Physician & Advanced Practice Salary Benchmarks 2026

Compensation in healthcare is moving. Demand for physicians and advanced practice providers outpaces supply in most specialties, and health systems that don't have real-time salary data are losing candidates to competitors before they even get to the offer stage. This guide provides current benchmarks across the roles Provex Search places most frequently.

These figures represent national medians and ranges. Compensation varies significantly by geography, practice setting, subspecialty, and experience. Use these as directional benchmarks, not guarantees.

Physician compensation (MD/DO)

Physician compensation varies enormously by specialty, but the general trend in 2026 is upward across the board as physician shortages deepen in primary care and several high-demand subspecialties.

• Family Medicine / Internal Medicine — $230,000–$310,000 base. Primary care physicians remain in high demand, particularly in rural and underserved markets where signing bonuses of $30,000–$60,000 are increasingly common.
• Emergency Medicine — $320,000–$420,000. The shift away from corporate group contracts in some markets has created openings for physician-led practices offering competitive packages.
• Hospitalist — $260,000–$340,000. The volume of hospitalist roles has grown significantly, and experienced hospitalists are commanding premium compensation in competitive markets.
• Psychiatry — $270,000–$380,000. Among the highest-demand specialties nationally, particularly for outpatient and telepsychiatry roles.
• General Surgery — $360,000–$500,000. Surgical specialties command premium compensation, with experienced surgeons in high-volume centers at the top of the range.
• Orthopedic Surgery — $500,000–$700,000+. Among the highest-compensated specialties, with significant variation based on practice ownership and RVU productivity.

Physician Assistant (PA-C) compensation

PA compensation has risen steadily as health systems expand their use of advanced practice providers to manage patient volume and extend physician capacity.

• Primary Care — $105,000–$130,000. PAs in family medicine and internal medicine often have more predictable schedules, which is increasingly valued by candidates.
• Surgical Specialties — $120,000–$165,000. First-assist roles in orthopedics, cardiovascular, and neurosurgery command the highest PA compensation.
• Emergency Medicine — $115,000–$150,000. High-volume EDs with strong mentorship environments are attracting experienced PAs at the top of this range.
• Dermatology — $110,000–$155,000. Demand for dermatology PAs continues to outpace supply, creating favorable conditions for candidates.

Nurse Practitioner (NP) compensation

NPs — particularly those with acute care or psychiatric certifications — are among the most sought-after advanced practice providers in the current market.

• Family NP (FNP) — $100,000–$125,000. The most common NP specialty, with demand concentrated in primary care and urgent care settings.
• Acute Care NP (ACNP) — $115,000–$145,000. ICU, step-down, and hospital medicine NPs are in high demand following workforce shifts post-pandemic.
• Psychiatric Mental Health NP (PMHNP) — $120,000–$155,000. The most in-demand NP specialty in 2026, driven by the mental health access crisis. Many PMHNPs are receiving multiple offers simultaneously.
• Neonatal NP (NNP) — $115,000–$140,000. Specialized and relatively rare, NNPs in Level III and IV NICUs command strong compensation.

Registered Nurse (RN) compensation

• Med-Surg / General Floor — $62,000–$85,000 base. Wide variation based on geography and union agreements.
• ICU / Critical Care — $78,000–$105,000. Critical care RNs continue to command premiums, particularly in high-acuity units.
• Perioperative / OR — $80,000–$110,000. Surgical volume recovery post-pandemic has increased demand for OR-trained nurses significantly.
• Nurse Manager / Director — $95,000–$135,000. Leadership roles in nursing are difficult to fill and increasingly offering competitive packages including retention bonuses.

Allied Health compensation

• Physical Therapist (PT) — $72,000–$98,000. Outpatient orthopedic settings typically offer the highest PT compensation, with productivity bonuses common.
• Occupational Therapist (OT) — $70,000–$92,000. Hand therapy and pediatric specializations command premiums.
• Radiology Technologist — $62,000–$88,000. CT and MRI technologists earn at the higher end; specialized modalities are in high demand.
• Respiratory Therapist (RT) — $58,000–$80,000. NICU and critical care RTs are among the highest-compensated in the field.

What employers need to know

The single most common reason searches fail or take longer than necessary is a compensation package that doesn't reflect the current market. Candidates in high-demand specialties — particularly psychiatry, PMHNP, and surgical subspecialties — are often fielding multiple offers simultaneously. A below-market offer doesn't just lose a candidate; it signals to the market that your organization isn't competitive.

Provex Search provides compensation analysis as part of every search engagement. If you're unsure whether your offer is positioned to close, we can help before you lose a candidate you've already invested weeks in recruiting.

What clinicians need to know

Know your market value before you negotiate. The ranges above are starting points — your specific experience, certifications, geographic flexibility, and the urgency of the employer's need all factor into where you land in a range. A recruiter who specializes in your discipline can give you real-time data on what comparable candidates in your market are actually receiving.

If you haven't had a compensation conversation with your current employer in the last 12 months and you're in a high-demand specialty, there's a reasonable chance you're underpaid relative to the current market.