Top 10 highest-paid physician specialties

The highest-paid physician specialty is plastic surgery, with plastic surgeons reported earning an average of $526,000 annually, according to Medscape's Physician Compensation Report 2021. That represents a 10% increase since the 2020 edition of the report

The report, based on surveys from 18,000 physicians across 29 specialties, also found that the lowest-paid physician specialty is Pediatrics, with physicians reporting an average annual salary of $221,000, a five percent decrease since the 2020 report.

The following are the top 10 highest-paid physician specialties followed by the percentage change when compared to the 2020 average annual salaries.

1. Plastic surgery: $526,000 (10% increase)
2. Orthopedics: $511,000 (no change)
3. Cardiology: $459,000 (5% increase)
4. Urology: $427,000 (2% increase)
5. Otolaryngology: $417,000 (9% decrease)
6. Radiology: $413,000 (3% decrease)
7. Gastroenterology: $406,000 (3% decrease)
8. Oncology: $403,000 (7% increase)
9. Dermatology: $394,000 (4% decrease)
10. Ophthalmology: $379,000 (no change)

Source: Becker’s Hospital Review