Doctors' salaries in the United States vary widely depending on their specialty, location, and employment setting, but here are the key figures for 2023-2025:
- The average salary for all U.S. physicians was about $363,000 in 2023, increasing to around $376,000 in 2024-2025
- Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) earn on average $277,000 per year.
- Specialists earn significantly more, averaging $394,000 annually
- The highest-paying specialty is orthopedics, with an average salary of $558,000, while the lowest-paying specialty is diabetes and endocrinology, averaging $256,000
- Salaries also vary by state and metro area, with doctors in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Georgia among the highest earners by state, and metro areas like San Jose, CA, and Los Angeles, CA, offering the highest average salaries (up to $475,000)
- Employment setting impacts earnings too, with doctors in single-specialty groups making around $461,000, while those in urgent care centers average $288,000
- In contrast, in the UK, doctors' salaries range from about £36,600 for foundation trainees to £140,000+ for experienced consultants, with additional pay for extra responsibilities and private practice opportunities
Overall, doctors in the U.S. make substantially more than the average American salary (~$59,000), reflecting their extensive training and expertise
