Highest paying jobs in the medical field
The 50 best-paid healthcare occupations (BLS groups 29, healthcare practitioners and technical, and 31, healthcare support). Ranked by median yearly pay, BLS May 2025.
The top-paying jobs at a glance
- Pediatric surgeons earn the most (median $559,030), followed by cardiologists ($496,010) and radiologists ($420,860).
- At number 50, acupuncturists still earn a median of $76,040, 1.5 times the median for all US jobs ($50,980).
- Most of the top 50 are in healthcare practitioners (50).
- The most common entry requirement among them is a doctoral or professional degree (29 of the 50).
official BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and Employment Projections. Methodology.
The 20 best-paid
Pediatric surgeons top the list at $559,030 a year
US median yearly pay, the 20 highest in this list, May 2025. The median for all US jobs is $50,980.
Pediatric surgeons Median a year: $559,030
Surgeons, all other Median a year: $414,010
Prosthodontists Median a year: $311,180
Physicians, all other Median a year: $265,930
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025; typical education from BLS Employment Projections 2025–35.
Show the numbers
| Median a year | |
|---|---|
| Pediatric surgeons | $559,030 |
| Cardiologist | $496,010 |
| Radiologist | $420,860 |
| Surgeons, all other | $414,010 |
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Orthopedic surgeon | $358,550 |
| Oral surgeon | $352,220 |
| ER doctor | $335,550 |
| Dermatologist | $328,730 |
| Pathologist | $312,400 |
| Prosthodontists | $311,180 |
| Ophthalmologist | $300,080 |
| OB-GYN | $292,910 |
| Orthodontist | $289,140 |
| Psychiatrist | $281,870 |
| Physicians, all other | $265,930 |
| Internist | $256,560 |
| Neurologist | $248,560 |
| Family medicine doctor | $244,180 |
| CRNA | $236,590 |
All 50, ranked
| # | Job | Median a year | Hourly | Employed | Typical education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pediatric surgeons | $559,030 | $268.76 | 1,190 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 2 | Cardiologist · Cardiologists | $496,010 | $238.47 | 17,290 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 3 | Radiologist · Radiologists | $420,860 | $202.34 | 26,770 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 4 | Surgeons, all other | $414,010 | $199.04 | 25,140 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 5 | Anesthesiologist · Anesthesiologists | $391,490 | $188.22 | 38,760 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 6 | Orthopedic surgeon · Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric | $358,550 | $172.38 | 14,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 7 | Oral surgeon · Oral and maxillofacial surgeons | $352,220 | $169.34 | 4,910 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 8 | ER doctor · Emergency medicine physicians | $335,550 | $161.32 | 32,880 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 9 | Dermatologist · Dermatologists | $328,730 | $158.04 | 11,370 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 10 | Pathologist · Physicians, pathologists | $312,400 | $150.19 | 11,110 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 11 | Prosthodontists | $311,180 | $149.61 | 870 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 12 | Ophthalmologist · Ophthalmologists, except pediatric | $300,080 | $144.27 | 8,950 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 13 | OB-GYN · Obstetricians and gynecologists | $292,910 | $140.82 | 21,260 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 14 | Orthodontist · Orthodontists | $289,140 | $139.01 | 6,210 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 15 | Psychiatrist · Psychiatrists | $281,870 | $135.51 | 27,980 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 16 | Physicians, all other | $265,930 | $127.85 | 342,720 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 17 | Internist · General internal medicine physicians | $256,560 | $123.35 | 67,150 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 18 | Neurologist · Neurologists | $248,560 | $119.50 | 10,590 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 19 | Family medicine doctor · Family medicine physicians | $244,180 | $117.39 | 107,510 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 20 | CRNA · Nurse anesthetists | $236,590 | $113.75 | 51,840 | Master's degree |
| 21 | Dentists, all other specialists | $224,990 | $108.17 | 5,230 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 22 | Pediatrician · Pediatricians, general | $210,040 | $100.98 | 39,390 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 23 | Dentist · Dentists, general | $170,950 | $82.19 | 124,390 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 24 | Podiatrist · Podiatrists | $160,300 | $77.07 | 9,680 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 25 | Medical dosimetrist · Medical dosimetrists | $147,470 | $70.90 | 3,410 | Bachelor's degree |
| 26 | Pharmacist · Pharmacists | $140,910 | $67.75 | 321,970 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 27 | Optometrist · Optometrists | $136,570 | $65.66 | 42,790 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 28 | Physician assistant · Physician assistants | $135,880 | $65.33 | 162,150 | Master's degree |
| 29 | Nurse midwife · Nurse midwives | $134,040 | $64.44 | 7,920 | Master's degree |
| 30 | Nurse practitioner · Nurse practitioners | $132,300 | $63.61 | 323,040 | Master's degree |
| 31 | Veterinarian · Veterinarians | $130,100 | $62.55 | 83,900 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 32 | Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other | $115,210 | $55.39 | 28,630 | Master's degree |
| 33 | Radiation therapist · Radiation therapists | $105,310 | $50.63 | 17,070 | Associate's degree |
| 34 | Physical therapist · Physical therapists | $102,760 | $49.40 | 267,330 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 35 | Nuclear medicine technologist · Nuclear medicine technologists | $101,370 | $48.74 | 17,080 | Associate's degree |
| 36 | Occupational therapist · Occupational therapists | $100,330 | $48.24 | 162,450 | Master's degree |
| 37 | Genetic counselor · Genetic counselors | $100,040 | $48.09 | 3,740 | Master's degree |
| 38 | Dental hygienist · Dental hygienists | $98,100 | $47.16 | 222,740 | Associate's degree |
| 39 | Speech-language pathologist · Speech-language pathologists | $97,870 | $47.05 | 183,390 | Master's degree |
| 40 | Registered nurse · Registered nurses | $97,550 | $46.90 | 3,379,720 | Bachelor's degree |
| 41 | Ultrasound tech · Diagnostic medical sonographers | $96,590 | $46.44 | 90,160 | Associate's degree |
| 42 | Audiologist · Audiologists | $95,780 | $46.05 | 13,660 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 43 | MRI tech · Magnetic resonance imaging technologists | $95,480 | $45.91 | 43,390 | Associate's degree |
| 44 | Respiratory therapist · Respiratory therapists | $82,280 | $39.56 | 139,790 | Associate's degree |
| 45 | Orthotists and prosthetists | $81,110 | $38.99 | 9,390 | Master's degree |
| 46 | Radiology tech · Radiologic technologists and technicians | $80,110 | $38.52 | 230,490 | Associate's degree |
| 47 | Chiropractor · Chiropractors | $79,200 | $38.08 | 39,630 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 48 | Therapists, all other | $77,930 | $37.47 | 22,640 | Bachelor's degree |
| 49 | Dietitian · Dietitians and nutritionists | $76,400 | $36.73 | 77,570 | Bachelor's degree |
| 50 | Acupuncturists | $76,040 | $36.56 | 7,830 | Master's degree |
41 of the 50 have their own page with pay in every state and city. Others show BLS's occupation title.
More salary rankings
Sources and limits
- Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all 830 detailed occupations. Pay of employees only; the self-employed are not included.
- Typical entry education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35. It is what most workers need to enter the job, not a legal requirement.
- Medians hide wide ranges: in many top-paying jobs the lowest-paid 10% earn far less. Each job page shows the full range.