The highest-paid physician specialties over 5 years

Orthopedic surgeons and plastic surgeons consistently top the list of highest paid physician specialties in Medscape's annual compensation reports.

Here are the five highest-paying physician specialties over the last five years:

2024

1. Orthopedic surgeons: $558,000
2. Plastic surgeons: $536,000
3. Cardiologists: $525,000 
4. Urologists: $515,000
5. Gastroenterologists: $512,000

2023:

1. Plastic surgery: $619,000 
2. Orthopedics: $573,000 
3. Cardiology: $507,000
4. Urology: $506,000 
5. Gastroenterology: $501,000

2022:

1. Plastic surgery: $576,000
2. Orthopedics: $557,000
3. Cardiology: $490,000
4. ENT: $469,000
5. Urology: $461,000

2021:

1. Plastic surgery: $526,000
2. Orthopedics: $511,000
3. Cardiology: $459,000
4. Urology: $427,000
5. ENT: $417,000

2020:

1. Orthopedics: $511,000
2. Plastic surgery: $479,000
3. ENT: $455,000
4. Cardiology: $438,000
5. Radiology: $427,000