Average starting salaries increased in 12 specialties tracked in AMN Healthcare's "2023 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives" for which there were year-over-year comparisons.
The review, released Aug. 14, found that psychiatry has the widest year-over-year average starting salary increase among physician specialties. Cardiology (non-invasive) and neurology are the only two specialties with decreasing average starting salaries.
Here are 12 physician specialties with starting pay increasing:
Psychiatry
2021/22: $299,000
2022/23: $355,000
Increase: 19 percent
Dermatology
2021/22: $350,000
2022/23: $427,000
Increase: 16 percent
Anesthesiology
2021/22: $400,000
2022/23: $450,000
Increase: 12.5 percent
Orthopedic surgery
2021/22: $565,000
2022/23: $633,000
Increase: 12 percent
Obstetrics/gynecology
2021/22: $321,000
2022/23: $367,000
Increase: 10.54 percent
Hematology/oncology
2021/22: $404,000
2022/23: $440,000
Increase: 9 percent
Gastroenterology
2021/22: $474,000
2022/23: $506,000
Increase: 7 percent
Urology
2021/22: $510,000
2022/23: $540,000
Increase: 6 percent
Rheumatology
2021/22: $257,000
2022/23: $273,000
Increase: 6 percent
Hospitalist
2021/22: $284,000
2022/23: $299,000
Increase: 5 percent
Radiology
2021/22: $455,000
2022/23: $472,000
Increase: 4 percent
Pulmonology/critical care
2021/22: $412,000
2022/23: $418,000
Increase: 1.5 percent
Editor's note: The report is based on a representative sample of the 2,676 permanent physician and advanced practitioner search engagements AMN Healthcare had ongoing or was engaged to conduct between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023. Average starting salaries represent the base only and exclude bonuses or other incentives.