Gastroenterologists are now offered the highest average starting salary of any physician at $654,000, surpassing orthopedic surgeons, who had led the rankings for four consecutive years.
Average starting salaries offered to orthopedic surgeons fell 12% year over year to $507,000, while the average for gastroenterologists rose 18.5%, according to AMN Healthcare’s 2026 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives.
The average signing bonus offered to physicians also rose 29% to $49,306, up from $38,215 last year, which AMN attributed to hospitals and medical groups competing harder for specialists.
Specialists accounted for 84% of AMN’s physician searches, compared with 16% for primary care. Family medicine physicians were offered an average starting salary of $291,000, while internal medicine physicians averaged $289,000.
The report also found that academic positions offered lower starting salaries than non-academic roles, averaging $362,000 versus $452,000. Nurse practitioners remained the most requested recruiting category for the sixth consecutive year, with average starting salaries of $180,000.
The findings are based on a representative sample of 1,293 permanent physician and advanced practitioner search engagements conducted or ongoing from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.
