10 Highest Paying Specialties for Physicians

Written by Staff | July 13, 2009

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Tags: Merritt Hawkins & Associates | physician salary | specialties | statistics

Here are the salaries for the 10 highest paying physician specialties (out of the top 20 recruited specialties) based on average salary from 2008-2009, according to the Merritt Hawkins & Associates' 2009 Review of Physician and CRNA Recruiting Incentives.

1. Orthopedic surgery

• Low — $300,000
• Average — $481,000
• High — $1.0 million

2. Cardiology

• Low — $180,000
• Average — $419,000
• High — $880,000

3. Urology

• Low — $230,000
• Average — $401,000
• High — $550,000

4. Gastroenterology

• Low — $250,000
• Average — $393,000
• High — $600,000

5. Radiology

• Low — $300,000
• Average — $391,000
• High — $500,000

6. Otolaryngology

• Low — $280,000
• Average — $377,000
• High — $450,000

7. Anesthesiology

• Low — $250,000
• Average — $344,000
• High — $500,000

8. Hematology/Oncology

• Low — $250,000
• Average — $335,000
• High — $450,000

9. General surgery

• Low — $175,000
• Average — $321,000
• High — $616,000

10. Dermatology

• Low — $200,000
• Average — $297,000
• High — $400,000

Source: Merritt Hawkins & Associates' 2009 Review of Physician and CRNA Recruiting Incentives (pdf).

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