While compensation rose roughly 3% across the board in 2025, an April 10 Medscape report found.a stark divide between the highest and lowest-paying specialties.
The report, which surveyed 5,916 physicians across more than 29 specialties from Sept. 5 to Dec. 17, found that orthopedic surgeons are pulling in $611,000 a year while pediatricians take home less than half that at $266,000.
Here are the 10 highest-paying physician specialties:
- Orthopedics and orthopedic surgery: $611,000
- Cardiology: $575,000
- Radiology: $571,000
- Plastic surgery: $554,000
- Anesthesiology: $543,000
- Urology: $535,000
- Gastroenterology: $530,000
- Otolaryngology: $508,000
- Oncology and hematology: $464,000
- Dermatology: $448,000
Here are the 10 lowest-paying physician specialties:
- Pediatrics: $266,000
- Public health and preventive medicine: $277,000
- Infectious diseases: $282,000
- Rheumatology: $284,000
- Diabetes and endocrinology: $284,000
- Family medicine: $288,000
- Internal medicine: $307,000
- Allergy and immunology: $310,000
- Psychiatry: $331,000
- Neurology: $341,000
- Nephrology: $359,000
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.