Salary Outlook
A physician’s average salary varies. In 2011, a general internist made an average salary of $183,170, the Labor Department reports. Those with subspecialties, such as gastroenterologists, cardiologists, and urologists, had average salaries that eclipsed $187,999 in 2011. Areas of the country that pay physicians particularly well include Lowell, Mass., Texarkana, Texas, and Springfield, Mont. The lowest-paid in the profession make around $67,780.
| Job Salary | Year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | $167,810.00 |
| 2004 | $159,990.00 |
| 2006 | $162,770.00 |
| 2008 | $177,890.00 |
| 2010 | $191,950.00 |
Average Physician Pay vs. All Healthcare Jobs
Most doctors are paid well. In fact, a physician’s average salary is higher than the median salary of any of our other healthcare jobs. The next-highest salary on our list, that of a dentist, is still approximately $40,000 less per year than a general internist’s. Pharmacists, in comparison, made approximately $111,570 in 2010. And registered nurses, who often work closely with doctors, made an average salary of $64,690 in 2010.
| Job Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Physician | $183,170.00 |
| Dentist | $142,740.00 |
| Pharmacist | $113,390.00 |
| Occupational Therapist | $73,820.00 |
| Dental Hygienist | $69,280.00 |
| Registered Nurse | $65,690.00 |
See Complete List of Best Healthcare Jobs
Best Paying Cities for Physicians
The highest paid in the physician profession work in the metropolitan areas of Texarkana, TX, Pensacola, FL, and Lowell, MA. The Springfield, MT area also pays well, as does the city of Greenville, NC.
Texarkana, TX
The annual median wage of a physician working in Texarkana, TX is greater than $250,000. It's also more than the average salary for this profession.
Pensacola, FL
The annual median wage of a physician working in Pensacola, FL is greater than $250,000. It's also more than the average salary for this profession.
Lowell, MA
The annual median wage of a physician working in Lowell, MA is greater than $250,000. It's also more than the average salary for this profession.
Springfield, MT
The annual median wage of a physician working in Springfield, MT is greater than $250,000. It's also more than the average salary for this profession.
Greenville, NC
The annual median wage of a physician working in Greenville, NC is greater than $250,000. It's also more than the average salary for this profession.
