Male anesthesiologists in the early stages of their careers earn significantly more than their female peers, whether employed or independent, according to Medscape’s online salary tool.
Among independent anesthesiologists, men earn an average of $366,461 annually, while women earn $314,844 — a gap of over $51,000, or about 14%. In employed roles, men report an average income of $312,602 compared to $272,806 for women — a difference of nearly $40,000, or roughly 13%.
These disparities reflect broader trends across medicine. A 2021 Health Affairs study found that female physicians earn an estimated $2 million less than male physicians over the course of a 40-year career, even after adjusting for specialty, work hours and experience.
While self-employment typically leads to higher earnings, the gender pay gap persists across settings, even in early career stages.
