One of the questions I receive the most from Vietnamese medical students and doctors looking to practice in the US is: “How much do newly graduated doctors in the US get paid?” and “Does the salary increase over time?”
The numbers in this article are compiled from Marit Health and The White Coat Investor – two very reputable sources in the American medical community. Marit Health is a platform specializing in collecting actual income data of doctors, including basic salary, bonuses and incentives. Meanwhile, The White Coat Investor is a financial education community founded by doctors, trusted by tens of thousands of American doctors to better understand money, career and long-term financial strategy.
1. How much does a newly graduated doctor in the US pay?
After completing residency and starting independent practice, the total compensation (including fixed salary and bonuses, call pay and incentives based on productivity) of doctors in the US fluctuates quite widely, depending on the specialty.
Family Medicine: about 285,000 USD/year
Internal Medicine: about 340,000 USD/year
Pediatrics: about 234,000 USD/year
Emergency Medicine: about 392,000 USD/year
Radiology: about 552,000 USD/year
Orthopedic Surgery: about 585,000 USD/year
Neurosurgery: can be up to 840,000 USD/year
2. Will doctors’ salaries increase over time?
The answer is yes, but the increase is not uniform across majors.
Some specialties recorded a very clear increase when doctors moved to the mid-career stage:
Podiatry: increased about 60%
Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT): about 50%
Ophthalmology: about 49%
Plastic Surgery: about 41%
Pathology: about 39%
In contrast, some majors have quite modest increases:
Emergency Medicine: ~7%
Psychiatry: ~8%
Anesthesiology: ~9%
Internal Medicine: ~10%
This reflects an important reality: not all majors “get richer with age”, but also depends on working model, ability to perform procedures, duty schedule, opening of clinics and market demand.
3. General trend of medical industry income in the US
A few important trends:
Primary Care is receiving more attention → Family Medicine and Internal Medicine salaries tend to increase steadily.
Specialized in procedures and interventions still maintain high income levels but are under pressure of workload and burnout.
Doctors working for large medical systems have stable income, but less “breakthrough” than doctors working in private clinics.
4. Final message
Doctor salaries in the US are high, but it is not an easy path. It requires years of training, trade-offs, and very early strategic decisions about majors and career direction. If you are considering the USMLE path, ask yourself not just “how much salary,” but also “What kind of life do I want after 10–20 years as a doctor?”
Because in the end, income is important, but sustainability and freedom is what will help you go far with your medical career.
If you are a doctor or medical student from Vietnam who wants to pursue the path of becoming a doctor in the US and would like guidance, please message your email inbox for advice.
Dr. Christina Nguyen
Phoenix Medical Academy
