Physicians who specialize in orthopedics have the highest average pay out of 29 specialties, according to Medscape’s April 11 “Physician Compensation Report 2025.“
Medscape surveyed 7,322 respondents from Oct. 3, 2024, to Jan. 15.
Five notes:
1. Orthopedics and orthopedic surgery had an average annual pay of $543,000, the report said. Radiology ($520,000) and plastic surgery ($516,000) were also among the top-paid specialities included.
2. Public health was the specialty with the lowest average pay at $257,000 per year. Pediatrics ($258,000) and family medicine ($276,000) were also among the lowest-paid specialties.
3. Orthopedic pay decreased 3% year over year, the report said. Pulmonary medicine, rheumatology and gastroenterology saw the same decrease.
4. Specialities that saw year-over-year pay increases include endocrinology (8%), pathology (8%), infectious diseases (6%) and anesthesiology (6%).
5. Across all specialities, the gender pay gap widened. Men earned on average $415,000, and women on average earned $317,000. The gap is increased for specialists with men earning an average $438,000 and women earning $332,000.
