Medscape General Surgeon Compensation Report 2026

"General surgeons in the US reported average pay gains similar to those a year earlier in a Medscape survey, and they offered a positive vibe as well. A majority of them said they felt fairly paid and close to 4 in 10 expected to finish the year with some level of compensation increase. (Note: Respondents were full-time physicians who practice in the US only, and they reported total compensation including base salary, incentive bonus, and other income such as profit-sharing contributions.)"

"General surgeons practicing in the US told Medscape their compensation rose by roughly 2% on average in 2025. Doctors generally said their pay increased by about 3% on average last year, with average growth rates for both primary care physicians (PCPs) and medical specialists also in that neighborhood. Many physicians worry about inflation lately, and that average pay gain among physicians overall outpaced the annualized core inflation rate for the US of 2.7% at the end of 2025."

"Matthew Wells, PhD, a senior director at Alexandria, Virginia-based AMGA Consulting, saw 2025 as "a return to normalization" with doctor compensation and looks for "consistency with increases" moving forward. The key drivers, Wells says, are rising individual physician productivity based on seeing more patients and generating more work relative value units (wRVUs), combined with improved technology-driven efficiency in their business offices."

"Practitioners in eight specialties topped $500,000 in total annual compensation. All of them except otolaryngology also reported $500,000-plus in income for last year's report. Pediatrics and public health & preventive medicine also trailed the pack in pay in our prior survey."

General surgeons in the US reported average pay gains of roughly 2% in 2025, similar to the prior year, and many expressed a positive outlook. Most respondents said they felt fairly paid, and close to four in ten expected some level of compensation increase by year end. Total compensation included base salary, incentive bonuses, and other income such as profit-sharing contributions. Physicians overall reported about 3% average pay growth, with primary care and medical specialists also near that range. Average pay gains outpaced the US annualized core inflation rate of 2.7% at the end of 2025. Key drivers included higher physician productivity through more patients and more work relative value units, along with improved technology-driven office efficiency. Multiple specialties reported total annual compensation above $500,000.

Read at Medscape