Physicians in the U.S. earn an average of $363,000 annually, before taking into consideration incentive bonuses for the year, according to Medscape's 2024 "Physician Compensation Report," published April 12.
While primary care providers earn an average of $277,000, specialists earn $394,000.
On top of that, 58% of physicians have a chance at a yearly incentive bonus, according to the report. Dermatologists, orthopedists and cardiologists earn the highest annual incentive bonuses on average, reaching up to $142,000 for the top earners.
The average incentive bonus for all physicians is much lower: $45,000 a year. For primary care providers, the average bonus is $27,000, while it reaches $51,000 for specialists.