I bet you were surprised when you saw the title of this post. You probably expected to see a number that was much lower than $194,118. Well, you’re right! The average medical doctor salary in America is actually $192,600. But don’t worry: there’s still hope for those who want to become doctors—and be well compensated for their work. Let’s dig a little deeper into what I mean by “average” and where it comes from, then we’ll talk about why you should care about salary statistics anyway (spoiler alert: money).
The median salary for a medical doctor
This means that half of all physicians earn less than this amount and half earn more. The median is not the same as an average (which would be calculated by adding up all salaries and dividing by how many people were surveyed), but it provides some insight into how much you might expect to make if you become a doctor.
The average annual salary for a physician
This figure includes salaries for all medical doctors and surgeons, including those who work in primary care or specialties like cardiology or surgery. It does not include the earnings of physicians who are self-employed or employed by hospitals or other employers that pay them on an hourly basis rather than annually.
This figure is based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which conducts an annual survey of full-time workers in the United States. The BLS defines a “family doctor” as someone who has graduated from medical school and has either completed residency or fellowship training in internal medicine, pediatrics or obstetrics/gynecology. Family doctors are typically responsible for long-term care of patients; they provide a wide range of services including diagnosis and treatment of acute illnesses as well as preventive care such as vaccinations or scr
The median salary for general practicioners.
The average annual salary for a physician is $216,710. The median salary for family doctors is $166,777, and surgeons make the most money at $281,667 per year on average.
You may be wondering how much your own doctor makes–and whether they’re making more or less than other people in their field. Unfortunately there isn’t one simple answer because it depends on where you live and what type of specialty they have (or even if they’ve chosen to go into private practice).
The median salary for anesthesiologists.
Most anesthesiologists are board certified, and the profession is in high demand. As a result, these doctors earn well above average salaries.
Anesthesiologist salaries vary by region; those who work in metropolitan areas tend to earn more than their counterparts who work in rural locations.
The average annual salary for surgeons.
Surgeons are the highest paid doctors, earning an average annual salary of $281,667. Surgeons are also the most specialized and in-demand physicians in America.
Surgeons have the highest annual medical doctor salary, but their hourly wage is not as high as other specialized medical professionals such as obstetricians/gynecologists (OB/GYNs). However, surgeons earn more than double what general practitioners make ($155K) and quadruple what family practice doctors earn ($105K).
Conclusion
I hope this article has given you some insight into the average medical doctor salary in the United States. As you can see from our research, there are many different specialties within this field that offer their own unique salaries and benefits. If you’re interested in becoming one of these professionals but aren’t sure where to start, check out our guide on how to become a doctor!