Compensation for U.S. physicians grew 3.8 percent on average between 2020 and 2021, compared to 1.5 percent from 2019 to 2020, according to Doximity's "2021 Physician Compensation Report" released Dec. 16.
The specialties with the highest average annual compensation are predominantly surgical and procedural specialties treating adult patients, the report said. The top three remain unchanged in ranking from last year, though each saw a bump in average pay.
Among the top three, orthopedic surgeons saw the biggest pay bump from last year.
Here are 2021's three highest-paid specialties, on average, followed by their 2020 numbers and the percent change:
1. Neurosurgery: $773,201
2020 average pay: $746,544 (+3.57 percent increase from 2020-2021)
2. Thoracic surgery: $684,663
2020 average pay: $668,350 (+2.44 percent increase from 2020-2021)
3. Orthopedic surgery: $633,620
2020 average pay: $605,330 (+4.67 percent increase from 2020-2021)