Physician Salary, Skills & Requirements (2026)
Advertised pay, starting pay, skills and experience from 26,725 US job postings by 2,214 employers. Data as of October 2026.
What US employers post for physicians: advertised pay, the skills and experience they ask for, and the job titles they use, from 26,725 open job postings (October 2026).
- The median advertised pay for physicians in US job postings is $312,000 a year (7,433 postings from 730 employers, October 2026).
- The middle half of those postings offer $258,000 to $425,000.
- Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $277,000 a year (276 postings).
- The skills that most set physician postings apart are medication management, clinical judgment, patient-centered care.
- Postings that state a minimum ask for a median of 2 years of experience.
Physician job postings in the US, October 2026
- $312,000
- Median advertised pay (7,433 postings)
- $258,000–$425,000
- Middle 50% of postings
- $277,000
- Starting pay (postings asking up to 1 year)
- 26,725
- US job postings from 2,214 employers
How much does a physician make?
The median advertised pay is $312,000 a year, from 7,433 US job postings by 730 employers that state pay. One in ten postings offers $585,000 or more.
Advertised pay in 7,433 US physician job postings: median $312,000 a year, middle half $258,000 to $425,000.
- Median: $312,000
- 25th percentile: $258,000
- 75th percentile: $425,000
The figures as a table
| Annual pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| $10K–$20K | 0.2% |
| $20K–$30K | 0.2% |
| $30K–$40K | 0.2% |
| $40K–$50K | 0.1% |
| $50K–$60K | 0.5% |
| $60K–$70K | 0.2% |
| $70K–$80K | 0.4% |
| $80K–$90K | 0.2% |
| $90K–$100K | 0.1% |
| $100K–$110K | 0.4% |
| $110K–$120K | 0.5% |
| $120K–$130K | 0.4% |
| $130K–$140K | 0.8% |
| $140K–$150K | 0.7% |
| $150K–$160K | 0.9% |
| $160K–$170K | 0.4% |
| $170K–$180K | 0.6% |
| $180K–$190K | 0.8% |
| $190K–$200K | 1.1% |
| $200K–$210K | 2.1% |
| $210K–$220K | 2.1% |
| $220K–$230K | 2.7% |
| $230K–$240K | 3.1% |
| $240K–$250K | 2.7% |
| $250K–$260K | 4.0% |
| $260K–$270K | 4.4% |
| $270K–$280K | 6.2% |
| $280K–$290K | 3.3% |
| $290K–$300K | 3.3% |
| $300K–$310K | 6.8% |
| $310K–$320K | 3.5% |
| $320K–$330K | 3.2% |
| $330K–$340K | 2.4% |
| $340K–$350K | 2.1% |
| $350K–$360K | 3.8% |
| $360K–$370K | 1.4% |
| $370K–$380K | 2.4% |
| $380K–$390K | 1.8% |
| $390K–$400K | 0.9% |
| $400K–$410K | 2.6% |
| $410K–$420K | 1.3% |
| $420K–$430K | 1.2% |
| $430K–$440K | 1.1% |
| $440K–$450K | 0.8% |
| $450K–$460K | 1.1% |
| $460K–$470K | 0.7% |
| $470K–$480K | 1.3% |
| $480K–$490K | 0.9% |
| $490K–$500K | 0.3% |
| $500K–$510K | 1.6% |
| $510K–$520K | 0.7% |
| $520K–$530K | 1.7% |
| $530K–$540K | 0.4% |
| $540K–$550K | 0.6% |
| $550K–$560K | 1.2% |
| $560K–$570K | 0.4% |
| $570K–$580K | 1.1% |
| $580K–$590K | 0.4% |
| $590K–$600K | 0.4% |
| $600K–$610K | 1.8% |
| $610K–$620K | 0.4% |
| $620K–$630K | 1.5% |
| $630K–$640K | 0.2% |
| $640K–$650K | 0.2% |
| $650K–$660K | 1.2% |
| $660K–$670K | 0.2% |
| $670K–$680K | 0.1% |
| $680K–$690K | 0.2% |
| $690K–$700K | 0.2% |
| $700K–$710K | 1.1% |
| $710K–$720K | 0.1% |
| $720K–$730K | 0.4% |
| $730K–$740K | 0.2% |
| $750K–$760K | 0.4% |
Midpoint of each posting's pay range, hourly pay × 2,080 hours; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
| Median | Middle 50% | Postings | Most common titles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postings that state an hourly rate | $155.00 | $125.00–$200.00 | 541 | Psychiatrist, Physician, Emergency Medicine Physician |
| Postings that state an annual salary | $308,000 | $255K–$425K | 3,084 | Physician, Primary Care Physician, Family Medicine Physician |
| All pay postings, annualised | $312,000 | $258K–$425K | 7,433 | – |
What is the starting salary for a physician?
Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $277,000 a year (276 postings).
| Experience asked | Median advertised pay | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1 years | $277,000 | 276 |
| 2-4 years | $292,000 | 672 |
| 5+ years | $307,000 | 316 |
Highest-paying physician jobs
Specializations with at least 250 postings that state pay.
| Specialization | Median pay | Postings with pay | Employers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiologist | $516,000 | 303 | 89 |
| Orthopedic Surgeon | $493,000 | 566 | 85 |
| OB/GYN Physician | $371,000 | 317 | 94 |
| Emergency Medicine Physician | $328,000 | 355 | 67 |
| Psychiatrist | $325,000 | 869 | 174 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $285,000 | 925 | 159 |
| Physician (general) | $282,000 | 1,100 | 203 |
| Primary Care Physician | $277,000 | 728 | 129 |
| Medical Director | $260,000 | 315 | 150 |
Physician pay by state
Single-location US postings; states with at least 100 postings that state pay. States with pay-transparency laws (such as California, Colorado, New York and Washington) are over-represented among postings that state pay.
| State | Median pay | Middle 50% | Postings with pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $385,000 | $320,000–$540,000 | 161 | 2.1% |
| Ohio | $375,000 | $281,000–$389,000 | 141 | 3.0% |
| Arizona | $353,000 | $291,000–$385,000 | 116 | 3.2% |
| Maryland | $320,000 | $275,000–$385,000 | 172 | 1.9% |
| California | $314,000 | $264,000–$400,000 | 678 | 7.9% |
| Illinois | $309,000 | $260,000–$403,000 | 516 | 3.9% |
| Massachusetts | $306,000 | $250,000–$385,000 | 226 | 2.2% |
| Texas | $300,000 | $270,000–$385,000 | 374 | 8.0% |
| New York | $300,000 | $240,000–$400,000 | 780 | 7.5% |
| Pennsylvania | $300,000 | $240,000–$423,000 | 121 | 3.8% |
| New Jersey | $300,000 | $255,000–$414,000 | 205 | 2.9% |
| Virginia | $300,000 | $238,000–$300,000 | 135 | 2.1% |
| Colorado | $300,000 | $264,000–$385,000 | 134 | 1.7% |
| Oregon | $291,000 | $271,000–$325,000 | 109 | 2.7% |
| Florida | $280,000 | $262,000–$469,000 | 222 | 7.3% |
Skills employers ask for in physician job postings
| Skill | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| Communication | 27% |
| Interpersonal skills | 13% |
| Compassionate | 7% |
| Leadership | 6% |
| Teamwork | 5% |
| Medication management | 4% |
| Organizational skills | 4% |
| Clinical judgment | 4% |
| Problem-solving | 4% |
| Collaboration | 4% |
Skills named in the posting text; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026. Methodology.
Have a physician job posting in front of you? See which of its skills your resume is missing.
What does a physician do?
Employers post these jobs as Psychiatrist, Primary Care Physician, Family Medicine Physician, Pediatrician, Medical Director and other titles. The largest specializations are Psychiatrist (9%), Family Medicine Physician (11%), Medical Director (4%), Primary Care Physician (8%), Pediatrician (4%), Orthopedic Surgeon (7%).
The closest official occupation is Family Medicine Physicians (29-1215.00). Its most important tasks:
- Prescribe or administer treatment, therapy, medication, vaccination, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
- Order, perform, and interpret tests and analyze records, reports, and examination information to diagnose patients' condition.
- Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results.
- Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
- Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
How much experience do you need to be a physician?
Among 2,151 postings that state a minimum, the median is 2 years. Under 1% say 0 years and 24% ask for 1 year or less.
Minimum experience asked in 2,151 US physician job postings: median 2 years, and 24% ask for 1 year or less.
The figures as a table
| Minimum experience asked | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| 0 yr | under 1% |
| 1 yr | 23% |
| 2 yrs | 28% |
| 3-4 yrs | 29% |
| 5-7 yrs | 17% |
| 8-9 yrs | under 1% |
| 10+ yrs | 2% |
Postings that state a minimum (required or preferred); at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
We do not show a degree figure: in our checks, degree requirements in posting text were found too rarely to publish one. Why.
Full-time 85%, Part-time 15% of the 3,098 postings that state working hours.
Other names for a physician: job titles employers use
| Job title | Employers using it |
|---|---|
| Physician | 437 (19.7%) |
| Psychiatrist | 383 (17.3%) |
| Primary Care Physician | 270 (12.2%) |
| Family Medicine Physician | 224 (10.1%) |
| Pediatrician | 209 (9.4%) |
| Medical Director | 158 (7.1%) |
| Neurologist | 141 (6.4%) |
| Internal Medicine Physician | 131 (5.9%) |
| Gastroenterologist | 126 (5.7%) |
| Surgeon | 122 (5.5%) |
| Urologist | 117 (5.3%) |
| Cardiologist | 109 (4.9%) |
| Dermatologist | 102 (4.6%) |
| Orthopedic Surgeon | 91 (4.1%) |
| Endocrinologist | 89 (4.0%) |
| Emergency Medicine Physician | 89 (4.0%) |
| Rheumatologist | 80 (3.6%) |
| Associate Medical Director | 77 (3.5%) |
| OB/GYN | 75 (3.4%) |
| Anesthesiologist | 74 (3.3%) |
Titles read in our audit and used by at least 3 employers.
Physician job titles compared
The titles people search for most, from the US job postings that use each exact title (October 2026).
| Job title | Open postings | Employers | Median pay | Median experience | Skills named most |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatrist | 1,664 | 383 | $325K | – | medication management, communication, psychiatric evaluations |
| Pediatrician | 392 | 209 | – | – | communication, interpersonal skills, compassionate |
| Primary Care Physician | 1,611 | 270 | $277K | – | communication, outpatient primary care, interpersonal skills |
| Family Medicine Physician | 1,144 | 224 | $286K | – | communication, compassionate, teamwork |
| Medical Director | 438 | 158 | – | – | communication, leadership, mentoring |
Physician vs Pediatrician
| Physician | Pediatrician | |
|---|---|---|
| Open US postings | 3,123 | 392 |
| Employers | 437 | 209 |
| Median advertised pay | $288K | – |
| Median experience asked | 2 years | – |
| Skills that stand out | – | – |
Physician vs Psychiatrist
| Physician | Psychiatrist | |
|---|---|---|
| Open US postings | 3,123 | 1,664 |
| Employers | 437 | 383 |
| Median advertised pay | $288K | $325K |
| Median experience asked | 2 years | – |
| Skills that stand out | – | medication management, psychiatric evaluations, diagnosis |
Physician compared with similar careers
| Career | Median pay | Median experience | Postings | Shares N of top 25 skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physician | $312K | 2 years | 26,725 | – |
| Nurse Practitioner | $142K | 2 years | 21,109 | 21 |
| Physician Assistant | $150K | 2 years | 2,412 | 19 |
| Nurse Midwife | – | 2 years | 1,206 | 19 |
| Physical Therapist | $104K | 1 year | 29,758 | 15 |
Similar careers
| Career | Shares N of the top 25 skills | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioner | 21 | $142K |
| Physician Assistant | 19 | $150K |
| Nurse Midwife | 19 | – |
| Physical Therapist | 15 | $104K |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | 17 | $34.52/hr |
| Dentist | 17 | $234K |
Applying for physician jobs?
- Physician resume examples: one-page examples for these roles
- Match your resume to a job: paste a posting and see the skills your resume is missing
- Check your resume: see how an applicant tracking system reads it
- Find physician jobs: search open postings
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician make?
What is the starting salary for a physician?
How much does a Psychiatrist make?
How much does a Primary Care Physician make?
How much does a Family Medicine Physician make?
Source and method
Open US job postings collected from employers' applicant tracking systems, de-duplicated, counted only when their job title was read in our audit. Shares count at most 20 postings per employer, and franchise locations of one brand count as one employer. Pay uses hourly and annual figures only; a figure is shown when leaving out the largest employer moves it by 10% or less. Every figure states its number of postings. Methodology and measured accuracy.
Accuracy check: we read 20 randomly chosen postings counted on this page in full; 20 of them were this career or a closely related one (October 2026).
Download the figures on this page (CSV): every number above with its count of postings. Aggregate figures are licensed CC BY 4.0; cite the page when you reuse them.