Medscape--Wealthiest Physician Specialties

Pre-Med & Medical School Careers in Medicine
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The wealthiest physician specialties, ranked, according ro Medscape

Medscape’s 2026 “Physician Wealth and Debt Report” surveyed 5,916 physicians across more than 29 specialties between Sept. 5 and Dec. 17. The survey asked about physicians’ net worth, investment accounts, how well finances are managed and the types of debts they had. Net worth was calculated using financial investments and savings, home equity and personal property.

Here are the specialties ranked by the percentage of physicians with more than $5 million in net worth:

  1. Radiology: 39%

  2. Orthopedics and orthopedic surgery: 39%

  3. Cardiology: 35%

  4. Anesthesiology: 31%

  5. Plastic surgery: 29%

  6. Otolaryngology: 27%

  7. OB-GYN: 25%

  8. Urology: 25%

  9. General surgery: 25%

  10. Gastroenterology: 24%

  11. Ophthalmology: 23%

  12. Nephrology: 22%

  13. Pathology: 21%

  14. Public health and preventive medicine: 20%

  15. Emergency medicine: 19%

  16. Allergy and immunology: 18%

  17. Pulmonary medicine: 16%

  18. Infectious diseases: 16%

  19. Internal medicine: 16%

  20. Diabetes and endocrinology: 15%

  21. Hematology and oncology: 14%

  22. Neurology: 14%

  23. Dermatology: 13%

  24. Psychiatry: 12%

  25. Critical care: 12%

  26. Family medicine: 11%

  27. Pediatrics: 10%

  28. Physical medicine and rehabilitation: 10%

  29. Rheumatology: 9%

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Physicians in specialties that were procedure oriented, rather than patient-oriented, had higher net worths,

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Ooof, radiologists are going to have a long fall from #1 to the bottom/unemployed over the next decade due to AI. Will be a rough transition.

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Diagnostic radiologists maybe.

Interventional radiologists, OTOH, aren’t going to be replaced by AI any sooner than surgeons.

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The list is based on NW, not current income. Across the full US (not just physicians), retired persons are more likely to be above the listed NW threshold than are currently employed persons. The largest sources of wealth in the report were retirement accounts, non-retirement investments, and real estate. If you have millions invested in stock market or real estate, it doesn’t suddenly disappear, if you stop making new contributions.

I also doubt that radiologists as a whole will become unemployed. I think it’s far more likely that AI will augment certain aspects of tasks done by radiologists, rather than eliminate the profession entirely. This might include AI reducing turnaround time and improving accuracy of imaging requests. AI may become a powerful diagnostic assistant in relatively near future, but radiologists do more than just diagnose and few are ready for AI having zero oversight in what may be life and death decisions. The far more common current problem seems to be high demand for radiologists, with too limited a supply.

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NOT soliciting or advertising in anyway, mod feel free to remove if this violates TOS.

But just showing some “real” numbers out there re income.

I thought I share a recent email from So Cal KP:

Physician Support at Kaiser Permanente

At Kaiser Permanente, we believe that exceptional patient care starts with exceptional physician support.

We understand the growing administrative and clinical demands physicians face today. That’s why we’ve built an integrated system designed to support you—so you can focus on what matters most: your patients.

Here’s how we support you:

  • Administrative Support: Dedicated teams help streamline workflows and reduce non-clinical burdens

  • In-Basket Management: Collaborative support to help manage patient messages efficiently

  • Team-Based Care: Work alongside skilled nurses, medical assistants, and support staff who share responsibility for patient care

  • Peer‑to‑Peer Support: A collaborative physician community that encourages mentorship, knowledge‑sharing, and connection with colleagues who understand your day‑to‑day challenges

  • AI Technology (Abridge): Advanced tools that assist with documentation, helping reduce time spent on charting

…plus many more tools, resources, and systems designed to make your work easier and more efficient.

At Kaiser Permanente, you’re not practicing alone—you’re part of a coordinated, supportive system built to help you thrive professionally and personally.

We want you on our team—now hiring physicians in high‑demand specialties, with a competitive sign‑on bonus available.

Explore Our Most Sought‑After Opportunities:

  • **[Cardiologist - Riverside - BONUS $25,000]

  • **[Dermatologist - Antelope Valley - BONUS $400,000]

  • **[Dermatologist - Antelope Valley (Per Diem)]

  • **[Family Medicine - San Bernardino County - BONUS $115,000]

  • **[Family Medicine (Part Time) - West Los Angeles - BONUS $115,000]

  • **[Hematologist/Oncologist - Antelope Valley]

  • **[Hematologist/Oncologist - Downey - BONUS $100,000]

  • **[Internal Medicine (Outpatient) / Family Medicine - Antelope Valley - BONUS $200,000]

  • **[Obstetrician/Gynecologist - Kern County - BONUS $250,000]

  • **[Orthopedist Pediatrics - San Bernardino County - BONUS $25,000]

  • **[Otolar/H&N Surgeon - Antelope Valley - BONUS $200,000]

  • **[Pediatric Neurologist (Part-Time) - Riverside - BONUS $100,000]

  • **[Pediatrician - Downey - BONUS $25,000]

  • **[Pediatrician - Riverside - BONUS $50,000]

  • **[Pediatrician - San Bernardino County - BONUS $50,000]

  • **[Peds Behavior Development - Riverside - BONUS $225,000]

  • **[Peds Gastroenterologist - Downey (Per Diem)]

  • **[Radiologist (near 100% Breast Imaging with Remote Hybrid) - San Bernardino County - BONUS $350,000]

  • **[Urologist (General) - Riverside - BONUS $150,000]

  • **[Vascular Neurologist - San Diego - BONUS $20,000]

(Edited by Moderator)

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