Orthopedic surgeons and radiologists saw the greatest year-over-year gains to base salaries offered to recruits, according to Merritt Hawkins' 2020 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives.
Data is based on a representative sample of 3,251 permanent physician and advanced practitioner search engagements Merritt Hawkins/AMN Healthcare's physician staffing companies conducted from April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020.
Thirty-six percent of those searches were conducted for hospitals; 32 percent for group practices; and 18 percent for academic settings. Remaining settings include urgent care, federally qualified health centers, Indian Health Service and concierge medicine.
The following figures reflect base salaries or guaranteed income only. Production bonuses and benefits are excluded. Specialties are presented in descending order based on the most requested searches. (Merritt Hawkins conducted 448 family practice searches, for instance, and 37 pulmonology searches.)
Family Practice
Average: $240,000
High: $325,000
Low: $140,000
Year-over-year difference: -0.4 percent
Nurse Practitioner
Average: $126,000
High: $234,000
Low: $90,000
Year-over-year difference: +1.6 percent
Psychiatry
Average: $276,000
High: $400,000
Low: $185,000
Year-over-year difference: +1.1 percent
Radiology
Average: $423,000
High: $577,000
Low: $275,000
Year-over-year difference: +9.3 percent
Internal Medicine
Average: $255,000
High: $400,000
Low: $175,000
Year-over-year difference: -3.4 percent
OB-GYN
Average: $327,000
High: $600,000
Low: $200,000
Year-over-year difference: +2.8 percent
Cardiology (non-invasive)
Average: $409,000
High: $575,000
Low: $300,000
Year-over-year difference: -7.3 percent
Cardiology (invasive)
Average: $640,000
High: $750,000
Low: $500,000
Year-over-year difference: -1.2 percent
Hematology/Oncology
Average: $403,000
High: $612,000
Low: $220,000
Year-over-year difference: +2.5 percent
Physician Assistant
Average: $112,000
High: $145,000
Low: $90,000
Year-over-year difference: +1.8 percent
Anesthesiology
Average: $399,000
High: $535,000
Low: $280,000
Year-over-year difference: -1.2 percent
Hospitalist
Average: $254,000
High: $349,000
Low: $170,000
Year-over-year difference: -5.2 percent
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Average: $215,000
High: $260,000
Low: $170,000
Year-over-year difference: +9.1 percent
Gastroenterology
Average: $457,000
High: $600,000
Low: $300,000
Year-over-year difference: -7.7 percent
Neurology
Average: $295,000
High: $450,000
Low: $255,000
Year-over-year difference: -6.9 percent
Orthopedic Surgery
Average: $626,000
High: $850,000
Low: $425,000
Year-over-year difference: +16.7 percent
Pediatrics
Average: $221,000
High: $300,000
Low: $170,000
Year-over-year difference: -8.7 percent
Urology
Average: $477,000
High: $625,000
Low: $300,000
Year-over-year difference: +2.8 percent
Dermatology
Average: $419,000
High: $700,000
Low: $300,000
Year-over-year difference: -0.2 percent
Pulmonology/Critical Care
Average: $430,000
High: $500,000
Low: $350,000
Year-over-year difference: +7.7 percent