Here are five numbers scaring gastroenterologists:
1. 3% pay decline
According to Medscape’s Gastroenterologist Compensation Report 2025, gastroenterologists saw their average annual salary drop from $512,000 in 2023 to $495,000 in 2024, a 3% decline.
2. Only 37% feel fairly compensated
Despite their high earnings, only 37% of gastroenterologists feel they are fairly compensated. This dissatisfaction is compounded by mounting pressures from payer reimbursement cuts, increased administrative burdens, and a growing trend of private equity influence in GI practices.
3. Below-inflation pay compared to 2015
In 2015, the average GI earned $370,000, which is equivalent to approximately $502,930 in today’s dollars when adjusted for inflation. In contrast, today’s average salary of $495,000 actually represents a pay cut in real terms. The newly launched salary transparency platform Marit Health points to CMS reimbursement cuts and private equity consolidation as primary culprits in this stagnation.
4. GLP-1 medications linked to GI complications
A study analyzing insurance claims from over 5,000 U.S. patients between 2006 and 2020 found that those using GLP-1 receptor agonists, increasingly prescribed for weight loss and diabetes, faced elevated risks for four serious gastrointestinal complications: biliary disease, gastroparesis, pancreatitis and bowel obstructions.
5. Nearly 10% of GIs now in private equity-backed groupsPrivate equity-backed consolidation is rapidly changing the gastroenterology landscape. A 2023 study in Gastroenterology & Hepatology found that nearly 1 in 10 gastroenterologists now work within PE-owned groups.
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.