The salaries of physicians in the U.S. continued to increase in 2019, according to a new report produced by LocumTenens.com.
The most recent annual report shows that the average physician’s salary continues trending higher year-over-year since 2015. Overall, the increase in pay since then has been 16.5%, per the report. The current figures are based on feedback from the August 2019 survey.
Of those interviewed for the survey, respondents included physicians and advanced practitioners. The compensation measured includes those paid full-time and who are permanent employers. The final figures account for annual salary as well as bonuses.
Specific numbers show that the average physician’s role continues to be well-suited for those who want to earn substantial bread. Average salaries of physicians rose to $363,924; for advanced practitioners, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants, average rates rose to $122,973.
While salaries for the advanced practitioner” have not risen as steadily as physicians, since 2017, they have been up.
For some juxtaposition, a Medscape survey from 2011 of more than 15,000 physicians nationwide found that, despite a weak economy at the time, a majority of those interviewed across all specialties reported that compensation was stable or increased over the past year.
Specifically, orthopedic surgeons, radiologists, anesthesiologists and cardiologists were the top earners nearly a decade ago. These providers brought in more than twice the average income of endocrinologists, primary care physicians, and pediatricians.
For employed physicians, compensation includes salary, bonus and profit-sharing contributions.
On the same measurement a decade ago, one-half of all physicians reported that their income remained the same between 2009 and 2010. About 23% reported a decline in income, whereas 27% said their income increased.
At the time, the highest-earning physicians in Medscape's survey practice were in the North Central region comprising Kansas, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Iowa and Missouri, at a median salary of $225,000.
For the most current survey report, average salaries for physicians by specialty follow:
- Orthopedic surgeons, $539,464
- Cardiologists, $469,895
- Radiologists, $434,541
- Urologists, $430,000
- Anesthesiologists, $415,985
- Critical care, $376,090
- General surgeons, $372,500
- Emergency medicine, $360,433
- Neurologists, $333,115
- Obstetrician/gynecologists, $293,980
- Hospitalists, $283,530
- Psychiatrists, $272,821
- Primary care, $245,146
These are the average salaries for advanced practitioners by specialty:
- Certified nurse anesthetist, $202,244
- Emergency medicine physician assistant, $166,194
- Emergency medicine nurse practitioner, $142,857
- Psychiatric nurse practitioner, $137,993
- Critical care nurse practitioner, $134,850
- Hospitalist nurse practitioner, $128,532
- Primary care nurse practitioner, $118,034
Primary care physicians’ salaries were an average based on those working in internal medicine, family practice and pediatrics.
Of those surveyed, most physicians are employed by hospitals, while most advanced practitioners work in clinics.
Of the physicians who took the survey, 40% were hospital-employed, 20% were in group practice and 14% worked in clinics or community centers.
Among advanced practitioners, 27% were employed in clinics or community centers, while a slightly lower percentage (26%) were hospital-employed and 14% were in group practices.
