The latest analysis from AMN Healthcare reveals that the average starting salary for physicians has surpassed $400,000, with orthopedic surgeons leading the pack at $576,000 and pediatricians bringing up the rear at $258,000. This increase in starting salaries is a result of the ongoing physician shortage and related health professional burnout, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
AMN Healthcare’s 2025 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives highlights the rising demand for specialists, driven by the aging population of baby boomers with increasing healthcare needs. The report is based on data from over 1,400 engagements conducted by the search firm between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, showcasing the starting salaries and incentives offered to physicians and advanced practice professionals across the country.
Leah Grant, President of AMN Healthcare Physician Solutions, notes that the demand for specialists is particularly strong due to the growth of the senior citizen population. This demand, coupled with the short supply of specialists, has led to high starting salary offers in the healthcare industry.
Other reports, such as the American Medical Group Management Association’s 2025 Medical Group Compensation and Productivity Survey, also show an increase in physician compensation. Primary care physicians are seeing median compensation of nearly $330,000, while top specialties like cardiology, gastroenterology, and hematology/medical oncology are earning over $500,000 on average.
The Medical Group Management Association’s report for 2024 indicates a 3.17% increase in median primary care physician compensation, with surgical specialists seeing a 5.57% rise in compensation. Orthopedic surgeons top the list with an average starting salary of $576,000, followed by gastroenterologists, urologists, radiologists, and hematologists/oncologists.
While specialists are commanding higher salaries, primary care physicians are offered lower starting salaries, ranging from $250,000 to $300,000 on average. Nurse practitioners are also seeing a rise in salaries, with an average starting salary offer of $180,000, a 9.6% increase from the previous year. This increase reflects the growing demand for nurse practitioners as physician shortages persist, especially in underserved areas.
Overall, the healthcare industry is witnessing a significant shift in starting salaries for physicians and advanced practice professionals, reflecting the ongoing challenges and changes in the healthcare landscape.
