What Is the Average Doctor Salary in USA in 2025?
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Doctor's salaries in the USA are the highest in comparison to other professions. Those who complete their medical degrees in the USA - MBBS/MD or MS or even a Doctoral degree in Medicine or Surgery can earn up to USD 340,000 annually based on their specialisation. The average doctor salary in USA (annually) is around USD 165,347 as per Glassdoor. Check out some of the highest-paying doctor salary in USA in this article along with other details.
Those with a USMLE licence and a medical degree from a US university will be allowed to profess this profession. The private sector doctors in the US are slightly lower paid than public sector doctors by almost 15.75%. The average doctor salary in USA per month in 2025 can vary with specialisation but can be around USD 115,000 for highly specialised physicians. When talking about doctor salary in USA, these jobs make it to the Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in USA. This article will discuss in detail about doctor’s income in the USA.
Medical Doctor Salary in USA Highlights 2025
| Annual Median Pay | USD 229,300 |
| Annual Hourly Median Pay | USD 110.24 per hour |
| Average Annual Pay | USD 165,347 |
| Highest Paid Physicians based on Metro | Houston: USD 287,680 |
| Highest Paid Doctors in the US based on CIty | Killeen - Tempe, Texas: USD 336,440 |
| Total Medical Jobs in 2024 in the US | 86,000 |
| Growth in Doctors' Salary in the US | By 4.5% |
| Job Growth in the US for Doctors | 3% |
Average Doctor Salary in USA 2024-25
In the US, the profession of being in the medical field is a high-paid affair irrespective of the applicant’s nationality. Though medical studies in USA are expensive, but are highly rewarding. The average doctor salary in USA varies between USD 170,000 to USD 250,000 in a year.
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The applicant with a degree in medical science and professing as a doctor earns based on their level of degrees, like:
- MBBS degree holding doctor can earn around USD 165,000 in a year which is a starting salary.
- MBBS - MD degree in USA doctors can start earning between USD 185,000 to USD 270,000.
- MS holding grads in the USA earn starting from USD 250,000 a year.
- Those who have a doctor’s degree in the USA can earn a maximum of up to USD 290,000 in a year on average.
- The salary slabs for doctors in the USA also vary based on their experience in the field. The higher the work experience higher is the salary of a doctor in the USA.
In a month, an average doctor salary in USA can earn around USD 95,000. The highest-paid doctor in the USA is a Neurosurgeon, followed by a Plastic Surgeon. Neurosurgeon salary USA is USD 120,000 and for Plastic Surgeons is USD 115,000 a month.
Read more about: MPH in USA
Top 10 Highest Paid Doctors Salary in USA 2025
Medicine is one of the highest paying jobs in USA. There are various physician specialisations in the USA which yield the highest earned salaries. Those who complete their medical degrees in various fields of medicine can become the highest paid doctors in USA if they specialise in the following areas of study:
- Neurology
- Cardiology
- Thoracic Study
- Orthopedic
- Ophthalmology
- Dermatology
- Urology
- Radiology
- Oncology
- Otolaryngology
These specialisations come under either Master’s in Medicine, commonly referred to as MD or Master’s in Surgery also referred as MS in the USA. Medical residency in USA for international applicants can be rewarding. Let us check out the doctor salaries in USA for all of these specialisations mentioned above based on their degree type in the following two sections.
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MD Salary in USA
One of the highest paid jobs in USA are for specialised doctors. Some of the popular specialisations to pursue an MD in the USA based on lucrative salary packages are tabulated in the following section:
| MD Specialisations in the USA | Average Annual Salaries |
|---|---|
| Cardiology | USD 490,000 |
| Ophthalmology | USD 417,000 |
| Dermatology | USD 438,000 |
| Urology | USD 461,000 |
| Radiation Oncologists | USD 548,625 |
| Paediatrics | USD 265,000 |
| Chief Medical Officier | USD 320,000 |
Master’s in Medicine (MD) is a specialised course in the USA and admissions are also a handful for this course. It's a residency program in the USA hence, costs a lot for international students. However, the return on investment is high and profitable after working across any of the above-given job roles for the applicants. Thus, MD doctor salary in USA is very high and also lucrative.
Surgeon Salary in the US
Surgeons in the USA are highly paid professionals, these doctors salaries in USA can go up to USD 790,000 a year taking into consideration their work experience level. There are various specialisations after completing a master’s in surgery in the USA and each of their salaries varies based on the specialised area the data is as follows:
| Surgeon Occupation in USA | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Neurosurgeon | USD 789,000 |
| Thoracic Surgeon | USD 707,000 |
| Orthopedic Surgeon | USD 625,000 |
| Plastic Surgeon | USD 572,000 |
| Vascular Surgeon | USD 558,000 |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon | USD 557,000 |
| General Surgeon | USD 452,000 |
| Colon and Rectal Surgeon | USD 446,000 |
Neurosurgeon salary in USA are the highest globally and in the USA as well. Students who aim for surgery at the master’s level should go for the best possible specialisation which can yield them lucrative salaries post graduation. If not the top doctor salary USA is not favourable or not of interest then the second best options can be taken up also.
Hourly Wage of Doctors in USA
As per the US Labor Report for Physicians and Surgeons, the following hourly average doctor salary USA were noted based on the industries which require doctors at large:
| Industries Across US | Hourly Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Offices of Physicians | USD 139.84 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | USD 135.86 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | USD 125.51 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | USD 121.04 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | USD 39.13 |
The hourly pay for doctors in the US varies with each area also in which they practice. Hence, this is just a gist of what can be expected based on medical doctor’s salaries in the USA.
Thus, doctor salary in USA are huge and have a good scope for expansion. Unlike other counties, doctor salary in USA are better and more rewarding for international applicants. If planning to study medicine abroad, consider doctor salary in USA and universities offering the relevant courses in order to practice there.
Q: Â What GPA is needed to go to Ohio State?
Q: Â Is MIT costly for Indians?
MIT is not costly for Indian students. Applicants can study BTech program at affordable tuition fees as compared to other BTech colleges in the USA. The MIT BTech fees is around INR 50 L to INR 52 L.
Q: Â What is the maximum and minimum score in GRE to get admission for MS in USA?
GRE is a popular standardised test for getting admission in MS program in the world. However, there are many universities in the USA that offer admission to MS courses without GRE scores. There is fixed minimum or maximum GRE score for admission. However, even if your GRE score is below the average for a particular program, you may still be considered for admission if you have strong qualifications in other areas. It is adviseble to check university website for the exact information.
Q: Â Is it hard to get into the UTSA in San Antonio Texas?
According to various sources, University of Texas San Antonio has an overall acceptance rate of around 87% which makes it somewhat selective for international student admissions. Some of the general requirements to be considered for admission are given as follows:
- SAT/ACT scores
- Overall Student's GPA
- Letters of Recommendation
- High School Class Rank
- Additional Academic Records
Q: Â Which is better, UIC (University of Illinois Chicago) or NIU (Northern Illinois University)?
As per an unofficial source, the University of Illinois Chicago ranked at #80 among national universities which is better than the NIU ranking at #273 position. The UIC is also exceeding in terms of graduation rates and easier selection than NIU. However, the tuition cost is more affordable at Northern Illinois University as compared to UIC. Students can get more clarity from the comparison table given below:
Particulars | University of Illinois Chicago | Northern Illinois University |
|---|---|---|
US News National Rankings 2024 | #80 | #273 |
Acceptance Rate | 79% | 70% |
Graduation Rate | 40% | 33% |
Tuition Cost | UG: INR 22L-INR 49L PG: INR 13L-INR 37L | UG: INR 10L-INR 16.5L PG: INR 8L-INR 45L |
Student-faculty ratio | 17:1 | 14:1 |
Q: Â What is the decent score required on the ACT test to get a good university in the USA?
The definition of a good ACT score varies from university to country. However, to get into the top 100 universities, you must aim for a score higher than 31 on the ACT.
Q: Â Is University of North Dakota good for Indian students?
The University of North Dakota is one of the top choices for international students to pursue their higher education. The UND warmly welcomes its international students as they have contributed a lot to the success of the university. Moreover, the university offers a top-notch environment, the best academic opportunities, technical & career training, etc. The university boasts over 1000 international students who represent more than 95 countries. Additionally, international students highly enjoy the facilities provided by the University of North Dakota. The UND is one of the largest research universities in the United States for international students.
Q: Â Why choose Touro University for MBA in USA rather than Kansas State University?
There are several reasons to pursue your MBA from Touro University rather than Kansas State University as Touro University is one of the top 100 MBA schools in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report, while Kansas State University's MBA programme ranks 144th. In addition, Touro University has a more reasonable cost of tuition, with MBA tuition at $950 per credit and other degrees ranging from $910 to $950 per credit. In contrast, Kansas State University's MBA tuition is $21,170 per year, plus $1,300 in other expenses. Finally, Touro University's Graduate School of Business also offers an online MBA alternative for flexible learning, tuition support programs, along with variety of scholarships for international students, including the Dean's Excellence Award.
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Average Doctor Salary in US FAQs
Q. How much do doctors get paid in the US?
A. The average annual pay for a doctor in the United States is USD 1,65,347 a year. So as per bifurcation - USD 63.70 an hour, USD 2,548 per week and USD 11,041 a month. The range varies with each recruiting websote, thus, applicants can check based in the current exchange rate.
Q. What is the salary of MBBS in USA?
A. An MBBS degree holder can earn up to USD 165,000 in a year, this amount can also be the starting salary for some applicants.
Q. Which doctor has the highest salary in the US?
A. The highest-paid doctors in the US are Neurosurgeons who earn around USD 780,000 per year on average.
Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i... Read Full Bio
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There is no minimum GPA score for UG admission at Ohio State. However, International students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale or equivalent) for graduate admission. Applicants may submit a standardized test score (GRE or GMAT) if their cumulative GPA is below 3.0 for the last degree.