Physician satisfaction is not determined by compensation alone, according to a report from Marit Health.
Marit Health’s data is based on anonymized salary contributions as of April 11.
Here are 10 notes from the report:
1. IInfectious disease, OB-GYN and pulmonology are among the physician specialties with the lowest satisfaction levels, all of which tend to have below-average compensation. On the other hand, neurosurgery, hematology-oncology and radiation oncology report higher satisfaction and generally earn above-average pay.
2. While satisfaction scores often align with compensation, the relationship isn’t direct. For example, pediatrics is one of the lowest-paid specialties, and orthopedic surgery is among the highest-paid. However, this “suggests that satisfaction is influenced by more than just total compensation,” the report notes.
3. Several specialties stand out as outliers — highly paid but reporting below-average satisfaction. Anesthesiologists, for example, earn an average of $540,000, but face high burnout due to heavy workloads and unpredictable call schedules.
4. Gastroenterologists also average $590,000 in earnings but report some of the lowest satisfaction scores. The report attributes this to stagnant compensation growth, driven by CMS reimbursement cuts and increasing consolidation by private equity.
5. Some lower-earning specialties, such as physical medicine and rehabilitation, with an average salary of $400,000, show strong satisfaction. Contributing factors include significant year-over-year salary growth, flexible hours and lower-stress work environments.
6. Geographic location significantly influences satisfaction. Midwestern states like Iowa and Indiana, along with nearby states like Kentucky, report high satisfaction due to lower practice costs, greater autonomy, and better work-life balance.
7. Conversely, physicians in Northeastern states such as New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts report the lowest satisfaction levels. These regions often offer some of the lowest salaries in the country.
8. Physicians practicing in rural areas tend to report much higher satisfaction compared to those in large cities. Rural markets benefit from lower living costs, less administrative burden more autonomy, and a greater sense of community impact.
9. Practice setting also affects satisfaction. Self-employed physicians report the highest levels of compensation satisfaction, followed by those working in medical groups. Physicians employed by large hospital systems or public health settings report the lowest satisfaction.
10. Government and military physicians consistently report the lowest satisfaction with compensation, earning up to 50% less than their peers in private practice and hospital settings.
