Do male doctors earn more than female?

Yes, male doctors consistently earn significantly more than female doctors, with studies showing lifetime earnings gaps of over $2 million, even after adjusting for specialty, hours, and experience, a disparity that starts early in their careers and widens over time. Recent data indicates male physicians earn nearly $100,000 more annually on average, with the gap most pronounced in surgical fields.

Do male doctors make more money than female doctors?

The report notes that, on average, female physicians earned $120,917 less than male physicians after adjusting for the physicians' specialty, location, and years of experience. Average annual earnings were lower for women across all specialties.

What doctor makes $500,000 a year?

Doctors in high-demand surgical and specialized fields like Orthopedics, Plastic Surgery, Radiology, Cardiology, and Gastroenterology often earn over $500,000 annually, with some top earners in Thoracic Surgery or Neurosurgery making significantly more, while even family doctors can reach this level through practice ownership or specialized services.
 

How much do male surgeons make compared to female surgeons?

Data clearly show that in surgery, men continue to make more than women. In general surgery, the average salary for a woman surgeon was $40,000 less than a man surgeon; in subspecialities such as colorectal surgery, the data demonstrated a $44,000 difference.

Who are the most overpaid doctors?

The highest-paid doctors in the U.S. are neurosurgeons, thoracic surgeons, and orthopedic surgeons. These surgical specialists earn average annual salaries between $650,000 and $760,000, making them the top earners among physicians.

Highest Paid Doctor Specialties in 2026 (💰New Leaders)

Who is the lowest paid doctor?

The lowest-paid doctor specialties consistently fall in primary care and certain pediatric subspecialties, with Pediatrics often cited as the lowest overall, followed by Public Health/Preventive Medicine, Family Medicine, and pediatric subspecialties like Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases. These roles offer lower compensation than surgical or high-demand adult specialties, often due to the broad nature of primary care and the focus on children's health, though they provide excellent work-life balance for many.
 

Is the average doctor a millionaire?

One-quarter of doctors in their 60s are not even millionaires. The chart from the prior year was even more stunning, as it showed 11%-12% of doctors in their 60s didn't even have a net worth over $500,000, and only 48% of doctors over 65 were multi-millionaires.

Is it better to have a male or female doctor?

Female physicians may have a more personal connection with their patients and clinical advantages. First, female doctors have a more patient-centered approach to communication compared to male doctors. Moreover, research shows that female doctors are more likely than male doctors to: Care for patients as individuals.

Do surgeons make 1 million a year?

Yes, many surgeons, especially in high-demand specialties like neurosurgery, orthopedics, and cardiovascular surgery, can earn over $1 million annually, though it often requires long hours, high patient volume, or private practice ownership. While general surgeon averages are lower, top earners in specialties or those in lucrative private/elective practices frequently exceed the seven-figure mark, sometimes through business models focused on high-value packages rather than just volume, as noted in discussions by AMN Healthcare, The White Coat Investor, and Protouch Staffing. 

What job has the biggest gender pay gap?

Taking big data directly from official UK sources, the table below compares the gender pay gap by job.

• 42.86% #1 Gender Pay Gap. Legal professionals n.e.c.
• 40.51% #2 Gender Pay Gap. Arts officers, producers and directors.
• 39.66% #3 Gender Pay Gap. Authors, writers and translators.

What jobs in the US pay $300,000 a year?

Jobs paying $300,000 or more in the U.S. are typically senior roles in technology, finance, law, and medicine, including roles like CEOs, Chief Technology Officers, Investment Bankers, Partner-Level Lawyers, Surgeons, and Specialized Physicians, along with top-tier Sales Directors, Management Consultants, and Private Equity Executives, often relying on bonuses, commissions, or profit-sharing for high earnings. High-income careers without traditional degrees can also be found in tech entrepreneurship, high-level skilled trades, and top-performing sales. 

Who makes more money, a do or md?

While average data suggests MDs tend to earn slightly more, the biggest factor in physician income isn't the degree (MD vs. DO) but the specialty, experience, and location, with more DOs historically entering lower-paying primary care or rural areas, leading to overall lower average DO salaries, though MDs and DOs in the same specialty often earn comparable pay. 

Who is the richest doctor in the US?

Where the 5 richest physicians stand today

• Thomas Frist Jr., MD, and family. Net worth: $32.2 billion. Dr. ...
• Patrick Soon-Shiong, MD. Net worth: $5.9 billion. ...
• August Troendle, MD. Net worth: $3.8 billion. ...
• Leonard Schleifer, MD, PhD. Net worth: $2.2 billion. ...
• Phillip Frost, MD. Net worth: $2.1 billion.

Do male doctors marry female doctors?

About 85% of physicians are married, according to an online survey, and these doctors often marry other doctors or other health professionals. Nearly 20% of physicians are married to doctors, says a survey of more than 10,000 physicians in over 29 specialties that was published on the Medscape news website.

Do male gynecologists get paid more?

Conclusion: More than half of the overall male-female income gap was explained by differences in personal and practice characteristics. However, female obstetrician-gynecologists earned 14.2% less than men, after controlling for variations in productivity and human capital.

Do male or female doctors have better outcomes?

Some prior studies have found that patients treated by female physicians may experience better outcomes, as well as lower health care costs than those treated by male physicians. Physician-patient sex concordance may also contribute to better patient outcomes.

What is the lowest paid doctor?

The lowest-paid doctor specialties consistently fall in primary care and certain pediatric subspecialties, with Pediatrics often cited as the lowest overall, followed by Public Health/Preventive Medicine, Family Medicine, and pediatric subspecialties like Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases. These roles offer lower compensation than surgical or high-demand adult specialties, often due to the broad nature of primary care and the focus on children's health, though they provide excellent work-life balance for many.
 

Do doctors work 7 days on 7 days off?

Yes, many hospital-based doctors, especially hospitalists, work a common "7 days on, 7 days off" schedule, working long shifts (often 12 hours) for a week, including weekends, then having a full week off, which allows for long periods of rest but can lead to burnout during work weeks. This schedule ensures continuity of care for patients but is just one model, with other specialties like emergency medicine or surgery having different patterns, and some doctors even prefer more frequent, shorter shifts.
 

Do doctors struggle financially?

Yes, doctors often struggle with money management due to massive student debt, high expenses, lack of financial education, and lifestyle creep, despite their high incomes, leading to a stereotype that they are bad with finances, but proactive education and planning can help them overcome these challenges. They often start late in saving and investing, facing a steep learning curve with significant debt and a high tax burden, which makes disciplined financial habits essential. 

Are female or male surgeons better?

Patients treated by female surgeons experienced a lower long-term mortality rate compared with those treated by male surgeons (adjusted 90-day mortality rates, 2.6% for female surgeons vs 3.0% for male surgeons; adjusted risk difference [aRD], −0.3 percentage points [pp]; 95% CI, −0.5 pp to −0.2 pp; P < .

Can a male doctor examine a female alone?

According to Board Rule 360-3-. 02(12), it is unprofessional conduct for a physician to conduct such an examination of a patient of the opposite sex without a chaperone present. A patient may ask for a chaperone if one is not present during a gynecological examination.

What gender dominates the medical field?

Women-dominated physician specialties

Of the nearly 33,000 internal medicine residents, 46.3% were women, and 55.9% of the nation's 15,000-plus family medicine trainees were women. Residency specialty trends among women remained relatively consistent with prior-year data.

Are doctors upper middle class?

Professions for this class may include but are not limited to: physicians, lawyers, senior military officers, psychologists, certified public accountants, pharmacists, optometrists, financial planners, dentists, engineers, scientists, professors, architects, urban planners, civil service executives, civilian ...

What are the top 3 professions of millionaires?

Based on a large study by Ramsey Solutions, the top three careers for millionaires are Engineer, Accountant, and Teacher, followed by Management and Attorney in the top five, showing that wealth often comes from consistent effort in stable professions rather than high-risk, high-reward jobs. 

How much do most doctors retire with?

The Essential Guide to Retirement Planning

By the time physicians reach their forties, it is very possible to achieve millionaire status, with some physicians even becoming multimillionaires. This trend continues with doctors in their fifties, with 60% of physicians' worth at least $1 million.