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Attending physician salary
Average attending physician salary
$200,702
Average Attending Physician Salary
The average salary for an attending physician is approximately $200,702 annually, translating to about $96 per hour. This figure varies significantly depending on geographic location, experience, and specialty. For example, attending physicians in urban centers often earn more due to higher living costs and demand for specialized skills.
Salary by State
In states like California and New York, attending physicians report some of the highest salaries, often exceeding $250,000. In contrast, states with lower costs of living may offer salaries closer to the national average.
Opportunities for Advancement
Attending physicians can increase their earning potential by pursuing leadership roles or subspecialty certifications. Furthermore, those working in high-demand fields, such as cardiology or orthopedics, may command higher salaries. Understanding these dynamics is essential for any physician looking to maximize their career earnings.
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Where can an Attending Physician earn more?
Attending physician salary estimates from across the web
Average attending physician salary by state
The highest-paying states for attending physicians are New Jersey, Vermont, and North Dakota. The lowest average attending physician salary states are Nevada, Massachusetts, and Utah.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for attending physicians
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $183,568 | $88.25 |
| 2 | Vermont | $186,227 | $89.53 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | $173,970 | $83.64 |
| 4 | Maine | $177,726 | $85.45 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $177,540 | $85.36 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $178,478 | $85.81 |
| 7 | Florida | $181,110 | $87.07 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $173,951 | $83.63 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | $173,764 | $83.54 |
| 10 | Alabama | $177,676 | $85.42 |
| 11 | Ohio | $178,798 | $85.96 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $190,049 | $91.37 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $172,165 | $82.77 |
| 14 | Texas | $175,655 | $84.45 |
| 15 | Montana | $171,866 | $82.63 |
| 16 | Illinois | $176,768 | $84.98 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $170,296 | $81.87 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $171,866 | $82.63 |
| 19 | Indiana | $170,128 | $81.79 |
| 20 | Iowa | $171,102 | $82.26 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $170,154 | $81.80 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $171,982 | $82.68 |
| 23 | Missouri | $172,675 | $83.02 |
| 24 | New York | $173,193 | $83.27 |
| 25 | Washington | $171,958 | $82.67 |
| 26 | Idaho | $172,947 | $83.15 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $164,712 | $79.19 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $171,409 | $82.41 |
| 29 | Alaska | $168,004 | $80.77 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $169,803 | $81.64 |
| 31 | Maryland | $172,000 | $82.69 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $167,973 | $80.76 |
| 33 | Arizona | $166,972 | $80.28 |
| 34 | Virginia | $171,026 | $82.22 |
| 35 | Michigan | $165,725 | $79.68 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $166,140 | $79.88 |
| 37 | Connecticut | $168,158 | $80.85 |
| 38 | Kansas | $166,899 | $80.24 |
| 39 | Nevada | $161,648 | $77.72 |
| 40 | California | $169,320 | $81.40 |
| 41 | Delaware | $169,133 | $81.31 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $165,278 | $79.46 |
| 43 | Georgia | $165,480 | $79.56 |
| 44 | Rhode Island | $166,296 | $79.95 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $142,417 | $68.47 |
| 46 | Oregon | $165,073 | $79.36 |
| 47 | Massachusetts | $155,949 | $74.98 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $145,433 | $69.92 |
| 49 | Utah | $148,620 | $71.45 |
| 50 | Colorado | $147,853 | $71.08 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | $160,392 | $77.11 |
Highest paying cities for attending physicians
The highest-paying cities for attending physicians are Miami, FL, Minneapolis, MN, and Kettering, OH.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami, FL | $206,717 | $99.38 |
| 2 | Minneapolis, MN | $204,130 | $98.14 |
| 3 | Kettering, OH | $202,310 | $97.26 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $200,900 | $96.59 |
| 5 | Morgantown, WV | $192,238 | $92.42 |
| 6 | Charlotte, NC | $189,675 | $91.19 |
| 7 | North Tonawanda, NY | $187,655 | $90.22 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | $187,618 | $90.20 |
| 9 | Albuquerque, NM | $187,513 | $90.15 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $186,388 | $89.61 |
| 11 | Oakland, CA | $186,286 | $89.56 |
| 12 | Richmond, VA | $186,137 | $89.49 |
| 13 | Cleveland, TN | $185,478 | $89.17 |
| 14 | Wilmington, DE | $181,203 | $87.12 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $179,444 | $86.27 |
| 16 | Manchester, CT | $178,579 | $85.86 |
| 17 | Washington, DC | $169,493 | $81.49 |
| 18 | Boston, MA | $161,225 | $77.51 |
| 19 | Parker, CO | $156,686 | $75.33 |
Attending physician salary details
An attending physician's salary ranges from $125,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $321,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an attending physician's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $321,000 | $26,750 | $154 |
| 75th Percentile | $257,000 | $21,417 | $124 |
| Average | $200,702 | $16,725 | $96 |
| 25th Percentile | $156,000 | $13,000 | $75 |
| 10th Percentile | $125,000 | $10,417 | $60 |
Highest paying attending physician jobs
The highest paying types of attending physicians are family practice md, physician, and acute care physician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor | $208,582 | $17,382 | $100.28 | 14,571 |
| Family Practice Doctor | $187,028 | $15,586 | $89.92 | 32,979 |
| Professor Of Family Medicine | $179,574 | $14,964 | $86.33 | 57,697 |
| Family Practice MD | $312,358 | $26,030 | $150.17 | 54,768 |
| Medical Doctor | $181,967 | $15,164 | $87.48 | 60,642 |
| Family Practitioner | $180,399 | $15,033 | $86.73 | 50,599 |
Which companies pay attending physicians the most?
Attending physician salaries at Community Health Systems and UnitedHealth Group are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average attending physician salary at companies like Dignity Health and Mayo Clinic are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Community Health Systems | $258,082 | $124.08 |
| 2 | UnitedHealth Group | $254,690 | $122.45 |
| 3 | Dignity Health | $235,490 | $113.22 |
| 4 | Mayo Clinic | $233,050 | $112.04 |
| 5 | Comprehensive Spine and Sports Center | $226,889 | $109.08 |
| 6 | George Fox University | $224,171 | $107.77 |
| 7 | FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers | $217,239 | $104.44 |
| 8 | Allina Health | $215,879 | $103.79 |
| 9 | Hospital for Special Surgery | $213,274 | $102.54 |
| 10 | Colfax Corporation | $210,810 | $101.35 |
| 11 | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | $210,378 | $101.14 |
| 12 | Connecticut Children's Medical Center | $209,953 | $100.94 |
| 13 | Piedmont Healthcare | $209,492 | $100.72 |
| 14 | Ascension Michigan | $209,194 | $100.57 |
| 15 | Fresenius Medical Care Windsor, LLC | $207,907 | $99.96 |
| 16 | North Shore Health Systems | $207,907 | $99.96 |
| 17 | Integrity Locums | $207,451 | $99.74 |
| 18 | Urgent Team | $206,226 | $99.15 |
| 19 | Advanced Recovery Systems | $205,905 | $98.99 |
| 20 | Medstar Health | $205,837 | $98.96 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Attending physician salary trends
The average attending physician salary has risen by $40,823 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average attending physician earned $159,879 annually, but today, they earn $200,702 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for attending physicians over the last decade.
Compare attending physician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average attending physician salary over time
Compare attending physician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Attending physician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $201,000 | $96.49 | +2.4% |
| 2025 | $196,000 | $94.15 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $193,000 | $92.56 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $190,000 | $91.47 | +4.2% |
| 2022 | $182,000 | $87.68 | +3.2% |
Recently added attending physician salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifelong Medical Care | Physician or Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant-Homeless Services | Oakland, CA | 06/29/2025 | $203,000 |
| Get It-Healthcare | 1099 Medical Director/Attending Physician-Remote | Wellsville, NY | 06/29/2025 | $213,070 |
| Get It Recruit-Transportation | 1099 Medical Director/Attending Physician-Remote | WFH | Henry, IL | 06/29/2025 | $106,603 |
| Get It Recruit-Transportation | Attending Physician-Rounding Pulmonologist-Remote | WFH | Fenton, MI | 06/29/2025 | $50,000 |
| Medstar Research Institute | Palliative Care Medical Director/Attending Physician-Medstar Southern Maryland Hospital Center | Washington, DC | 06/25/2025 | $178,000 |
| West Coast University | Adjunct Assistant Professor, Physician Assistant (Remote) | Los Angeles, CA | 06/21/2025 | $97,150 |
| Shirley Ryan Abilitylab | Attending Physician Alliances-Ascension Alexian Rehabilitation Hospital | Elk Grove Village, IL | 06/17/2025 | $250,000 |
| Medelite Group, LLC | Medical Director/Attending Physician | Naples, FL | 06/14/2025 | $200,000 |
| AMN Healthcare | Primary Care Physician, Physician Assistant, or Nurse Practitioner (NP) | Tillamook, OR | 06/13/2025 | $130,000 |
| External | Attending-Primary Care Physician (Internal Medicine or Family Medicine) | New York, NY | 06/11/2025 | $220,000 |
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