How much are fellows paid in USA?

Fellow salaries in the U.S. vary greatly by field, but generally range from around $50,000 to over $100,000 annually, with medical fellows earning from about $60,000 to $90,000+, depending on PGY level and specialty, while research or policy fellows might start lower, around $50,000-$60,000, with potential for much higher earnings in some advanced roles or subspecialties like Orthopedics.

How much do fellowships pay in the US?

The average salary for a fellow is $60,651 per year in the United States. 959 salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months (updated January 11, 2026).

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.
 

Do fellowships make a lot of money?

Medical Fellowship Salary

The lowest salaries for this profession are around $25,364 per year, while the highest salaries can reach up to $92,000 per year. While it's true that fellows are typically better compensated than residents, fellows do not earn as much as physicians practicing in their specialty.

Do you get paid for being a fellow?

Yes, most fellowships are paid, typically through a stipend or grant that supports the fellow's education or project, rather than an hourly wage, but the funding purpose and tax implications vary, with some funds covering tuition/fees (potentially tax-free) and others for living expenses (often taxable). Fellowships provide financial support for learning, research, or specific projects, differentiating them from unpaid internships or employee roles, though some advanced fellowships in medicine can function more like jobs with salaries. 

How Much are Fellowship Physician Salaries?

Is a fellow higher than a PhD?

A PhD is a terminal academic degree, the highest university qualification, while a "fellow" is a status or position, not a degree, often signifying advanced, specialized training after a PhD, particularly in medicine (post-doc) or as an honor in a professional society, so a fellowship often comes "after" or "higher" in a career path but isn't a degree itself. A PhD trains researchers/scholars; a fellowship trains specialists (like heart doctors) or recognizes top professionals. 

Do fellowships give you money?

Fellowships are sponsored by the association, organization, institution, or government which gives their fellows a monetary stipend. The main difference between fellowship and scholarship money is that, unlike scholarships, fellowships do not require you to work in return for the yearly or monthly stipend.

Is it prestigious to be a fellow?

Yes, fellowships are widely considered prestigious, especially national and international ones, because they are highly competitive, merit-based awards that offer significant funding, unique networking, mentorship, and career opportunities, marking recipients as top talent in their fields and boosting their professional reputation dramatically. Winning one signifies outstanding achievement and potential, often opening doors to advanced roles or further study. 

How much do fellows make after residency?

ZipRecruiter reports that as of June 3, 2024, fellowship doctors who have completed their medical school and residency training program and have chosen to pursue further specialized training in a subspecialty earn an average of $275,549 a year.

How many years is fellowship in the USA?

Many specialties offer advanced fellowship training after residency (typically one to three years). Consult the current AMA Graduate Medical Education Directory (the Green Book) for the official requirements and required length of advanced training.

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. 

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.
 

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.

Do fellows make more money than residents?

residency salaries. Fellows are typically better compensated than residents, who, on average, earn about $60,000.

Are fellowships a big deal?

Yes, a fellowship is a big deal; it's a prestigious, highly competitive opportunity that offers significant career advancement, specialized training, funding, and invaluable networking with established leaders in a field, setting recipients apart for future academic or professional roles. These merit-based programs are a major resume booster, showing dedication and expertise, and can provide financial support or resources for research or education.
 

How much do PhD fellowships pay?

Distinguished Doctoral Fellowships

Fellows receive $22,000 per year, paid in two installments of $11,000, from the Graduate School for up to 4 years. Fellows receive a 50% graduate assistantship provided concurrently by the department for 4 years.

Do cardiologists make 1 million a year?

Yes, some cardiologists, especially those in high-demand subspecialties like interventional cardiology or electrophysiology (EP) in high-paying locations, can earn over $1 million annually, though the national average is lower, with many top earners hitting the $700k-$900k range, while general cardiologists rarely cross the million-dollar mark unless in specific lucrative situations. 

How many years is a doctor a fellow?

After your residency training, you may choose to further sub-specialize by completing fellowships usually lasting 1-3 additional years.

Why do doctors do a fellowship?

Fellowship training provides physicians with experience in new technology, deepens their compassion for patients, and expands their expertise to provide the most effective care to their patients.

What is the hardest fellowship to get into?

The hardest fellowships to match into, particularly within Internal Medicine, consistently include Gastroenterology, Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology), and Pulmonary/Critical Care, often followed by Hematology/Oncology, due to high application numbers, strong US MD graduate fill rates, and a perception of better lifestyle/pay. Other competitive areas often cited are Gynecologic Oncology, Addiction Medicine, and specialties with fewer spots like Allergy/Immunology, while Surgical fellowships like Pediatric Surgery and Orthopedic Trauma are also extremely tough.
 

What are the cons of fellowships?

Fellowship Cons

• Hard work is non-negotiable. These opportunities demand consistent hard work. ...
• Deadlines matter. Fellowships have strict guidelines and protocols, so if you are the kind of person who tends to procrastinate, this opportunity may not be for you.
• Applying doesn't guarantee selection.

Are fellows usually paid?

Salary is dependent on the fellow's education level (based on the qualifying degree) and experience. Salaries are non-negotiable because this is a training program. Salaries start at a base rate comparable to the OPM's Federal Government General Schedule (GS) base pay rate. All fellows start at Step 3 of the GS level.

How hard is it to get a fellowship?

Winning a fellowship is difficult because of intense competition, experts warn. Fellowship awards are often granted for impressive accomplishments such as influential research, a compelling publication or beautiful artistic work.

Are fellowships taxed as income?

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) consider graduate fellowships taxable income. A portion of fellowship may be excludable from your gross income. Your fellowship payments may include fee, nonresident-tuition, or stipend awards.

Do fellows get paid like attendings?

Lower pay during additional training years

Fellows are paid like residents—a fraction of what an attending makes. This means delaying your “real” income for several years. In the U.S., fellows earn an average of $59,022 per year, while general practitioners average $183,230, according to ZipRecruiter data.