10 specialties with the highest pay increases in 5 years

Urologist pay grew by $133,000 in the last five years, whereas pay for emergency medicine specialists — the specialty with the smallest growth — increased by only $2,000, according to data from Medscape’s “Physician Compensation Report” for 2023 and 2018.

Advertisement

Urologists earned an average of $373,000 in 2018. In 2023, that figure grew to $506,000, an increase of 36 percent. This was the highest five-year salary increase among 29 specialties, which ranged from the next-highest increase of $118,000 to only $2,000.

Here are the 10 specialties with the highest pay increases in the last five years, starting with the specialty with the greatest increase:

Specialty

 Avg. pay in 2018 

 Avg. pay in 2023 

 Difference 

Urology

$373,000

$506,000

$133,000

Plastic surgery

$501,000

$619,000

$118,000

Otolaryngology

$383,000

$485,000

$102,000

Oncology

$363,000

$463,000

$100,000

 Gastroenterology 

$408,000

$501,000

$93,000

Surgery (general)

$322,000

$412,000

$90,000

Cardiology

$423,000

$507,000

$84,000

Radiology

$401,000

$483,000

$82,000

Orthopedics

$497,000

$573,000

$76,000

Neurology

$244,000

$313,000

$69,000

At the Becker's 23rd Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC + The Future of Spine Conference, taking place June 18–20 in Chicago, spine surgeons, orthopedic leaders and ASC executives will come together to explore minimally invasive techniques, ASC growth strategies and innovations shaping the future of outpatient spine care. Apply for complimentary registration now.

Advertisement

Next Up in Legal + Compensation

Advertisement

Comments are closed.