Neurosurgeons are generally the highest-paid type of doctor in the United States.
Highest earning specialties
Across recent physician compensation reports, neurosurgery sits at the top with average annual pay around 740,000 to over 760,000 dollars, reflecting the field’s complexity and long training path. Other very highly paid surgical specialties include thoracic surgery, orthopedic surgery, and plastic surgery, commonly earning in the 600,000 to nearly 700,000 dollar range on average.
Procedural and surgical specialties dominate the top of income rankings because they involve high-risk operations, intensive training, and generate substantial revenue for hospitals and surgery centers. Cognitive specialties such as cardiology, radiology, and dermatology also earn well, often in the mid–400,000 to 500,000 dollar range per year, but they typically fall below the very top surgical fields.
Top specialties snapshot
Specialty| Typical average pay (USD/year)| Notes
---|---|---
Neurosurgery| About 740,000–760,000| Consistently ranked #1 highest paid in
the U.S. 36
Thoracic surgery| Around 680,000–690,000| Complex chest and heart operations.
3
Orthopedic surgery| Around 560,000–680,000| Bones, joints, sports injuries;
very procedure-heavy. 357
Plastic surgery| About 540,000–620,000| Mix of reconstructive and cosmetic
surgery. 357
Actual income varies by country, region, practice type, and experience, so these figures describe broad trends rather than guaranteed salaries. When choosing a specialty, advisors strongly recommend weighing interest, lifestyle, and training length in addition to pay.
