The average doctor salary in US is USD 220,000 to USD 800,000 (around INR 2.11 crore to 7.66 crore per year), which varies by medical speciality and experience. Other factors that can impact salary include location, experience, and medical practice type.
For instance, single-specialty groups are getting around USD 480,961 (approximately INR 4.60 crore) annually, while government jobs are getting approximately USD 311,502 (INR 2.98 crore) annually.
In this article, you'll find a breakdown of the average salary in US for doctor by speciality, state, city, number of years in practice, and practice setting.
Doctor Salary in US by Specialty
One of the largest factors of a doctor's salary is their specialty. The compensation is generally high for surgical and procedure-based specialties, and low for primary care and some pediatric specialties.
The following table includes some of the job roles with average doctor salary in US with their specialty.
Job Role with Specialty
Approximate Annual Salary (USD/INR)
Neurosurgery
USD 300,000-500,000 (INR 2.87 crore-4.79 crore)
Orthopedic Surgery
USD 300,000-500,000 (INR 2.87 crore-4.79 crore)
Cardiology
USD 300,000-400,000 (INR 2.87 crore-3.83 crore)
Anesthesiology
USD 300,000-400,000 (INR 2.87 crore-3.83 crore)
Psychiatry
USD 200,000-400,000 (INR 1.91 crore-3.83 crore)
Cardiothoracic Surgeon
USD 186,000-328,000 (INR 1.78 crore-3.14 crore)
Pediatrician
USD 207,000-301,000 (INR 1.98 crore-2.88 crore)
Emergency Medicine Physician
USD 200,000-300,000 (INR 1.91 crore-2.87 crore)
Interventional Radiology
USD 100,000-300,000 (INR 95.71 lakh-2.87 crore)
Family Medicine
USD 200,000-288,000 (INR 1.91 crore-2.76 crore)
Radiology
USD 135,000-252,000 (INR 1.29 crore-2.41 crore)
Source: Glassdoor
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Doctor Salary in US by State
Doctor pay can also change from one state to another. The cost of living, local demand for doctors, number of hospitals, type of medical jobs, and specialty mix can all affect pay.
Here are estimated annual doctor salaries according to the states in US.
State
Approximate Annual Doctor Salary (USD/INR)
California
USD 320,000-480,000+ (INR 3.06 crore-4.59 crore+)
Massachusetts
USD 315,000-475,000+ (INR 3.01 crore-4.55 crore+)
New York
USD 310,000-470,000+ (INR 2.97 crore-4.50 crore+)
Texas
USD 300,000-460,000+ (INR 2.87 crore-4.40 crore+)
Florida
USD 290,000-440,000+ (INR 2.78 crore-4.21 crore+)
Minnesota
USD 285,000-435,000+ (INR 2.73 crore-4.16 crore+)
Ohio
USD 275,000-430,000+ (INR 2.63 crore-4.12 crore+)
The average salary of a doctor in US can therefore be different across states. Students and doctors should also consider the living expenses of both salaries before making the comparison. Being paid more doesn't necessarily translate to higher net savings.
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City can make a noticeable difference in physician compensation. The highest average compensation was reported in Oklahoma, at USD 495,617 (approximately INR 4.74 crore). Sacramento, Rochester, Los Angeles, Louisville, and San Francisco were also among the metropolitan areas with the highest average compensation.
The table below gives a complete breakdown of city-wise estimated doctor salary annually.
City
Approximate Annual Doctor Salary (USD/INR)
Oklahoma City
USD 495,617 (INR 4.74 crore)
Sacramento
USD 484,817 (INR 4.64 crore)
Rochester
USD 478,861 (INR 4.58 crore)
Los Angeles
USD 469,047 (INR 4.49 crore)
Louisville
USD 465,924 (INR 4.46 crore)
San Francisco
USD 462,806 (INR 4.43 crore)
This is one reason the average salary in US for doctor should not be treated as one fixed amount for every doctor.
Cost of living also matters. A doctor may earn a high salary in a large city but also face higher housing and daily living costs.
Doctor Salary in US by Experience
Experience can affect a doctor's earnings, but it does not work in the same simple way as it does in many other jobs. Specialty, location, workload, and practice setting can have a bigger effect.
The following table includes estimated annual doctor earnings by experience level.
Experience Level
Approximate Annual Doctor Salary (USD/INR)
Entry-Level Doctor (1-4 Years)
USD 220,000-450,000 (INR 2.11 crore-4.31 crore)
Mid-Level Doctor (5-14 Years)
USD 280,000-750,000+ (INR 2.68 crore-7.18 crore+)
Experienced Doctor (15+ Years)
USD 300,000-800,000+ (INR 2.87 crore-7.66 crore+)
Doctor Salary by Practice Setting
Where a doctor works can make a big difference to pay. There can be large differences between practice settings, as each place of work may have different earnings.
For example, single-specialty groups such as a cardiology, dermatology, or orthopedic center have higher salaries when compared with government-based places.
The following table gives you an understanding of estimated annual doctor salaries based on practice settings.
Place of Work
Approximate Annual Doctor Salary (USD/INR)
Single-Specialty Group
USD 480,961 (INR 4.60 crore)
Multi-Specialty Group
USD 477,033 (INR 4.57 crore)
Hospital
USD 454,440 (INR 4.35 crore)
Health System / IDN / ACO
USD 451,233 (INR 4.32 crore)
Solo Practice
USD 440,424 (INR 4.22 crore)
Health Maintenance Organization
USD 419,170 (INR 4.01 crore)
Industry
USD 413,196 (INR 3.95 crore)
Academic
USD 389,591 (INR 3.73 crore)
Hospital/System - Ambulatory
USD 382,916 (INR 3.67 crore)
Urgent Care Center / Chain
USD 326,447 (INR 3.12 crore)
Government
USD 311,502 (INR 2.98 crore)
Two doctors in the same specialty and with the same experience can earn different wages, depending on where they practice.
Private practice can also work differently from hospital employment. A private practice owner may have the chance to earn from the business, but they may also have to pay staff, rent, equipment, and other business costs.
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Several things can change a doctor's pay, and this can be related to the way doctors are paid, the complexity of their work, and the financial structure of their work. Some physicians are paid based on productivity, and others may be compensated with bonuses, incentives, or extra compensation for extra responsibilities.
Here are some reasons why doctor salaries are affected in US.
1. Medical Specialty
Specialty is one of the biggest factors. Surgical and procedure-based specialties often have higher compensation than many primary care specialties.
2. Experience
Doctors with more experience may have access to senior positions, leadership roles, and better job offers. However, specialty and location can still have a major effect.
3. Location
Pay can vary by state and city. Demand for doctors and the local cost of living can affect compensation.
4. Practice Setting
A doctor working for a hospital, private group, academic institution, government employer, or urgent care company may receive a different salary.
5. Patient Volume
Doctors who see more patients may earn more, especially when part of their pay is connected to productivity.
6. Work Hours
Doctors who work extra shifts, nights, weekends, or on-call hours may receive additional compensation.
7. Procedures Performed
Some specialties involve more complex or high-value procedures. This can affect compensation.
8. Demand for the Specialty
Demand can affect how employers recruit doctors. There is strong demand for several primary care specialties, including internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics.
9. Private vs Public Employment
Private groups, hospitals, academic institutions and government employers can offer very different pay structures.
10. Bonuses and Other Benefits
A doctor's total compensation may include more than base salary. Signing bonuses, performance bonuses, retirement benefits, and other incentives can add to the total package.
The average doctor salary in US per year is USD 220,000-800,000+ (approximately INR 2.11 crore-7.66 crore+) per year. This makes about USD 18,333-66,667+ (approximately INR 17.57 lakh-63.82 lakh+) the average doctor salary in US per month when divided by 12.
There isn't a standard salary for all doctors, though. Speciality, city, experience, and place can help. Some speciality medical practices, such as neurosurgery and other surgical specialities, pay higher than others, such as many primary care and pediatric specialities, which have lower average compensation.
It is important to check the entire compensation package, not just the yearly pay, when comparing doctor jobs in US. A job may have different values, depending on benefits, bonuses, working hours, location, and cost of living.
In US, a neurosurgeon is one of the top-paid doctors. The annual income can be as high as USD 829,161 (INR 7.94 crore) depending on their experience, geographical location, practice setting, and other factors.
What is the average doctor salary in US per hour?
The average doctor salary in US per hour ranges from USD 106-385+ (approximately INR 10,145-36,848+) depending on specialty, experience, location, and place of work.
Which place of work earns more for doctors?
The salary for doctors changes depending on the practice environment. Private physicians in single specialties earned a mean of USD 480,961 (INR 4.60 crore), and government physicians earned USD 311,502 (INR 2.98 crore).
Which are the best 5 medical fields in USA?
Medical specialties with the highest salaries in United States include neurosurgery, thoracic surgery, orthopedic surgery, cardiology, and interventional radiology. The salary varies by specialty and experience level, practice setting, location, and workload.
What is the lowest paid MD specialty?
In general, the physician specialties that are less surgical tend to be less compensated than other surgical specialties in US. The pay, however, depends on employer, geography, experience, workload, and practice type.
In what area is there the highest demand for doctors?
Demand for US primary care physicians, such as family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics, remains high. Demand may fluctuate by state, community, specialty, and the needs of the healthcare workforce.
Who will be the future doctor?
There is no one medical specialty that is best for the future. Other areas, including primary care, psychiatry, oncology, geriatrics, and certain surgical specialties, are likely to be important, as the healthcare requirements are always evolving.
What are the 5 doctor positions that will not be affected by AI?
AI is more likely to change medical work than completely replace doctors. The roles that require hands-on procedures, patient interaction, complex decision-making, emergency care, and surgery are expected to continue, as it needs a lot of human effort.
Which profession earns more, IAS or MBBS doctor?
The salary structure of IAS officers and MBBS doctors is different in India. The basic pay of an IAS officer ranges from approximately INR 56,100 per month, and the income of an MBBS doctor depends on the specialty that they are trained for, their experience, where they practice, and whether they work in the government or privately.
In which state do the majority of doctors in United States come from?
Because of its large population and the healthcare system in California, the state has one of the largest physician workforces in US. This varies by state and is related to the population, healthcare needs, and distribution of physicians.
In what countries do they not have enough doctors?
In India, Canada, Australia, UK, and other parts of Africa, there is a shortage of doctors. Shortages vary in size and kind by country, specialty, and region, and are larger in rural areas and areas that are less well served.
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