Physicians hold prestige as one of the highest paying jobs in the USA, alongside a few others. Typically, they are paid depending on their skills and expertise. According to Indeed, a Physician’s Salary in the USA starts from ₹ 81,70,908 per annum, depending on factors like years of experience and skill. The average salary of a physician in the USA is ₹ 1,49,58,687. You should note that the USMLE exam is an essential criterion for practising as a physician in the USA. The USMLE, or United States Medical Licensing Exam, is required in the USA to obtain the medical licence.
A healthcare professional, or a doctor, is responsible for patient health and well-being. They diagnose, treat and prevent diseases, illnesses and injuries that may be chronic, long term or life-threatening emergencies. The hospital, clinic, health centre, university or research centre may offer employment for a physician. The role of anesthesiologists, OBGYNs, family and general physicians, paediatricians and surgeons can be highly specialised.
Physician Salary in the USA: Based on Specialities
According to Indeed, a primary care Physician, on average, earns ₹ 1,67,09,679 annually in the USA, whereas specialists make around ₹ 3,44,53,771 per year. But, according to Indeed.com, the average income of a Physician in the United States is ₹ 1,49,58,687 per year. Also, according to the same, Physicians with less than one year of experience can earn up to ₹ 1,74,22,430. In contrast, highly experienced professionals with an experience of more than ten years earn around ₹ 2,10,25,474 per year. You can consult the table below for detailed information about a Physician’s annual salary and speciality.
| Physician Specialities | Average Annual Competition (in INR) Conversion rate: 83.41 INR = 1 dollar |
| Plastic Surgery | 3,58,07,265 |
| Cardiology | 27,41,367 |
| Orthopaedics and Orthopedic Surgery | 4,43,50,864 |
| Urology | 3,44,53,771 |
| Radiology | 3,77,01,190 |
| Otolaryngology | 3,40,88,239 |
| Gastroenterology | 3,44,87,735 |
| Dermatology | 3,14,91,886 |
| Oncology | 2,77,71,797 |
| Ophthalmology | 2,68,28,123 |
| Anesthesiology | 3,53,46,166 |
| General Surgery | 3,58,12,343 |
| Critical Care | 3,21,33,711 |
| Pulmonary Medicine | 2,47,05,355 |
| Emergency Medicine | 3,04,26,339 |
| Nephrology | 2,27,60,816 |
| Pathology | 2,52,11,323 |
| Paediatrics | 1,41,91,743 |
| Family Medicine | 2,33,87,741 |
| Public Health and Preventive Medicine | 1,54,48,089 |
| Diabetes and Endocrinology | 2,10,52,862 |
| Infectious Disease | 2,02,81,174 |
| Internal Medicine | 1,99,69,751 |
| Allergy and Immunology | 2,29,86,746 |
| Psychiatry | 2,07,71,825 |
| Rheumatology | 2,08,70,554 |
| Neurology | 2,33,42,122 |
| Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation | 2,13,99,997 |
*Note- All the above salaries are approximate figures per existing data and are subject to change. Your salary will vary based on factors like the company you work for, its location, and the type of business it is. The income numbers provided are based on ‘per annum salary’ and are meant to give you a general idea and can vary.
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The salary mentioned above might differ per city and state in the US. Therefore, a detailed table concerning the physician salary in the USA in the different states is provided below.
Physician Salary in the USA Depending on Location
| State | Average Salary (in INR Per Year) Conversion rate: 83.41 INR = 1 dollar |
| Maine | 1,95,09,319 |
| Montana | 1,80,60,009 |
| Alaska | 1,72,20,892 |
| South Dakota | 1,72,20,892 |
| Wyoming | 1,73,93,210 |
*Note- All the above salaries are approximate figures per existing data and are subject to change. Your salary will vary based on factors like the company you work for, its location, and the type of business it is. The income numbers provided are based on ‘per annum salary’ and are meant to give you a general idea and can vary.
However, according to Weatherby Healthcare, Alabama is the highest-paying state for Physicians, whereas Minnesota ranks at the bottom. For ease of understanding, individuals can check the Physician Salary in the USA table below –
| State | Average Salary (in INR Per Year) Conversion rate: 83.41 INR = 1 dollar |
| Alabama | 3,09,05,336 |
| Kentucky | 2,33,14,900 |
| Oklahoma | 1,40,76,115 |
| Indiana | 1,36,73,705 |
| Missouri | 1,29,93,503 |
| South Carolina | 1,39,17,199 |
| Georgia | 1,28,82,703 |
| Florida | 1,43,69,723 |
| Lowa | 1,79,24,985 |
| Tennessee | 1,32,39,745 |
| North Carolina | 1,22,49,203 |
| Ohio | 1,06,86,180 |
| Louisiana | 2,20,14,018 |
| Texas | 1,35,10,377 |
| Nevada | 1,37,98,990 |
| Maryland | 1,44,72,698 |
| Virginia | 1,61,12,640 |
| Arizona | 1,55,41,657 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,19,49,768 |
| New Jersey | 1,28,17,189 |
| California | 1,71,13,421 |
| Washington | 1,61,73,077 |
| Illinois | 1,61,73,077 |
| Michigan | 1,35,70,480 |
| Colorado | 1,70,15,608 |
| Oregon | 1,61,80,319 |
| Wisconsin | 1,27,63,579 |
| Connecticut | 1,58,03,965 |
| Massachusetts | 1,34,42,948 |
| New York | 1,82,05,440 |
| Minnesota | 1,32,05,780 |
*Note- All the above salaries are approximate figures per existing data and are subject to change. Your salary will vary based on factors like the company you work for, its location, and the type of business it is. The income numbers provided are based on ‘per annum salary’ and are meant to give you a general idea and can vary.
Physicians Salary in the USA: Best Cities
| State | Average Salary (in INR Per Year) Conversion rate: 83.41 INR = 1 dollar |
| Parkersburg, West Virginia | 1,77,08,379 |
| Manchester, New Hampshire | 1,63,95,676 |
| Niles, Michigan | 1,71,34,816 |
| Bloomington, Illinois | 1,89,78,793 |
| Dover, New Hampshire | 2,05,88,767 |
*Note- All the above salaries are approximate figures per existing data and are subject to change. Your salary will vary based on factors like the company you work for, its location, and the type of business it is. The income numbers provided are based on ‘per annum salary’ and are meant to give you a general idea and can vary.
Apart from the cities mentioned above, other high-paying cities for physicians are New York, Chicago, Brooklyn, Greenville, Indianapolis, Washington DC, San Antonio, Dallas, and Atlanta. However, there are disparities in earnings between self-employed and salaried physicians.
Physician Salary in the USA by Years of Experience
The value of your long-term experience is very high and tells the employer that you’re a dedicated worker with an excellent knowledge base. There is greater reliability in physicians with more experience. Your expertise increases with experience in all areas, and you’ll earn a lot of money for it. The table below shows the differences in salary between US physicians relative to their experience.
| Years of Experience | Annual Salary in INR Conversion rate: 83.41 INR = 1 dollar |
| 0 to 1 year | 1,74,22,430 |
| 1 to 2 years | 1,07,53,109 |
| 3 to 5 years | 1,42,23,290 |
| 6 to 9 years | 1,73,00,391 |
| More than 10 years | 2,10,25,474 |
*Note- All the above salaries are approximate figures per existing data and are subject to change. Your salary will vary based on factors like the company you work for, its location, and the type of business it is. The income numbers provided are based on ‘per annum salary’ and are meant to give you a general idea and can vary.
Benefits & Scope of Working as a Physician in the USA
The top benefits of working as a physician in the USA are –
- A Physician’s Salary in the USA is higher, with an average salary of 2,91,36,030 INR (Glassdoor).
- According to the same, there are 1.8 million jobs available every year. Hence, the scope of individuals willing to work as a physician is wide open.
- The unemployment rate is 0.7% for physician jobs.
- According to the Bureau of Labour, there is a projected growth of 7.7% employment for physicians from 2020 to 2030.
Due to the ample growth opportunities, a doctor’s job has been in the limelight. But, not everyone is aware of the steps to becoming a physician in the USA.
Steps to Become a Physician in the USA
The steps to becoming a physician in the USA are given below. You can check these to achieve your goal of becoming a physician.
Step 1: Get a Relevant Undergraduate Degree
The first step in becoming a physician is to get a relevant undergraduate degree in a relevant field such as biology, physics, chemistry or any other area.
Step 2: Pass the Medical College Admission Test Examination
You must pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) before applying to a medical college. This examination is administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
Step 3: Apply to Medical Schools
After MCAT, you have to apply to a medical school. But, they must also remember that admissions are highly competitive, and they should aim to achieve a 3.5 GPA.
Step 4: Complete the Medical Degree
To become a physician, you must complete a Medical Doctor Degree (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic (DO). Both degrees are four-year programs, but the focus on patient care differs.
Step 5: Take a Licensing Program
You must pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) before pursuing clinical rotations in your second year of studies. This examination is meant to test a physician’s proficiency before starting practising medicine without supervision.
Step 6: Undertake a Residency Program
To become a physician, You have to take a residency program in your speciality of interest after graduating from medical school. These are assigned through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), which operates under the supervision of the American Association of Medical Colleges. You can complete this training within three to eight years, depending on the area of specialisation.
Step 7: Obtain a Licence for Practising Medicine
To practice medicine in a particular state, You have to get a license that allows them to do so. You must know that the rules and regulations might vary with conditions, and they can thoroughly check all aspects beforehand.
Step 8: Earn Certifications and Prepare a Resume and Cover Letter
Although getting certifications is not a mandatory task, you can do so to demonstrate high-level proficiency and expertise. Apart from that, you must also prepare a resume and cover letter to help with job applications. Hence, a physician job in the USA is undoubtedly one of youths’ most sought-after career choices. Due to the high Physician Salary in the USA and its rising demands, it is also challenging. Also, according to data published in Weatherby Healthcare, most physicians feel well compensated.
Final Thoughts
The role of physicians remains very important in the healthcare centre. It is essential to understand that physician’s salaries in the USA can vary due to various factors like years of experience, location and speciality. Passing all four sections of the USMLE exam is essential to practice medicine in the USA.So, to start your journey in the USA, your first step should be researching the location that aligns with your interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the average salary for physicians in the USA?
A. The salary rate for physicians in the United States can vary considerably Depending on factors such as speciality, location, experience and type of practice. The lowest salary in the United States is 81,70,908 INR, and the maximum salary is 2,73,85,287 INR.
Q. What are the alternative career choices other than being a physician?
A. Some physicians’ alternative career choices are pharmacists, medical directors, nurse practitioners, etc. Further, they can take up job roles of teachers, Corporate Physicians, Healthcare Consultants and Medical writers or editors.
Q. What are the demanding soft skills required for physicians?
A. A few soft skills required for a physician are-
1. communication
2. attention to detail
3. problem-solving and analysis
4. active listening
5. teamwork
6. compassion and empathy.
Q. Can an international student apply for a physician course in the USA?
A. An international student can apply for a physician course in the USA. But, they must know that the prerequisites might differ with institutions. Several top-ranked universities offer various degree programs for the USA nationals and international students.
Q. What are some of the leading professional organisations for physicians?
A. There are multiple organisations for physicians in the USA. Some of them are-
1. The American Academy of Family Physicians
2. American College of Physicians
3. American Society of Internal Medicine, etc.
Q. How much do physicians earn in the USA?
A. The average salary of a Medical Doctor in the USA is INR 14,040,029 per year in 2023 (Glassdoor). The highest average annual wage was INR 17,085,224, and the lowest salary was INR 10,388,309. This salary includes
1. base salaries
2. transport
3. housing facility benefits.
Q. What are the highest-paying physicians in the USA?
A. The top highest-paid doctors in the US are in surgical and procedural specialities such as neurosurgery, thoracic, and orthopaedic surgery. These physicians earn an average annual salary of $600,000 or more.
Q. Are physicians in demand in the USA?
A. Yes. In the US today, more than 83 million inhabitants live in areas with limited access to primary care physicians. According to data from the American Academy of Medical Colleges, by 2034, the United States is expected to have a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians in all specialities.
Q. Are Indian doctors in demand in the USA?
A. In the US, one in every 20 practising medical professionals is an Indian or Indian-American. According to statistics, Indians constitute the largest population segment in America’s healthcare community that is not Caucasian. It’s no surprise, then, that many Indian doctors are dreaming of becoming permanent practitioners in the United States.
Q. Where do physicians work in the USA?
A. In both clinical and nonclinical settings, physicians and surgeons work together. Clinical settings include physicians’ offices and hospitals; nonclinical settings include government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and insurance companies.
Q. Is Indian MBBS valid in the USA?
A. For Indian medical graduates, the only way to practice medicine in the U.S. is to pass the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination. Whether you’re an MBB doctor or a specialist, it doesn’t matter. Either way, you’ll have to go through USMLE.
Q. How hard is the USMLE exam?
A. The USMLE test is highly demanding and requires much preparation to succeed. First, the key to success in USMLE is getting started on time and studying consistently. Many students begin preparing for the test one year or two before, taking different learning aids such as textbooks, revision courses and practice questions.
