Gastroenterologists are among the highest-paid physicians in the country, pulling in an average of $530,000 in 2025, but a new Medscape survey suggests the paycheck doesn’t always match the pressure.
Nearly half of gastroenterologists say they don’t feel fairly compensated for their demanding work, and nearly two-thirds believe most physicians in their specialty are underpaid.
Here’s a breakdown of how gastroenterologists feel about their pay, according to Medscape’s “Gastroenterologist Compensation Report 2026,” published May 27.
How aggressively gastroenterologists negotiated their last contract
- Very aggressive: 6%
- Aggressive: 8%
- Moderately aggressive: 17%
- Slightly aggressive: 14%
- Not at all aggressive: 29%
- Negotiation was not an option: 25%
Do gastroenterologists feel fairly paid for their demanding jobs?
- Yes: 54%
- No: 46%
How gastroenterologists feel about their profession’s pay in the U.S. generally:
- Underpaid: 61%
- Paid about right: 36%
- Overpaid: 3%
How gastroenterologists described 2025 when it came to paychecks
- Increased by 11%-25%: 8%
- Increased by 1%-10%: 30%
- Remained same: 44%
- Decreased by 1%-10%: 17%
- Decreased by 11%-25%: 1%
How well their paycheck covers gastroenterologists’ family needs
- More than I need: 30%
- Matches what I need: 45%
- Less than I need: 25%
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