The last thing the medical profession needs at the present time is for the public to read the article I just read. It appeared on medscape.com and was written by a freelance health and finance content writer who is closely tied to reporting physician compensation data. The article is titled “The $500K Club.”
The report proudly and boldly says that in 2025, the average annual compensation of physicians in eight specialties was $500,000 or more, a 3% increase over salaries the previous year in 7 specialties. Revenue was so good in 2025 that otolaryngologists (ENT doctors) cracked the $500K mark and made it 8 specialties in the Club.
Wow! Isn’t it comforting to know that in times of $5.00 a gallon gas and 3.8% inflation, that doctors, who we know are already paid very well, are getting paid even more! Articles like this do nothing to enamor the medical profession to the public who continue to pay horribly high health insurance premiums and huge co-pays.
The specialties in the top eight are all heavily procedurally oriented, and are more efficient because of technological advances. The specialties are listed as ranked, highest to lowest, with pertinent data added. The top 8 are:
1. Orthopedic Surgery: $573,000
2. Cardiology: $552,000
3. Radiology: $544,000
4. Gastroenterology: $526,000
5. Urology: $518,000
6. Otolaryngology: $513,000
7. Dermatology: $508,000
8. Anesthesiology: $502,000
Orthopedics has shifted to physician-owned outpatient surgery centers and demand for joint replacement surgeries is high.
Cardiology is driven by high demand for services.
Radiology has expanded non-hospital locations increasing volume.
Gastroenterology continues to have high demand for services.
Urology has consistent demand.
Otolaryngology is new to the list.
Dermatology has high demand for Mohs and cosmetic procedures.
Anesthesiology benefits from high surgical procedure volume.
Nowhere on this list do you see family doctor, internist, or pediatrician. You never will! The doctor who knows you best, has been your advocate for 20 or 30 years, and who was there when grandma died doesn’t have a big dollar procedure to fund his retirement. His bag contains a stethoscope, other examination tools, and a lot of care and compassion. The service he provides should put him in the $500K Club, but it doesn’t. I cringe when I see articles like this because they make it seem like money is the only thing that’s important. It’s not.
Physician compensation data affect the decisions students make about what specialty to go in to. High earning specialty training slots are more competitive to obtain and fill up fast with the most qualified applicants. Family medicine residencies fill, too, but by applicants with different goals and ambitions. Whether the specialty is in the $500K Club is not important to family medicine aspirants. I worry about public perception and wish there wasn’t so much attention paid to this subject.
Reference: Nelson J, The $500K Club medscape.com 2026 May 14.
