Report: The Average Starting Salary for Physicians Exceeds $400,000

Rhea-AI Summary

AMN Healthcare (NYSE:AMN) has released its 32nd annual physician recruiting incentives report, revealing that the average starting salary for physicians has reached $403,000. The comprehensive study shows significant salary variations across specialties, with orthopedic surgeons commanding the highest starting salary at $576,000, while pediatricians receive the lowest at $258,000.

The report highlights substantial year-over-year salary increases, with otolaryngologists seeing the largest gain of 36% to $487,000. Nurse practitioners are also experiencing rising compensation, with average starting salaries increasing 9.6% to $180,000. Additionally, physicians receive an average signing bonus of $38,315, relocation allowance of $12,619, and CME allowance of $4,073.

Positive

• Significant salary growth across medical specialties, with otolaryngologists seeing 36% increase
• Strong demand for specialists driven by growing senior population
• Average signing bonus for physicians increased 23% to $38,315
• Nurse practitioner starting salaries grew 9.6% to $180,000

Negative

• Substantial salary disparity between specialists and primary care physicians
• Persistent physician shortages across medical specialties
• Growing demand potentially straining healthcare access in rural and underserved areas

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Orthopedic Surgeons at the High End of the Salary Scale, Pediatricians at the Low End

DALLAS, Aug. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The average starting salary for physicians is $403,000, with orthopedic surgeons at the high end of the starting salary scale at $576,000 and pediatricians at the low end at $258,000, according to an annual report from AMN Healthcare’s Physician Solutions division (formerly known as Merritt Hawkins).

The 2025 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives, now in its 32^nd year, tracks starting salaries and other incentives offered by hospitals and medical groups to physicians, nurse practitioners (NPs) and other advanced practice professionals. Specialists are offered the top starting salaries among physicians, according to the report. After orthopedic surgeons, gastroenterologists are offered the highest average starting salary at $552,000, followed by urologists at $521,000, radiologists at $500,000 and hematologists/oncologists at $490,000.

“Demand for specialists is particularly strong and is being driven by the rapid growth of the nation’s senior citizen population,” said Leah Grant, president of AMN Healthcare Physician Solutions. “While demand is growing, many specialists are in short supply, resulting in high starting salary offers.”

Primary care physicians are offered significantly lower starting salaries than specialists. Family medicine physicians are offered an average starting salary of $275,000, less than half that of orthopedic surgeons, while internal medicine physicians are offered an average of $290,000, and pediatricians $258,000.

Starting salaries for most physicians tracked in the report have increased year over year. The average starting salary for otolaryngologists saw the largest year-over-year gain, growing from $358,000 last year to $487,000 this year, a 36% increase. The average starting salary for cardiologists grew from $396,000 last year to $470,000 this year, an increase of 19%, while the average starting salary for hematologists/oncologists grew from $444,000 last year to $490,000 this year, a 10% increase.

Starting Salaries for NPs Increasing
While NPs are offered lower starting salaries than physicians, salary offers to NPs are also increasing according to the report. The average starting salary offer for NPs is $180,000, a 9.6% increase from $164,000 in 2024.

“NPs are in rapidly growing demand as physician shortages persist,” Grant said. “Without them, access to healthcare would be even more problematic, particularly in rural and other underserved areas.”

Specialties in the Most Demand
Each year, AMN Healthcare’s report calculates which types of physicians are in the most demand by comparing the number of job openings in a given specialty to the number of physicians in that specialty. By this calculation, the five types of physicians in most demand are hematologists/oncologists, gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, and radiologists. However, in an era of physician shortages, job prospects are abundant across medical specialties, according to Grant.

“While certain types of physicians are in particular demand, there are job openings for most physicians regardless of specialty,” Grant said. “In today’s market, there is virtually no such thing as an unemployed physician.”

Signing Bonuses, Relocation and Continuing Medical Education
In addition to starting salaries, physicians and NPs often are offered signing bonuses, relocation allowances and continuing medical education (CME) allowances. The average signing bonus for physicians tracked in the report is $38,315, up 23% from $31,103 last year, while the average relocation allowance for physicians is $12,619, up 12% from $11,284 last year. The average CME allowance for physicians is $4,073, up 3% from $3,969 last year.

Combined, the average signing bonus, relocation and CME allowance offered to physicians is $58,854, which is in addition to an average starting salary of $403,00 for all physicians tracked in the report. Most physician and NP employment contracts also offer benefits like health insurance, malpractice insurance and retirement/401k plans.

AMN Healthcare’s 2025 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives is based on a representative sample of the 1,420 search engagements the company conducted from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, and includes data on starting salaries and other incentives offered by the company’s clients to physicians and advanced practice professionals nationwide. A copy of the report can be accessed at https://online.flippingbook.com/view/72701021/

About AMN Healthcare  
AMN Healthcare is the leader and innovator in total talent solutions for healthcare, bringing together the people, processes and technology to deliver better care. Through a steadfast partnership approach, we solve the most pressing workforce challenges to enable better clinical outcomes and access to care. In 2024 our healthcare professionals reached nearly 15 million patients at more than 2,100 healthcare systems, including 87 percent of the top healthcare systems nationwide. We provide a comprehensive network of quality healthcare professionals and deliver a fully integrated and customizable suite of workforce technologies. For more information, visit www.amnhealthcare.com.

Media Contact  Corporate Communications  AMN Healthcare  AMN-PR@amnhealthcare.com	Investor Contact  Randle Reece  Vice President, Investor Relations AMN Healthcare  (866) 861-3229 | investorrelations@amnhealthcare.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/668562cc-c06f-49a8-9190-f9686efe0e1c

FAQ

What is the average starting salary for physicians in 2025 according to AMN Healthcare's report?

According to AMN Healthcare's 2025 report, the average starting salary for physicians is $403,000, with additional average incentives totaling $58,854 including signing bonus, relocation, and CME allowances.

Which medical specialty has the highest starting salary in 2025?

Orthopedic surgeons have the highest starting salary at $576,000, followed by gastroenterologists at $552,000 and urologists at $521,000.

How much did nurse practitioner (NP) starting salaries increase in 2025?

Nurse practitioner starting salaries increased by 9.6% from $164,000 in 2024 to $180,000 in 2025.

What are the five most in-demand physician specialties according to AMN Healthcare?

The five most in-demand physician specialties are hematologists/oncologists, gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, and radiologists, based on the ratio of job openings to available physicians.

How much has the signing bonus for physicians increased in 2025?

The average physician signing bonus increased by 23% from $31,103 in 2024 to $38,315 in 2025.