What kind of doctor makes the most money?

Neurosurgeons and thoracic surgeons consistently rank as the highest-paid doctors, followed closely by orthopedic surgeons, with average salaries often exceeding $700,000 annually due to the complexity, risk, and extensive training required for these specialized surgical fields. Other top earners include plastic surgeons, cardiologists, and vascular surgeons.

What doctor makes $500,000 a year?

Doctors in surgical and high-demand procedural specialties frequently earn over $500,000 annually, with top earners often being Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Cardiology, and Thoracic Surgery, driven by complex skills, high demand (especially with aging populations), and lucrative elective procedures or emergency needs. Other fields like Radiology, Gastroenterology, Urology, and Anesthesiology also see average incomes exceeding this threshold.
 

What is the most highest-paid type of doctor?

The highest-paid doctor specialty in the U.S. is consistently Neurosurgery, with average salaries often exceeding $750,000 annually, followed closely by Cardiothoracic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, and Plastic Surgery, reflecting high demand for complex procedures and extensive training. These surgical specialties dominate the top earners due to critical, high-stakes interventions and long residencies, with other lucrative fields including Radiation Oncology and Cardiology.
 

Can a doctor make $1 million a year?

Certain surgical positions make a million after extreme long decade of training after 8 years of school after high school for 80+ hours a week. But very very few docs make it and they have no time to spend it.

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.
 

Doctors Reveal How Much Money They ACTUALLY Make

What is the easiest doctor to become with a high salary?

15 highest-paying doctor jobs

• Psychiatrist. ...
• Obstetrics and gynecology physician. ...
• Pathologist. ...
• Internal medicine physician. ...
• Family medicine physician. ...
• Emergency medicine physician. ...
• Orthopedic surgeon. ...
• Radiologist.

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.

Which doctor field is richest?

1. Neurosurgeons. In the neurosurgery field, the doctors are highly trained specialists focused on treating and diagnosing conditions of the brain, spine and nervous system. Neurosurgeons perform complex surgeries like treating brain tumours, aneurysms, spinal cord injuries, and other neurological disorders.

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.
 

Who makes more money, MD or DO?

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. 

Do surgeons get paid more than doctors?

Surgeons earn some of the highest salaries in the medical field, reflecting their skill and dedication. Factors like specialization, location, and experience significantly influence earning potential. A career in surgery not only offers financial rewards but also the satisfaction of impacting patients' lives.

What is a 7 star doctor?

A "7-star doctor" is a concept endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) (WHO) for an ideal physician, expanding on the original 5-star model to include being a Care Provider, Decision-Maker, Communicator, Community Leader, Manager, Researcher, and Lifelong Learner, with an added emphasis on teaching in some models. This framework defines comprehensive skills needed for modern medicine, focusing on compassionate patient care, ethical decision-making, community health, and continuous learning, not just clinical skill. 

How much do cardiologists make in the US?

Average base salary

The average salary for a cardiology physician is $298,055 per year in the United States. 1.3k salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months (updated January 11, 2026).

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. 

How rich is the average doctor?

About 60% of physicians reported a net worth of $1 million in 2024, up just 1% from 2023. Even with medical school loans taken into account, six in 10 physicians have a net worth that exceeds that of the average American family.

What are the least stressful high paid doctors?

Our list of the best medical specialties for work life balance takes concerns about salary, competitiveness, happiness survey data and scheduling into account.

• 10 Best Physician Specialties for Work Life Balance. ...
• Teleradiology. ...
• Anesthesiology. ...
• Dermatology. ...
• Otolaryngology (ENT) ...
• Endocrinology. ...
• Clinical Pathology. ...
• Psychiatry.

What is the most overworked doctor?

Emergency medicine physicians experience the most intense burnout, with the highest emotional fatigue (68%) and depersonalization (55%). Therapists reported the next-highest rate of emotional fatigue at 61%, along with the highest mental fatigue (77%).

What is the golden rule for doctors?

A modern version of that oath puts it this way: “I shall do by my patients as I would be done by.” This is the doctor's version of the golden rule. It places the patient as someone to be treated justly, purely and with every ounce of a physician's talents.

Is being a doctor a 9 to 5 job?

No, most doctors do not work a standard 9-to-5; their hours are often long, irregular, and include nights, weekends, and on-call shifts, varying greatly by specialty, with roles like ER or OB/GYN having less fixed schedules, while some outpatient or VA physicians might find more 9-to-5 opportunities, though still typically exceeding 40 hours weekly. 

Do doctors get paid during residency?

Yes, doctors absolutely get paid during residency, but it's a salary/stipend for their on-the-job training, not a full physician's wage, typically ranging from around $60,000 to over $70,000 annually, increasing slightly each year, with benefits like health insurance included. While they earn money, it's often seen as modest given the long hours, with compensation varying by location and specialty, notes the American Medical Association (AMA) and Medscape.
 

What doctors do billionaires go to?

Most “ultra rich” people enjoy what are called “concierge doctors” who have their patients on speed-dial and are available to make house-calls or digitally advise patients, anytime anywhere. One of the biggest benefits concierge doctors bring is the ability to build a relationship with their patient.

What is the best doctor to become?

The best medical specialties for a physician depend on individual priorities, such as desired work-life balance, compensation, and level of patient interaction. Specialties like dermatology and psychiatry are often ranked highly for lifestyle and flexibility, while neurosurgery offers the highest compensation.

Do doctors get paid for prescriptions?

Yes, doctors often receive payments from pharmaceutical companies for services like consulting, speaking, and research, and studies show this financial relationship can influence them to prescribe more brand-name and specific drugs, though direct "per-prescription" payments are illegal kickbacks and disguised in other forms like consulting fees or research grants. Major studies using data from the CMS Open Payments system reveal that a significant portion of physicians receive industry payments, which correlates with increased brand-name prescribing, creating potential conflicts of interest.
 

What is the no. 1 highest paying job?

The #1 highest-paying job is consistently reported as Surgeons, particularly specialized ones like Pediatric Surgeons, followed closely by Anesthesiologists, due to extensive education, high responsibility, and complex procedures in healthcare, with salaries often exceeding $400,000 annually. Other top earners include other physician specialties (Cardiologists, Neurosurgeons) and high-level corporate executives (CEOs). 

Which doctor makes the least?

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.