Doctors' salaries vary widely depending on their specialty, location, and experience. In the United States in 2025:
- The average annual salary for all physicians is around $363,000, with primary care doctors earning about $277,000 and specialists averaging $394,000
- Top-paying specialties include orthopedics ($489,000), plastic surgery ($440,000), cardiology ($410,000), and urology ($400,000)
- Some specialists, such as neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons, can earn upwards of $700,000 to over $900,000 annually at their peak
- Salaries also vary by state and city, with doctors in places like San Jose, CA earning around $475,000 on average, while some states pay less, e.g., West Virginia has some of the lowest wages for certain specialties
- Entry-level or resident doctors earn less, with salaries ranging from about $36,600 to $70,400 depending on training stage in the UK, with higher salaries for consultants up to about £140,000 (around $170,000)
In summary, a typical U.S. doctor makes between $277,000 and $394,000 annually on average, with significant variation by specialty and location. Highly specialized surgeons and physicians in lucrative fields can earn well above $500,000 per year
