In response to pressure to contain the cost of care while improving quality, hospitals and health systems have increasingly sought to acquire physician practices.
Keeping track of compensation trends can help hospitals successfully attract physicians in order to expand and improve care. During the past year, some specialties saw notable increases in median compensation, while some of the highest paid specialties saw slight decreases in median base pay.
Highest-paid specialties
Cardiac and surgical specialties once again had the highest median compensation. Invasive cardiologists, orthopedic and cardiac and cardiac and thoracic surgeons reported median salaries of more than $500,000. Interventional diagnostic radiologists polled had a median salary upwards of $500,000, according to the American Medical Group Association's 2013 Medical Group Compensation and Financial Survey, based on 2012 data.
Non-invasive cardiologists, dermatologists, gastroenterologists, urologists and non-interventional diagnostic radiologists reported earning more than $400,000. General surgeons, ophthalmologists and otolaryngologists were close behind, all earning median salaries of more than $370,000.
Lowest-paid specialties
Primary care physicians including family medicine practitioners, hospitalists and pediatricians continued to report lower median salaries than other specialties, with pediatricians receiving the lowest median salaries at $222,827. Psychiatrists were the second-lowest paid, with median base pay of $224,878, according to AMGA.
Endocrinologists, infectious disease specialists, internal medicine physicians, rheumatologists and urgent care physicians also ended up near the bottom of the list, all with median salaries less than $243,000.
Other trends
The overall weighted average increase for physician compensation from 2012 to 2013 was roughly 1.6 percent, according to the AMGA report. Primary care specialty compensation went up by about 2.8 percent, while earnings for other specialties rose 1.5 percent. Surgical specialty compensation increased by 0.5 percent.
Some specialties saw notable increases. Endocrinologists saw a 5.81 percent increase in their median salary, while infectious disease specialists reported a 5.64 percent rise in median base pay. Rheumatologists saw their median pay go up by 4.89 percent, and the median base pay for anesthesiologists rose 4.6 percent.
Meanwhile, although they are still among the highest paid, cardiac and thoracic surgeons saw a 3.33 percent drop in their median base pay, and non-invasive cardiologists experienced a 2.17 percent decrease.
Physician statistics — 2014
Based on the most recent market data available from physician compensation reports and surveys, here are 200 statistics on physician compensation trends during the past year.
Note: Some of the statistics may seem higher or lower compared with others in each specialty. A collection of physician surveys were used to compile information. In addition, every specialty does not contain the same number of statistics, as some data was not available for each specialty. Please read the following to understand where the statistics came from:
Median salary, median work RVUs and median gross charges are from the American Medical Group Association's 2013 Medical Group Compensation and Financial Survey, a 2013 report based on 2012 data. The survey collected responses from 280 medical groups that represent approximately 67,900 physicians during the first quarter of 2013.
Mean salary for men, mean salary for women, highest-paying region, lowest-paying region, hospital-employed salary and multispecialty group practice salary are from Medscape's 2013 Physician Compensation Report. The report collected responses from 21,878 U.S. physicians across 25 specialty areas from Feb. 14, 2013, to Feb. 28, 2013.
Highest offered base salary and lowest offered base salary are from Merritt Hawkins' 2013 Review of Physician Recruiting Incentives. The report is based on 3,097 permanent physician search assignments that Merritt Hawkins engaged in from April 2012 to March 2013.
Anesthesiologists
Median salary: $394,734 (4.6 percent increase from 2012)
Median gross charges: $1,342,339
Median salary for men: $347,000
Median salary for women: $300,000
Highest-paying region: North Central ($383,000)
Lowest-paying region: West ($318,000)
Hospital-employed salary: $349,000
Multispecialty group practice salary: $374,000
Cardiac and thoracic surgeons
Median salary: $525,944 (3.33 percent decrease from 2012)
Median gross charges: $1,663,247
Cardiologists
Median salary: $420,991 (2.17 percent decrease from 2012)
Median gross charges: $1,298,288
Mean salary for men: $362,000
Mean salary for women: $310,000
Highest-paying region: Northwest ($403,000)
Lowest-paying region: Northeast ($311,000)
Hospital-employed salary: $314,000
Multispecialty group practice salary: $380,000
Highest offered base salary (non-invasive cardiology, not including bonuses): $550,000
Lowest offered base salary (non-invasive cardiology, not including bonuses): $250,000
Cardiologists – Invasive
Median salary: $547,112 (4.27 percent increase from 2012)
Median gross charges: $1,496,641
Highest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $675,000
Lowest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $300,000
Dermatologists
Median salary: $411,499 (3.56 percent increase from 2012)
Median gross charges: $1,649,366
Mean salary for men: $321,000
Mean salary for women: $284,000
Highest-paying region: Great Lakes ($333,000)
Lowest-paying region: Northeast ($274,000)
Highest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $425,000
Lowest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $235,000
Diagnostic radiologists (Interventional MDs)
Median salary: $504,772 (4.02 percent increase from 2012)
Median gross charges: $2,366,223
Diagnostic radiologists (Non-interventional MDs)
Median salary: $453,216 (1.30 percent decrease from 2012)
Median gross charges: $2,181,076
Emergency medicine physicians
Median salary: $301,000 (1.18 percent increase from 2012)
Median gross charges: $1,017,726
Mean salary for men: $277,000
Mean salary for women: $242,000
Highest-paying region: South Central ($298,000)
Lowest-paying region: Northeast ($242,000)
Hospital-employed salary: $277,000
Multispecialty group practice salary: $203,000
Highest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $450,000
Lowest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $210,000
Endocrinologists
Median salary: $234,258 (5.81 percent increase from 2012)
Median gross charges: $669,768
Mean salary for men: $183,000
Mean salary for women: $172,000
Highest-paying region: North Central ($210,000)
Lowest-paying region: Southwest ($148,000)
Hospital-employed salary: $146,000
Multispecialty group practice salary: $188,000
Family medicine physicians
Median salary: $223,810 (2.03 percent increase from 2012)
Median gross charges: $732,661
Mean salary for men: $184,000
Mean salary for women: $157,000
Highest-paying region: North Central ($186,000)
Lowest-paying region: Northwest ($162,000)
Hospital-employed salary: $204,000
Multispecialty group practice salary: $191,000
Highest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $325,000
Lowest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $130,000
Gastroenterologists
Median salary: $432,616 (0.58 percent decrease from 2012)
Median gross charges: $1,925,073
Mean salary for men: $349,000
Mean salary for women: $308,000
Highest-paying region: Northwest ($498,000)
Lowest-paying region: Mid-Atlantic ($311,000)
Hospital-employed salary: $264,000
Multispecialty group practice salary: $421,000
Highest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $600,000
Lowest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $291,000
General surgeons
Median salary: $373,478 (0.93 percent increase from 2012)
Median gross charges: $1,316,116
Mean salary for men: $290,000
Mean salary for women: $225,000
Highest-paying region: North Central ($340,000)
Lowest-paying region: West ($258,000)
Hospital-employed salary: $262,000
Multispecialty group practice salary: $338,000
Highest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $550,000
Lowest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $240,000
Hematologists/medical oncologists
Median salary: $350,268 (0.61 percent increase from 2012)
Median gross charges: $684,264
Mean salary for men: $293,000
Mean salary for women: $240,000
Highest-paying region: Southwest ($347,000)
Lowest-paying region: Northeast ($230,000)
Hospital-employed salary: $227,000
Multispecialty group practice salary: $356,000
Highest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $525,000
Lowest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $275,000
Hospitalists (internal medicine)
Median salary: $241,250 (2.01 percent increase from 2012)
Median gross charges: $460,709
Highest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $350,000
Lowest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $150,000
Internal medicine physicians
Median salary: $226,833 (1.08 percent increase from 2012)
Median gross charges: $739,067
Mean salary for men: $195,000
Mean salary for women: $165,000
Highest-paying region: South Central ($210,000)
Lowest-paying region: Northeast ($168,000)
Hospital-employed salary: $192,000
Multispecialty group practice salary: $203,000
Highest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $325,000
Lowest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $130,000
Nephrologists
Median salary: $277,449 (0.17 percent decrease from 2012)
Median gross charges: $967,052
Mean salary for men: $242,000
Mean salary for women: $214,000
Highest-paying region: Southwest ($289,000)
Lowest-paying region: Great Lakes ($180,000)
Hospital-employed salary: $149,000
Multispecialty group practice salary: $259,000
Neurologists
Median salary: $255,004 (2.31 percent increase from 2012)
Median gross charges: $816,409
Mean salary for men: $227,000
Mean salary for women: $189,000
Highest-paying region: South Central ($250,000)
Lowest-paying region: Mid-Atlantic($194,000)
Hospital-employed salary: $199,000
Multispecialty group practice salary: $226,000
Highest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $400,000
Lowest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $180,000
Obstetricians/gynecologists (general)
Median salary: $312,541 (3.03 percent increase from 2012)
Median gross charges: $1,266,715
Mean salary for men: $253,000
Mean salary for women: $221,000
Highest-paying region: South Central ($250,000)
Lowest-paying region: Mid-Atlantic ($194,000)
Hospital-employed salary: $216,000
Multispecialty group practice salary: $252,000
Highest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $350,000
Lowest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $225,000
Ophthalmologists
Median salary: $372,552 (0.15 percent increase from 2012)
Median gross charges: $1,901,428
Mean salary for men: $294,000
Mean salary for women: $220,000
Highest-paying region: North Central ($351,000)
Lowest-paying region: South Central ($230,000)
Hospital-employed salary: $205,000
Multispecialty group practice salary: $340,000
Orthopedic surgeons
Median salary: $525,000 (1.79 percent increase from 2012)
Median gross charges: $2,013,979
Mean salary for men: $403,000
Mean salary for women: $422,000
Highest-paying region: Northwest ($652,000)
Lowest-paying region: Mid-Atlantic ($248,000)
Hospital-employed salary: $396,000
Multispecialty group practice salary: $422,000
Highest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $750,000
Lowest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $250,000
Otolaryngologists
Median salary: $383,141 (2.34 percent increase from 2012)
Median gross charges: $1,605,445
Highest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $650,000
Lowest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $300,000
Pediatricians (general)
Median salary: $222,827 (0.99 percent increase from 2012)
Median gross charges: $873,546
Mean salary for men: $190,000
Mean salary for women: $156,000
Highest-paying region: Great Lakes ($182,000)
Lowest-paying region: Northeast ($165,000)
Hospital-employed salary: $162,000
Multispecialty group practice salary: $188,000
Highest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $300,000
Lowest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $145,000
Psychiatrists
Median salary: $224,878 (3.54 percent increase from 2012)
Median gross charges: $489,583
Highest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $300,000
Lowest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $165,000
Pulmonologists
Median salary: $300,646 (1.4 percent decrease from 2012)
Median gross charges: $1,003,779
Mean salary for men: $219,000
Mean salary for women: $271,000
Highest-paying region: West ($296,000)
Lowest-paying region: Southwest ($210,000)
Hospital-employed salary: $210,000
Multispecialty group practice salary: $303,000
Highest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $500,000
Lowest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $225,000
Rheumatologists
Median salary: $240,250 (4.89 percent increase from 2012)
Median gross charges: $845,886
Mean salary for men: $195,000
Mean salary for women: $165,000
Highest-paying region: Southeast ($208,000)
Lowest-paying region: Northwest ($140,000)
Hospital-employed salary: $201,000
Multispecialty group practice salary: $224,000
Urologists
Median salary: $424,603 (2.17 percent increase from 2012)
Median gross charges: $1,795,229
Mean salary for men: $344,000
Mean salary for women: $303,000
Highest-paying region: Great Lakes ($433,000)
Lowest-paying region: Mid-Atlantic ($309,000)
Hospital-employed salary: $328,000
Multispecialty group practice salary: $412,000
Highest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $650,000
Lowest offered base salary (not including bonuses): $385,000
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