These Are The 10 Highest Physician Salaries By State

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In today’s job market, salary remains a top priority for many professionals. For those considering a career in medicine, you may wonder: how much do physicians earn in my state?

While various factors influence physician salaries, comprehensive data on average earnings by state provides a clear picture. These figures can vary by city, but they offer a solid baseline for salary expectations.

To shed light on physician salaries across the United States, we analyzed the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, focusing on average pay by state and factoring in seniority levels.

Moreover, we considered the cost of living adjustments, recognizing that your earnings have different purchasing power depending on where you live—your salary stretches further in Mississippi than in California.

Based on our analysis, the state with the most favorable adjusted salary for physicians is Mississippi. Below is a quick overview of the top ten states for physician salaries:

Let’s explore how these salaries were calculated and view a detailed ranking of physician salaries by state.

How We Determined Physician Pay by State

We sourced the average annual salary data for physicians from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, specifically their “Occupational Employment Statistics.”

To ensure a fair comparison across states, we also incorporated the living wage figures as defined by MIT, recognizing that salary expectations must account for local economic conditions.

We created an index by dividing the average physician salary in a state by its corresponding living wage. For instance, with a living wage of $57,315 in California and an average physician salary of $198,380, our calculation yields an index value of:

$198,380 / $57,315 = 3.46

We then ranked each state based on this salary index, identifying the highest average salary for physicians accordingly.

Here’s the complete ranking for all states.

Detailed List of Physician Salaries by State

Rank	State	Adjusted Salary	Average Wage	Living Wage
1	Mississippi	$244,402	$223,250	$46,084
2	Iowa	$242,126	$234,600	$48,882
3	Kansas	$239,989	$228,590	$48,054
4	Arkansas	$239,296	$211,410	$44,571
5	South Dakota	$233,475	$210,150	$45,410
6	Nebraska	$226,877	$216,200	$48,076
7	Kentucky	$222,965	$191,400	$43,308
8	South Carolina	$218,970	$202,120	$46,568
9	Alabama	$218,969	$198,890	$45,824
10	Georgia	$218,622	$207,770	$47,946
11	Alaska	$218,494	$235,600	$54,400
12	Louisiana	$217,091	$206,440	$47,975
13	Utah	$216,573	$205,720	$47,922
14	Wisconsin	$215,617	$218,480	$51,120
15	Ohio	$211,129	$191,890	$45,853
16	Wyoming	$210,698	$200,260	$47,951
17	Texas	$207,866	$198,430	$48,160
18	Pennsylvania	$207,516	$205,310	$49,914
19	North Dakota	$206,838	$191,930	$46,814
20	Idaho	$206,280	$187,270	$45,801
21	Montana	$205,699	$191,970	$47,083
22	Washington	$202,948	$206,250	$51,271
23	North Carolina	$199,440	$195,980	$49,575
24	New Hampshire	$195,948	$214,020	$55,103
25	Indiana	$191,232	$177,540	$46,838
26	Florida	$190,461	$197,090	$52,206
27	Colorado	$190,182	$202,780	$53,792
28	Hawaii	$189,683	$228,220	$60,700
29	Tennessee	$188,095	$174,430	$46,785
30	West Virginia	$185,062	$164,420	$44,823
31	Minnesota	$184,066	$190,140	$52,115
32	Illinois	$182,764	$189,480	$52,304
33	Michigan	$180,119	$174,360	$48,837
34	Massachusetts	$179,752	$212,210	$59,560
35	Oregon	$176,498	$181,570	$51,900
36	New Mexico	$175,489	$167,140	$48,050
37	Maine	$174,828	$177,790	$51,305
38	California	$174,619	$198,380	$57,315
39	Virginia	$171,458	$184,420	$54,264
40	Missouri	$169,934	$155,480	$46,159
41	Connecticut	$166,802	$196,730	$59,502
42	Arizona	$166,579	$169,520	$51,341
43	Rhode Island	$165,166	$174,300	$53,240
44	Vermont	$160,842	$165,710	$51,977
45	Delaware	$156,712	$164,980	$53,112
46	New Jersey	$156,523	$174,080	$56,109
47	Oklahoma	$155,962	$144,100	$46,613
48	Maryland	$155,579	$179,410	$58,178
49	New York	$155,178	$181,870	$59,128
50	Nevada	$153,242	$160,070	$52,698

Understanding physician salaries by state is crucial for medical professionals evaluating their career options. With significant variations in pay and cost of living across the country, this data empowers you to make informed decisions about where to pursue your medical career.

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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