BLS SOC 29-1228 · Healthcare
Physician Salary
Physicians diagnose and treat illnesses, injuries, and other health conditions. They examine patients, order and interpret tests, prescribe treatments, and counsel patients on preventive care.
Data: BLS OEWS · 2026
National Median
$222,200
annual
25th Percentile
$171,094
annual
75th Percentile
$284,416
annual
90th Percentile
$355,520
annual
National Salary Distribution
P25: $171,094Median: $222,200P75: $284,416P90: $355,520
1
Top Paying Cities for Physician
Ranked by median annual salary
| # | City | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $260,000 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $255,000 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $252,000 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $250,000 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $248,000 |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | $245,000 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $242,000 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $235,000 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $230,000 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $228,000 |
2
Best After Cost of Living
Salary adjusted for cost of living (US avg = $100k)
| # | City | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis, TN | $234,940 |
| 2 | Indianapolis, IN | $233,333 |
| 3 | Columbus, OH | $232,967 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh, PA | $231,111 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $230,337 |
| 6 | Oklahoma City, OK | $230,233 |
| 7 | Louisville, KY | $229,885 |
| 8 | El Paso, TX | $221,176 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $219,626 |
| 10 | Richmond, VA | $215,842 |
3
Physician Salary — All Cities
All 30 metro areas, sorted by median salary
| City | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $195,000 | $260,000 | $340,000 | $420,000 | 8,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $191,000 | $255,000 | $334,000 | $415,000 | 20,000 |
| Boston, MA | $190,000 | $252,000 | $330,000 | $410,000 | 14,000 |
| New York, NY | $188,000 | $250,000 | $328,000 | $408,000 | 22,000 |
| Seattle, WA | $186,000 | $248,000 | $325,000 | $402,000 | 9,000 |
| San Diego, CA | $184,000 | $245,000 | $320,000 | $398,000 | 8,000 |
| Washington, DC | $182,000 | $242,000 | $317,000 | $394,000 | 10,000 |
| Chicago, IL | $177,000 | $235,000 | $308,000 | $382,000 | 12,000 |
| Portland, OR | $173,000 | $230,000 | $302,000 | $376,000 | 6,000 |
| Denver, CO | $172,000 | $228,000 | $298,000 | $372,000 | 6,000 |
| Austin, TX | $168,000 | $225,000 | $295,000 | $368,000 | 6,000 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $168,000 | $225,000 | $295,000 | $368,000 | 9,000 |
| Dallas, TX | $167,000 | $222,000 | $290,000 | $362,000 | 12,000 |
| Miami, FL | $165,000 | $220,000 | $288,000 | $358,000 | 12,000 |
| Houston, TX | $165,000 | $220,000 | $288,000 | $358,000 | 14,000 |
| Richmond, VA | $164,000 | $218,000 | $286,000 | $356,000 | 6,000 |
| Atlanta, GA | $161,000 | $215,000 | $282,000 | $350,000 | 10,000 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $161,000 | $215,000 | $282,000 | $350,000 | 10,000 |
| Raleigh, NC | $161,000 | $215,000 | $282,000 | $350,000 | 6,000 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $159,000 | $212,000 | $278,000 | $346,000 | 5,000 |
| Columbus, OH | $159,000 | $212,000 | $278,000 | $346,000 | 9,000 |
| Nashville, TN | $158,000 | $210,000 | $275,000 | $342,000 | 8,000 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $158,000 | $210,000 | $275,000 | $342,000 | 8,000 |
| Charlotte, NC | $156,000 | $208,000 | $272,000 | $338,000 | 7,000 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $156,000 | $208,000 | $272,000 | $338,000 | 8,000 |
| Detroit, MI | $154,000 | $205,000 | $268,000 | $334,000 | 8,000 |
| Louisville, KY | $150,000 | $200,000 | $262,000 | $326,000 | 6,000 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $149,000 | $198,000 | $260,000 | $323,000 | 5,000 |
| Memphis, TN | $146,000 | $195,000 | $256,000 | $318,000 | 5,000 |
| El Paso, TX | $141,000 | $188,000 | $246,000 | $306,000 | 3,000 |
4
Compare Physician Salaries: City vs City
Top Skills for Physician
Clinical DiagnosisMedical ProceduresPatient ManagementElectronic Health RecordsEvidence-Based Medicine