The 10 highest-paying physician specialties in the last 5 years

Advertisement

Orthopedics and plastic surgery have traded the top two spots in Medscape’s annual Physician Compensation Report every year since 2021, with orthopedics seeing compensation climb by more than $80,000 over that span. 

Orthopedic surgeons now command an average of $611,000 annually, up 20% from five years ago, while plastic surgeons earn $554,000. 

2025

  • Orthopedics and orthopedic surgery: $611,000
  • Cardiology: $575,000
  • Radiology: $571,000
  • Plastic surgery: $554,000
  • Anesthesiology: $543,000
  • Urology: $535,000
  • Gastroenterology: $530,000
  • Otolaryngology: $508,000
  • Oncology and hematology: $464,000
  • Dermatology: $448,000

2024

  • Orthopedic and orthopedic surgery: $543,000 
  • Radiology: $520,000 
  • Plastic surgery: $516,000
  • Cardiology: $506,000
  • Anesthesiology: $499,000
  • Gastroenterology: $495,000
  • Urology: $485,000  
  • Otolaryngology: $473,000
  • Oncology and hematology: $452,000
  • Dermatology: $424,000

2023

  • Orthopedics (includes orthopedics and orthopedic surgery): $558,000
  • Plastic surgery: $536,000
  • Cardiology: $525,000
  • Urology: $515,000
  • Gastroenterology: $512,000
  • Radiology: $498,000
  • Dermatology: $479,000
  • Anesthesiology: $472,000
  • Oncology (includes hematology and oncology): $464,000

2022

  • Plastic surgery: $576,000 
  • Orthopedics: $557,000 
  • Cardiology: $490,000 
  • Otolaryngology: $469,000
  • Urology: $461,000 
  • Gastroenterology: $453,000 
  • Dermatology: $438,000 
  • Radiology: $437,000 
  • Ophthalmology: $417,000 

2021

  • Plastic surgery: $526,000
  • Orthopedics and orthopedic surgery: $511,000
  • Cardiology: $459,000
  • Urology: $427,000
  • Otolaryngology: $417,000
  • Radiology: $413,000
  • Gastroenterology: $406,000
  • Oncology: $403,000
  • Dermatology: $394,000
  • Ophthalmology: $379,000

At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.

Register to Attend Webinar

Is ambulatory care healthcare’s big margin engine? 4 leaders weigh in

Wednesday, July 29
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CDT

Presenters: Joe Ganley, athenahealthJeffrey Flynn, CASC, Gramercy Surgery CenterBryan Tsao, Access Center, Loma Linda University HealthJason Zepeda, Northridge Hospital Medical Center, CommonSpirit HealthGreg DeConciliis, PA-C, CASC, Boston Out­Patient Surgical Suites

Advertisement

Next Up in ASC Transactions & Valuation Issues

Advertisement