Here are six breakdowns of how physician pay stacks up compared to ASC leader pay:
These statistics were pulled from a February report from Outpatient Surgery Magazine and Medscape’s Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2025.
1. Here are the 10 highest-paid physician specialties:
- Orthopedic and orthopedic surgery: $543,000
- Radiology: $520,000
- Plastic surgery: $516,000
- Cardiology: $506,000
- Anesthesiology: $499,000
- Gastroenterology: $495,000
- Urology: $485,000
- Otolaryngology: $473,000
- Oncology and hematology: $452,000
- Dermatology: $424,000
2. Here are the 15 physician specialties that reported pay declines:
- Dermatology: -11%
- Neurology: -6%
- Urology: -6%
- Plastic surgery: -4%
- Cardiology: -4%
- Ophthalmology: -4%
- Gastroenterology: -3%
- Rheumatology: -3%
- Orthopedic surgery: -3%
- Pulmonary medicine: -3%
- Oncology: -2%
- Public Health and preventative medicine: -2%
- Emergency medicine: -1%
- General surgery: -1%
- Pediatrics: -1%
3. Nearly half of physicians, 43%, said their compensation remains the same while 28% said it increased by 10% or less. Eleven percent of respondents said their pay dropped by 10% or less; overall, 18% said their pay dropped last year. The specialists overall reporting pay drops include:
4. Here are the average gross salaries for ASC leaders in 2024:
- $69,999 or less: 5.9%
- $70,000 to $79,999: 5.9%
- $80,000 to $89,999: 11.9%
- $90,000 to $99,999: 7.9%
- $100,000 to $109,999: 7.9%
- $110,000 to $119,999: 12.9%
- $120,000 to $129,999: 11.9%
- $130,000 to $139,999: 9.9%
- $140,000 to $149,999: 7.9%
- $150,000 to $159,999: 5%
- $160,000 to $169,999: 4%
- $170,000 to $179,999: 2%
- $180,000 to $189,999: 2%
- $190,000 to $199,999: 3%
- $200,000 or more: 2%
5. Here are 2024 bonuses for ASC leaders:
- $1 to $999: 37.4%
- $1,000 to $1,999: 10.1%
- $2,000 to $2,999: 5%
- $3,000 to $3,999: 5%
- $4,000 to $4,999: 3%
- $5,000 to $9,999: 11%
- $10,000 to $14,999: 6%
- $15,000 to $19,999: 6%
- $20,000 or more: 4%
- No bonus: 10.1%
- Not sure yet: 2%
6. Here is how ASC leaders’ pre-tax annual income changed between 2023 and 2024:
- Reduction: 3.1%
- No change: 27.4%
- +1%: 5.2%
- +2%: 16.5%
- +3%: 23.7%
- +4%: 3.1%
- +5%: 6.2%
- +6% to 10%: 13.4%
- +11% or more: 4.1%
At the Becker's 23rd Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC + The Future of Spine Conference, taking place June 11-13 in Chicago, spine surgeons, orthopedic leaders and ASC executives will come together to explore minimally invasive techniques, ASC growth strategies and innovations shaping the future of outpatient spine care. Apply for complimentary registration now.
