Among physicians, orthopedic surgeons earn the highest average starting salary at $576,000, while pediatricians earn the lowest at $258,000, according to AMN Healthcare’s “Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives,” published Aug. 5.
Gastroenterologists are offered the second-highest average starting salary at $552,000, followed by radiologists at $551,000, urologists at $521,000 and hematologists/oncologists at $490,000, according to the report, which is now in its 32nd year.
Endocrinologists are offered the second-lowest average starting salary at $268,000, followed by family medicine physicians at $275,000 and hospitalists at $279,000.
The average starting salary for all physicians tracked in the report is $403,000, down from $406,000 in 2024. Specialists earn the highest average starting salaries among physicians.
For nurse practitioners, the average starting salary offer climbed 9.8% year over year, from $164,000 to $180,000, according to the report.
“NPs are in rapidly growing demand as physician shortages persist,” Leah Grant, president of AMN Healthcare Physician Solutions, said in a news release. “Without them, access to healthcare would be even more problematic, particularly in rural and other underserved areas.”
The physician specialties with the highest absolute demand according to AMN Healthcare — meaning job openings as a percentage of practicing providers — are hematologists/oncologists, gastroenterologists, endocrinologists and radiologists.
The average signing bonus for physicians tracked in the report is up 23% year over year, from $31,103 to $38,315, while the average relocation allowance for physicians is up 12% year over year.
The average signing bonus for nurse practitioners and physician assistants increased from $11,758 to $12,869 year over year, while the average relocation allowance jumped from $7,910 to $9,016.
Editor’s note: The report is based on a representative sample of the 1,420 search engagements AMN Healthcare conducted from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, and includes data on starting salaries and other incentives offered by AMN Healthcare’s clients to physicians and advanced practice professionals across the U.S.
Click here to access the report.
