How much does a doctor make?
Answer: A typical doctor in the United States makes $265,930 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 343,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Doctor pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $69,170 | $265,930 | $452,360 | about 343,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $454,550 | about 740 |
| Montana | $438,850 | about 580 |
| Maine | $419,410 | about 1,000 |
| Wisconsin | $391,740 | about 6,000 |
| Minnesota | $367,320 | about 5,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, a doctor's pay can differ with specialty, extra training or certification, and experience. Employer and location matter too, as can hours worked and overnight or on-call shifts.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a doctor do?
All physicians not listed separately.
What's a typical day like?
In a clinical role, a doctor reviews charts and test results, examines patients, and decides what tests or treatment they need. The doctor explains the plan, updates records, and coordinates with other health workers.
How to get this job
In the United States, students usually earn a bachelor's degree, take the MCAT, then complete four years of medical school for an MD or DO. They complete a specialty residency for about 3–9 years, pass licensing exams, and get a state medical license.
Did you know?
Some U.S. physicians work in medical research or public policy instead of treating patients.
Similar jobs
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physicians-and-surgeons.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes291229.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.fsmb.org/siteassets/usmle-step3/pdfs/pathway-to-licensure.pdf
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1229.00
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY