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The average salary for a Chief Resident stands at $79,226 per year, equating to approximately $38 per hour. This figure can vary based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific medical specialty. For instance, Chief Residents in high-demand areas or specialized fields may earn significantly more.
Some states offer higher salaries for Chief Residents compared to others. For example, states with a higher cost of living typically provide better compensation packages. This page includes detailed analyses of average salaries by state, helping prospective Chief Residents identify lucrative opportunities.
A Chief Resident not only gains clinical experience but also enhances leadership skills, making them well-prepared for future roles in healthcare. As the demand for skilled healthcare professionals continues to grow, the Chief Resident position remains a critical stepping stone for aspiring physicians.
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The average chief resident salary in New Hampshire, Delaware, and Maine are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average chief resident salary states are Oklahoma, Montana, and Arkansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $101,582 | $48.84 |
| 2 | Maryland | $100,304 | $48.22 |
| 3 | Arizona | $96,703 | $46.49 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $90,532 | $43.52 |
| 5 | Maine | $101,071 | $48.59 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $96,647 | $46.46 |
| 7 | Alaska | $90,450 | $43.49 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $86,140 | $41.41 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $105,619 | $50.78 |
| 10 | Tennessee | $87,118 | $41.88 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $93,953 | $45.17 |
| 12 | Michigan | $84,627 | $40.69 |
| 13 | New York | $90,921 | $43.71 |
| 14 | Virginia | $90,437 | $43.48 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $96,838 | $46.56 |
| 16 | Oregon | $88,229 | $42.42 |
| 17 | Nevada | $86,271 | $41.48 |
| 18 | California | $92,178 | $44.32 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $84,918 | $40.83 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $87,183 | $41.91 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $93,572 | $44.99 |
| 22 | Connecticut | $87,917 | $42.27 |
| 23 | Ohio | $81,594 | $39.23 |
| 24 | Vermont | $88,584 | $42.59 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $78,506 | $37.74 |
| 26 | Texas | $80,756 | $38.83 |
| 27 | Iowa | $77,000 | $37.02 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $75,508 | $36.30 |
| 29 | Idaho | $83,698 | $40.24 |
| 30 | Alabama | $76,474 | $36.77 |
| 31 | Georgia | $77,915 | $37.46 |
| 32 | Washington | $78,132 | $37.56 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $75,563 | $36.33 |
| 34 | Florida | $75,000 | $36.06 |
| 35 | Illinois | $76,055 | $36.56 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $72,622 | $34.91 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $73,059 | $35.12 |
| 38 | Missouri | $76,441 | $36.75 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $69,642 | $33.48 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $72,039 | $34.63 |
| 41 | Utah | $73,654 | $35.41 |
| 42 | Colorado | $71,224 | $34.24 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $71,400 | $34.33 |
| 44 | Indiana | $67,918 | $32.65 |
| 45 | Montana | $64,524 | $31.02 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $54,613 | $26.26 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $63,864 | $30.70 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $65,975 | $31.72 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $64,874 | $31.19 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $64,509 | $31.01 |
| 51 | Kansas | $64,121 | $30.83 |
The highest-paying cities for chief residents are Baltimore, MD, Boston, MA, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore, MD | $100,679 | $48.40 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $96,763 | $46.52 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $94,036 | $45.21 |
| 4 | New Brunswick, NJ | $93,439 | $44.92 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $90,896 | $43.70 |
| 6 | Richmond, VA | $90,185 | $43.36 |
| 7 | Waterbury, CT | $88,044 | $42.33 |
| 8 | Scranton, PA | $86,227 | $41.46 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $85,935 | $41.31 |
| 10 | Royal Oak, MI | $85,151 | $40.94 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $84,404 | $40.58 |
| 12 | Dallas, TX | $80,243 | $38.58 |
| 13 | Seattle, WA | $78,744 | $37.86 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $78,161 | $37.58 |
| 15 | North Chicago, IL | $76,928 | $36.98 |
| 16 | Saint Louis, MO | $76,848 | $36.95 |
| 17 | Montgomery, AL | $76,203 | $36.64 |
| 18 | Milwaukee, WI | $75,776 | $36.43 |
| 19 | Orlando, FL | $75,607 | $36.35 |
| 20 | Colorado Springs, CO | $71,485 | $34.37 |
A chief resident's salary ranges from $51,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $123,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $123,000 | $10,250 | $59 |
| 75th Percentile | $99,000 | $8,250 | $48 |
| Average | $79,226 | $6,602 | $38 |
| 25th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| 10th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
The highest paying types of chief residents are medical director, service director, and practice manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interim Director | $104,142 | $8,678 | $50.07 | 49,433 |
| Medical Officer | $90,615 | $7,551 | $43.56 | 103,222 |
| Pharmacist Manager | $93,996 | $7,833 | $45.19 | 61,178 |
| Clinical Manager | $84,066 | $7,005 | $40.42 | 81,863 |
| Medical Director | $230,317 | $19,193 | $110.73 | 75,810 |
| Nurse Manager | $83,684 | $6,974 | $40.23 | 380,264 |
Chief resident salaries at Tufts Medical Center and New York Community Hospital are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average chief resident salary at companies like Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and University of Rochester are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tufts Medical Center | $113,697 | $54.66 |
| 2 | New York Community Hospital | $98,913 | $47.55 |
| 3 | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | $97,242 | $46.75 |
| 4 | University of Rochester | $94,562 | $45.46 |
| 5 | Griffin Hospital | $91,536 | $44.01 |
| 6 | St Agnes Home | $90,356 | $43.44 |
| 7 | The Brooklyn Hospital Center | $87,293 | $41.97 |
| 8 | CHI Mercy Health | $85,728 | $41.22 |
| 9 | Saint Joseph Hospital | $84,842 | $40.79 |
| 10 | Mount Sinai Health System | $83,847 | $40.31 |
| 11 | Saint Francis Hospital | $82,732 | $39.77 |
| 12 | Driscoll Children's Hospital | $81,977 | $39.41 |
| 13 | UT Southwestern Medical Center | $81,439 | $39.15 |
| 14 | Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital | $81,071 | $38.98 |
| 15 | Osf St Francis Hospital | $79,505 | $38.22 |
| 16 | Lenox Hill Neighborhood House | $79,316 | $38.13 |
| 17 | Saint Peter's University Hospital | $78,571 | $37.77 |
| 18 | Abington - Jefferson Health | $77,755 | $37.38 |
| 19 | Danbury Hospital | $77,722 | $37.37 |
| 20 | Bridgeport Hospital | $77,720 | $37.37 |
The average chief resident salary has risen by $13,584 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average chief resident earned $65,642 annually, but today, they earn $79,226 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for chief residents over the last decade.
Compare chief resident salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare chief resident salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $79,200 | $38.09 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | $76,700 | $36.88 | +1.2% |
| 2024 | $75,800 | $36.43 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $74,700 | $35.92 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $73,300 | $35.26 | +2.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of Washington | Dshs SCC Chief of Resident Treatment | Ione, WA | 06/19/2025 | $165,000 |
| Ochsner Clinic Foundation | Chief Resident of Pediatrics | New Orleans, LA | 03/13/2025 | $120,500 |
| The Jewish Board | Behavioral Health Clinician Chief Resident | New York, NY | 03/08/2025 | $70,000 |
| Pratt Medical Group Inc. (Tmcpo) | Chief Resident | Boston, MA | 02/28/2025 | $100,000 |
| Dignity Health | Internal Medicine-Junior Faculty Chief Resident | Henderson, NV | 02/26/2025 | $123,133 |
| Presence Chicago Hospitals Network | Chief Resident (Internal Medicine) | Chicago, IL | 02/24/2025 | $77,791 |
| Saint Francis Hospital-Evanston, LLC | Resident Physician/Chief Resident Physician | Evanston, IL | 02/21/2025 | $63,190 |
| Saint Francis Hospital-Evanston, LLC | Resident Physician/Chief Resident Physician | Evanston, IL | 02/21/2025 | $44,678 |
| MUSC | Univ-Pediatrics' Chief Residents | Charleston, SC | 02/18/2025 | $20,000 |
| University of Nevada, Reno | Chief Resident, Family & Community Medicine (Lecturer) | Reno, NV | 02/17/2025 | $69,153 |
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