doctors’ salaries for 2019 show that the former earn $258,000 per annum, while the latter, rake in only $207,000. This difference was somewhat smaller in 2018, when the same figure amounted to just 18%. Nevertheless, this tendency goes back a few generations at least, with male physician median pay (annual) being 16% higher than that of their female counterparts in 2017, and another 17% higher back in 2016.
This payment gap persisted even in 2020. Male primary care physicians earned approximately 25% more than their female colleagues. When it comes to specialists – we witnessed a compensation gap decrease. Male specialists earned 33% more than their female counterparts in 2019 – in 2020 they already earned only 31% more.
Source: Medscape
11. Prostitution is a common source of funds for medical students struggling with crippling loans and cost debts. Although, only 26% of doctors think they should deserve to qualify for student debt forgiveness programs.
The cost of medical studies has been rising exponentially over the past decade or so, and so has the number of med students resorting to prostitution in order to pay off their expenses. For those students who would stop at nothing to fulfill their dreams of having the average salary of a doctor, we have some bad news! In the US, this isn’t a legal possibility since it is only authorized in the Nevada brothels. In fact, a San Diego Californian, Natalie Dylan, made headlines in 2009 for selling her virginity in exchange for her master’s degree fees.
However, UK meds students are using the opportunity, with up to 10% of them knowing a student in this line of work.
Source: Live Science and ABC News
Physician Salary by Specialty
12. Top 5 Most Lucrative Specialties
- Orthopedics — $483,000
Since last year, orthopedic physicians have surpassed plastic surgeons in terms of salary, taking first place as the highest-paid specialty in medicine. In 2018, their average annual compensation was around $497,000.
- Plastic Surgery — $471,000
Plastic surgeons have fallen to the second position, and so has their average yearly salary from last year’s first-ranking $501,000 to this year’s $471,000.
- Otolaryngology — $461,000
The average physician salary has changed quite a bit over the years; otolaryngology included. Physicians practicing this specialty have seen a major increase in pay, unlike the previous two; jumping all the way from 8th to 3rd place — from $383,000 to $461,000.
- Cardiology — $430,000
From third to fourth highest-paying specialty, cardiology doctors’ annual salary fell from $432,000 to $430,000 this year. Cardiologists are one of the most sought after physican specialty, as heart disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women.
- Dermatology — $419,000
The average physician salary by specialty — in this case, for dermatology — has increased over the course of a year, from $392,000 up to $419,000.
13.Top 5 Least Lucrative Specialties
- Public Health and Preventive Medicine — $209,000
This specialty has been keeping its lowest-paying position since last year, despite the increase in average annual salary from $199,000 to $209,000.
- Pediatrics — $225,000
Salaries for pediatrics are more or less in the same position as the previous year; they haven’t changed their rank even though the pediatrics’ annual compensation increased about $13,000 since 2018.
- Family Medicine — $231,000
Despite the increase in the average family medicine salary, this category has managed to become the third-lowest paid specialty in the United States; with an increase of only $12,000 — from $219,000 to $231,000.
- Diabetes and Endocrinology — $236,000
These physicians have seen a positive trend throughout the year with an annual income of $212,000 in 2018, going up to $236,000 in 2019.
- Infectious Diseases — $239,000
Physicians specializing in infectious diseases have been experiencing a less progressive trend than the rest, with an increase of only $9,000 since 2018. Hence, going from the 6th position, they are now the 5th lowest paid medical specialty in 2019.
Source: Medscape
Average Doctor Salary by State
14. Top 5 Most Lucrative States for Doctors
- New York — $149,167
The hourly wage for New York doctors is estimated to be at $71.74, making this is the first-ranking state in terms of the average annual doctors’ salary; between a median low of $87,562 and a high $261,593.
- Massachusetts — $148,212
The hourly rate here is just slightly lower — $71.22. However, this is just per average — realistically speaking, the salary can be as high as $172,773 for a doctor’s job in Massachusetts.
- DC — $144,218
More or less the same range is present in the third-ranked state in terms of MD salary averages across the US. Up to $170,305 is the usual discrepancy found in various statistics, even though, on average, the salary ranges between $85,688 in the 25th percentile to $255,993 in the 75th percentile.
- Maryland — $139,888
Though only fourth in line, according to ZipRecruiter, Maryland is still rather high above the national average when the salary of a doctor is concerned, with an estimated $136,336.
- Hawaii — $137,882
Hawaii is evidently all about the quality of living; for doctors, it’s no different. Healthcare professionals do earn widely different wages depending on their jobs (from as low as $19,270 to $264,707), but the average doctors’ salary still evens out at a fairly beneficial average.
highest salary of doctor in uSA
The Medical profession is spearheaded by Medical professionals who are qualified doctors licensed to practice medicine, and who abides and is fully committed to the ethical principles and values of the Medical profession. According to Statista, there are over 1 million medical professionals in USA.
Medical doctors are very important to the society as they are responsible for the increased life expectancy and improved well being of members of the society. As a result, the society cannot operate without Medical doctors. This indispensable nature of Medical doctors is a reason for the lucrative nature of the Medical profession.
This Article examines this lucrative nature of the Medical profession highlighting how one can become a Medical professional and the salary of such Medical professional.
The salary of Medical doctors in the United States of America varies based on multiplicity of factors which includes: Specialty, Place of work, and level of experience.
Specialty: Specialty is the area of specialization of a Medical doctor. There are various medical fields with doctors practicing and specializing in each field. The field or area of specialization of a Medical doctor is a major determinant of the salary of such Medical doctor in USA, as some areas of specialization are more lucrative than the other.
For example, in USA orthopedics is the most lucrative medical field with Doctors specializing in this area earning an average salary of $616,800. Doctors specializing in Cardiology earn an average national salary of $580,000. US Doctors in the field of neurosurgery earn an average salary of $600,000, while Doctors specializing in Radiology earn an average salary of $412,000, Gastroenterology ($432,000), plastic surgery ($410,000), General surgery ($324,000), Vascular surgery ($400,000), Dermatology ($455,000), Radiation enology ($486,099), neurology ($300,000), Pediatrics ($221,000), Endocrinology ($210,000), Pediatric Endocrinology ($200,000), and the list goes on.
According to Medscape physician compensation report, 2019 Orthopedics, cardiology and neurosurgery have been amongst the top five earning specialties over the past 5 years in USA. While areas of specialization such as Pediatrics, Diabetes and Endocrinology have been amongst the bottom five of least earners. Therefore, a medical doctor specializing in Cardiology will earn a higher salary than Medical doctors specializing in some other fields.
Place of work: The geographical location of work plays a part in determining the salary of Medical doctors in the United States of America. Research has shown that the average salaries for Doctors in metropolitan areas are higher. Some of these metropolitan areas and the average salary for doctors in these areas include: Milwaukee ($395, 363), Charlotte ($368,205), Dallas ($365,475), Atlanta ($362,267), New Orleans ($384,650), Minneapolis ($369,800), Salt Lake City ($351,000), Cincinnati ($354,000), San Diego ($347,000), San Francisco ($338,400), Miami ($336,000).
Hence, a doctor working in these aforementioned areas is bound to earn more than Doctors in areas such as Boston, San Antonia, Durham, Providence, Rhode Island, Virginia, New Haven, Washington D.C, and Austin Texas.
list of doctors salaries
The highest-paid physician specialties
Specialists in plastic surgery earned the highest physician salary in 2020 — an average of $526,000. Orthopedics/orthopedic surgery is the next-highest specialty ($511,000 annually), followed by cardiology at $459,000 annually. The top five highest-earning specialties remained the same as in 2019 except for urology, which now sits at number four — earning an average of $427,000 annually.
Plastic surgeons’ salaries increased by 10% in 2020, though some plastic surgeons did not have as much work when elective surgeries stopped during the pandemic. Oncologists saw a 7% salary increase, and rheumatologists and cardiologists enjoyed a 5% salary increase.
When asked whether they felt they were fairly compensated, 79% (compared to 67% in 2019) of oncologists thought this was true, along with 69% of psychiatrists, 68% of plastic surgeons, and 67% of dermatologists. On the other end of the scale, 44% of those who specialize in infectious disease felt they were fairly compensated, and just half of diabetes and endocrinology specialists felt this way.
Earnings for self-employed vs. employed physicians
Self-employed physicians earned an average annual salary of $352,000 in 2020, compared to a $300,000 average annual salary for employed physicians. Though the number of self-employed doctors has declined over the past few years, Medscape’s medical resident survey found that 21% of residents anticipated owning their own practice or becoming a partner. It’s important to note that locum tenens physicians are included among self-employed physicians as well.
Pay disparity between male and female doctors
The survey found the pay disparity between male and female physicians continues. Men who worked as primary care physicians earned about 27% more than women ($269,000 versus $211,000 annually).
The disparity between male and female specialists is even greater: Male specialists earned 33% more than female specialists in 2020 ($376,000 for men and $283,000 for women). Women in the workforce were also hit hardest by COVID-19’s economic effects.
However, the report shows that fewer women work in the highest-paying specialties. Just 9% of women surveyed work in orthopedics and orthopedic surgery, and 14% work in cardiology. In plastic surgery, the highest-paid specialty, women make up 20% of the workforce.
The highest paying states for physicians
It may come as a surprise that Alabama pays the highest physician salary overall — an annual average of $348,000. Kentucky ($340,000), Oklahoma ($338,000), Indiana ($337,000), and Missouri ($332,000) round out the top five highest-paying states.
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