Contents
Doctor Salary
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| Hourly Wage | $40.76 | $62.23 | $82.70 | $90.00+ | $90.00+ |
| Annual Wage | $84,800 | $129,400 | $172,000 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ |
How much does a doctor make? Doctors, or physicians as they are also called, are medical professionals who diagnose and treat patients for various illnesses and diseases. Doctors perform a number of duties including examining patients, prescribing medications, and providing preventative care to patients. It takes a minimum of 10 years to become a doctor. 4 years are spent in an undergraduate degree program, 4 years in medical school, and then 3-8 years spent as a resident. A breakdown of the full process of becoming a doctor can be found here.
Salary
According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of a doctor in 2012 was $187,200. That number encompasses all types of doctors, but some doctors who specialize make much more that the median amount.
Variables Impacting Salary
There are many factors that influence a doctor’s salary. Doctors who have been in the field for many years usually earn more than those just out of medical school. In addition, doctors who have their own office with an established practice will earn a higher salary. The type of medicine one practices is also something to consider. Doctors who specialize such as anesthesiologists, neurosurgeons and gynecologists often make more than a primary care physician.
The location of a doctor is another factor in how much a doctor earns. Those doctors practicing in larger cities and more populated areas will undoubtedly make more than doctors practicing in a smaller town or rural area. The states with the highest paid doctors are California, New York, and Texas.
Schedule and Work Environment
Many doctors work in medical offices where they see patients on a daily basis. Doctors in office settings generally work normal business hours, but they must occasionally be available after hours when they are on call and deal with unexpected emergencies. In addition, sometimes medical offices and clinics are open in the evening and on weekends to accommodate patients, so doctors working in those facilities would be required to work a more varied schedule. Some doctors are employed by hospitals and these doctors usually work a 24 hour shift. Doctors in hospitals can expect to work a schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays. Doctors work alongside other doctors, nurses, and a host of other medical professionals.
Job Outlook
The employment outlook for doctors is expected to experience an 18% growth between 2012 and 2022. In 2012, there were 691,400 jobs for doctors, and this number is projected to increase by another 123,300. This rate is faster than average due to several factors. The new healthcare legislation has made medical care available to more of the population, and more people are seeking healthcare due to new advances in medicine and medical technology.
Top Paying Industries
| Industry | Employment | % of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean salary |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | 280 | 0.11 | $116.90 | $243,160 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 370 | 0.02 | $102.54 | $213,290 |
| Employment Services | – | – | $97.16 | $202,090 |
| Offices of Physicians | 82,360 | 3.40 | $91.25 | $189,800 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 6,180 | 0.92 | $91.16 | $189,610 |
Salary By State
| State | 10% | 25% | Median | 75% | 90% | Jobs (2010) | Jobs (2020) | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $97,200 | $132,000 | $172,500 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 1,140 | 1,470 | +29% |
| Alaska | $72,100 | $144,700 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 390 | 500 | +29% |
| Arizona | $87,500 | $127,300 | $169,700 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 1,710 | 2,380 | +39% |
| Arkansas | $127,200 | $165,400 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 1,390 | 1,520 | +9% |
| California | $99,100 | $134,700 | $172,200 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 12,300 | 15,000 | +22% |
| Colorado | $59,100 | $92,100 | $158,400 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 2,220 | 2,800 | +26% |
| Connecticut | $44,600 | $118,500 | $153,300 | $187,100 | $187,200+ | 1,080 | 1,340 | +24% |
| Delaware | $108,000 | $128,100 | $143,700 | $168,700 | $187,200+ | 530 | 640 | +20% |
| District of Columbia | $34,000 | $52,200 | $148,100 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 460 | 610 | +31% |
| Florida | $73,500 | $136,600 | $184,000 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 6,740 | 8,120 | +20% |
| Georgia | $103,400 | $140,300 | $180,300 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 4,080 | 5,170 | +27% |
| Hawaii | $121,600 | $145,000 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 790 | 900 | +14% |
| Idaho | $60,900 | $103,700 | $160,800 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 740 | 920 | +24% |
| Illinois | $84,100 | $119,500 | $175,000 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 6,950 | 7,930 | +14% |
| Iowa | $129,800 | $164,400 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 2,280 | 2,810 | +24% |
| Kansas | $97,000 | $143,800 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 1,380 | 1,660 | +20% |
| Kentucky | $101,300 | $133,300 | $166,900 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 1,140 | 1,450 | +27% |
| Louisiana | $83,800 | $99,900 | $157,900 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 1,370 | 1,810 | +32% |
| Maine | $122,300 | $142,600 | $168,600 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 800 | 900 | +13% |
| Maryland | $63,100 | $119,100 | $166,300 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 3,230 | 3,980 | +23% |
| Massachusetts | $114,000 | $144,400 | $184,800 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 1,360 | 1,560 | +14% |
| Michigan | $90,100 | $131,200 | $172,300 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 3,140 | 3,610 | +15% |
| Minnesota | $86,900 | $138,100 | $170,300 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 3,290 | 4,240 | +29% |
| Mississippi | $81,000 | $116,800 | $162,200 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 1,770 | 2,050 | +16% |
| Missouri | $52,400 | $105,100 | $173,100 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 3,830 | 4,330 | +13% |
| Montana | $84,000 | $123,100 | $149,400 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 510 | 630 | +23% |
| Nebraska | $93,000 | $137,800 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 1,170 | 1,350 | +15% |
| Nevada | $102,200 | $127,100 | $172,600 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | – | – | – |
| New Hampshire | $146,700 | $163,300 | $184,600 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | – | – | – |
| New Jersey | $109,700 | $130,600 | $155,100 | $184,000 | $187,200+ | 2,750 | 3,050 | +11% |
| New Mexico | $88,600 | $121,700 | $163,600 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 1,750 | 2,040 | +17% |
| New York | $71,100 | $127,200 | $169,700 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 2,550 | 3,000 | +18% |
| North Carolina | $118,500 | $140,600 | $175,900 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 4,730 | 5,700 | +21% |
| North Dakota | $101,000 | $131,100 | $169,700 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 240 | 270 | +14% |
| Ohio | $89,300 | $122,600 | $150,200 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 4,370 | 5,310 | +22% |
| Oklahoma | $87,200 | $127,000 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 2,250 | 2,650 | +18% |
| Oregon | $111,600 | $135,100 | $166,800 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | – | – | – |
| Pennsylvania | $74,200 | $117,400 | $160,500 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 6,110 | 6,640 | +9% |
| Rhode Island | $122,000 | $152,700 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 710 | 820 | +17% |
| South Carolina | $80,400 | $124,200 | $168,200 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 2,130 | 2,640 | +24% |
| South Dakota | $61,400 | $130,100 | $176,300 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 520 | 630 | +22% |
| Tennessee | $54,400 | $115,600 | $172,800 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | – | – | – |
| Texas | $71,300 | $132,400 | $170,400 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 6,130 | 7,910 | +29% |
| Utah | $79,700 | $136,400 | $187,000 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 880 | 1,120 | +27% |
| Vermont | $98,100 | $117,400 | $149,100 | $179,900 | $187,200+ | 350 | 390 | +9% |
| Virginia | $80,400 | $112,200 | $166,300 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 2,970 | 4,030 | +36% |
| Washington | $93,700 | $118,900 | $170,300 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 2,130 | 2,500 | +18% |
| West Virginia | $60,100 | $124,500 | $172,200 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 1,100 | 1,220 | +11% |
| Wisconsin | $92,800 | $148,700 | $184,900 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 3,210 | 3,630 | +13% |
| Wyoming | $52,800 | $60,100 | $154,700 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 410 | 520 | +28% |
