Which doctor is the highest paid in the USA?

The highest-paid doctor in the U.S. is consistently a Neurosurgeon, with average annual compensation often exceeding $700,000, followed closely by specialists in Thoracic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, and Plastic Surgery, according to reports from 2024 and 2025. These surgical fields command the highest salaries due to extensive training, high complexity, and demand for their procedures.

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.
 

Which type of doctor gets paid the highest?

Neurosurgery consistently ranks as the highest-paid medical specialty, followed closely by other surgical fields like Thoracic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, and Plastic Surgery, with average salaries often exceeding $700,000 annually for neurosurgeons, according to recent reports. These top earners focus on complex procedures involving the brain, spine, heart, bones, and joints, requiring extensive training and demanding lifestyles. 

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.
 

What is the easiest doctor to become?

Least Competitive Medical Specialties

1. Family Medicine. Average Step 1 Score: 216.1. ...
2. Psychiatry. Average Step 1 Score: 223.1. ...
3. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Average Step 1 Score: 224.2. ...
4. Pediatrics. Average Step 1 Score: 226.4. ...
5. Emergency Medicine. Average Step 1 Score: 231.1. ...
6. Internal Medicine (Categorical) ...
7. Anesthesiology.

6 HIGHEST Paid Doctor Specialties by Hourly Rate

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.

Which doctor field is best?

15 highest-paying doctor jobs

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

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.

In which country is the doctor's salary highest?

Switzerland, the United States, and Luxembourg consistently rank as the top-paying countries for doctors, with Switzerland often leading in average salaries for specialists and GPs, followed closely by the US and Luxembourg, where high demand and strong economies support lucrative compensation, though data can vary slightly by source and year. 

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 USA?

Dr.

But Thomas Frist Jr. is wealthier than just about everybody after he and his dad founded HCA Healthcare, which owns 190 hospitals and thousands of other healthcare sites, in 1968. Thomas Frist Jr.

Which type of surgeon makes most?

The Highest Paying Medical Jobs

1. Neurosurgery. Neurosurgery is the highest-paying medical job in the US. ...
2. Thoracic surgery. Thoracic or cardiothoracic surgery is the second highest paying medical job for reasons. ...
3. Orthopedic surgery. ...
4. Plastic surgery. ...
5. Oral & maxillofacial. ...
6. Vascular surgery. ...
7. Cardiology. ...
8. Radiation oncology.

Can a doctor be a millionaire in the USA?

Traits of a Physician Millionaire. Since the original book The Millionaire Next Door came out in 1996, there has been an increase in millionaires with college degrees and many have graduate level degrees. Physician millionaires cite hard work and discipline as factors to their success.

Do doctors get paid during residency?

Yes, doctors absolutely get paid during residency; it's a paid, on-the-job training period where they earn a stipend or salary, typically starting around $60,000-$70,000 annually and increasing slightly each year, though pay is often considered low given the long hours. Salaries vary by location, hospital, and specialty, with first-year residents (PGY-1) earning less than senior residents. 

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.
 

Can an RN make $200,000?

Yes, a Registered Nurse (RN) can make $200,000 or more, especially through travel nursing, high-demand specialties (ICU, OR, ER), working in high-cost-of-living areas, taking extensive overtime, and pursuing advanced roles like Nurse Practitioner (NP) or leadership positions, though it's often a combination of these factors rather than a standard salary for most RNs. Factors like location, experience, and specialization are crucial, with travel nurses in high demand often reaching this income, while experienced NPs in niche areas or C-suite roles can also achieve it. 

Can 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. 

Which doctor is in most demand?

Family medicine is currently the most in-demand physician specialty, according to AMN Healthcare's (formerly Merritt Hawkins) recent report on physician recruiting.

What is a 5 letter word for doctor?

Common 5-letter words for "doctor," especially in crosswords, can include MEDIC, or sometimes words related to their title like DRS (abbreviation), but often it's a wordplay answer such as ALTER or DROLL (if 'DR' is part of the clue). 

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 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.

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. 

What are the best states for doctors?

Topics. In 2025, Montana, Indiana and South Dakota were found to be the best states for practicing medicine, while Hawaii, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia are the most difficult, according to WalletHub's recently released list of the best and worst states for physicians.