Physician pay
What doctors earn — and take home — in 2026
Medicine is one of the highest-paid professions in the country. The BLS lists the median physician and surgeon at $239,200 or more (May 2024) — high earners exceed the survey's top-coded wage, so the true median is higher. Specialty is the biggest factor: primary care sits lower, while orthopedic surgery, cardiology and anesthesiology routinely exceed $400,000.
Where a physician's paycheck goes
On a $239,200 salary, a single doctor is in the 35% federal marginal bracket, pays Social Security up to the $184,500 wage base, and pays the full 1.45% Medicare plus the 0.9% surtax on income over $200,000. In high-tax states like California, another 9.3%–11.3% comes off the top. Student-loan repayment and malpractice premiums are major additional costs for early-career physicians.
The highest-paying states for doctors
Physician pay tends to run highest in lower-cost, lower-supply states — but no-income-tax states such as Texas, Florida, Tennessee and Washington deliver the best take-home because the state takes nothing. Compare the after-tax figure, since a $250,000 Texas salary can beat a higher California number.
Compare medicine with other careers
See how physician pay compares with a lawyer, a pharmacist or a registered nurse, or check your exact net in Texas or California.
Questions
Doctor Salary Calculator FAQ
How much does a doctor make in 2026?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median wage of $239,200 or more for physicians and surgeons (May 2024) — the figure is top-coded, meaning the true median exceeds it. Pay varies enormously by specialty: family medicine and pediatrics sit near $230,000, while surgical and procedural specialties commonly exceed $400,000.
What is a doctor's take-home pay on $239,200?
A single physician earning $239,200 takes home roughly $160,000 to $165,000 a year after federal income tax, FICA and the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax in a no-income-tax state. In a high-tax state like California, state income tax can remove another $18,000 to $22,000. Use the state selector for your exact estimate.
Do doctors pay extra Medicare tax?
Yes. Physicians earning above $200,000 (single) pay the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on wages over that threshold, on top of the standard 1.45% Medicare tax. This calculator applies it automatically. High earners also lose the Social Security cap benefit only above $184,500, so most of a physician salary is fully FICA-taxed.
Which states are best for physician take-home pay?
No-income-tax states — Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Washington, Nevada, South Dakota and Wyoming — give the highest take-home on a given salary because no state income tax is withheld. Several also report strong physician demand, so a high salary and zero state tax can combine for the best net pay in the country.
- Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Physicians and Surgeons (median ≥ $239,200, May 2024) · IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 · IRS Additional Medicare Tax · SSA 2026 wage base ($184,500) · State departments of revenue.
- 🔄 Last updated June 9, 2026 · Tax year 2026
← Back to the national salary calculator · Related: Lawyer · Pharmacist · Texas · California