Gastroenterology is simultaneously one of the highest-paid and most financially frustrated specialties in medicine. Pay has climbed 47% over the last decade but fallen below 2015 levels in inflation-adjusted terms.
Here are 15 numbers that capture where GI compensation stands right now.
1. $530,000. Gastroenterology pay hit $530,000 in 2025, according to Medscape report published April 11, a 3% increase from $513,000 in 2024, reversing a 3% decline the prior year.
2. $644,422. AMGA’s 2025 Medical Group Compensation and Productivity Survey puts gastroenterologist pay higher, at $644,422, a 5% jump from 2024. This discrepancy reflects differences in survey methodology and respondent pool.
3. $625,991. The average annual salary for gastroenterologists is $625,991, according to Marit Health’s compilation of 359 peer-reported salaries, with most earning between $508,750 at the 25th percentile and $722,706 at the 75th percentile.
3. $583,380. According to Marit Health, gastroenterologists’ average annual salary is $625,991, according to Marit Health’s compilation of 359 peer-reported salaries, with most earning between $508,750 at the 25th percentile and $722,706 at the 75th percentile.
4. 35%. Gastroenterologist average compensation has increased approximately 35% since Medscape’s 2015 compensation report, rising from roughly $393,000 to $530,000 in 2025. In inflation-adjusted terms, the picture is less favorable: a 2015 salary of $370,000 is equivalent to roughly $502,930 in 2025 dollars, putting today’s average below real 2015 levels despite years of nominal growth.
5. 33%. Between 2007 and 2022, unadjusted average reimbursement for GI procedures dropped 7%, while inflation-adjusted rates fell 33%, according to a study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
6. 22%. Between 2018 and 2023, Medicare payments for GI procedures including colonoscopies and esophagogastroduodenoscopies declined by more than 22% in inflation-adjusted terms.
7. $70.47. Gastroenterology saw a 3.7% change in compensation per wRVU, from $67.93 to $70.47, according to AMGA’s 2025 survey. Average wRVUs for gastroenterologists total approximately 8,962 at $62 per wRVU, according to Marit Health.
9. $701,000. Gastroenterologist salaries are highest in the Plains region at $701,000, according to Marit Health. The Southeast and Atlantic Islands region and Southwest region follow closely at $647,000 and $646,000 respectively. New England is the lowest-paying region at $543,000.10. $720,000
9. $720,000. Rural gastroenterologists out-earn their urban counterparts by a wide margin. Those in rural areas average $720,000, compared to $677,000 in small metros, $600,500 in large metros, and $591,500 in mega metros, according to Marit Health. The rural premium reflects recruitment incentives and the persistent gastroenterologist shortage in non-metropolitan markets.
10. $71,000. Gastroenterologists in non-academic settings earn $71,000, or 12.2%, more than those in academic roles, averaging $651,500 versus $580,500, according to Marit Health. The gap is driven by incentive structures and ancillary revenue availability in private and non-academic settings.
11. $630,000 vs. $624,000 vs. $582,000. Practice type produces a smaller compensation spread than geography or academic status. Gastroenterologists in medical groups average $630,000 and those in hospital or health system roles average $624,000, while self-employed gastroenterologists average $582,000, according to Marit Health.
12. $101,000. Experience adds meaningfully to gastroenterologist compensation over a career. Those with 0 to 2 years of experience average $540,500, rising to $641,500 for those with 11 or more years, according to Marit Health — a $101,000 career earnings increase driven by productivity gains, referral network development, and partnership track progression.
13. 18.1%. The gender pay gap among gastroenterologists is 18.1%, with male gastroenterologists averaging $635,500 compared to $538,000 for female gastroenterologists, according to Marit Health’s analysis of 226 male and 52 female salary submissions.
14. 755 out of 759. The 2026 National Resident Matching Program’s Specialties Matching Service confirmed gastroenterology as one of the most sought-after fellowships in graduate medical education. Of 759 positions offered across 254 programs, 755 were filled, placing GI among the highest-demand subspecialties.
15. 14%. Between 2012 and 2020, the number of GI practices decreased by more than 650, or 14%, even as the total number of gastroenterologists grew, according to a study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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