Special Report

States With the Highest (and Lowest) Paid Doctors

Steven Peters

Published: March 8, 2017 7:00 am

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 2:10 pm

There are more medical doctors in the top 1% of earners than any other profession. The average salary of family and general practitioners nationwide is $192,120. Doctors who choose to specialize can earn even higher salaries. Anesthesiologists, for example, are among the highest paid medical professionals, earning about $258,000 a year on average.

The average annual salary of a primary care physician varies by more than $90,000 between states. To identify the states where doctors earn the most and the least, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the average annual salary of family and general practitioners in every state. Doctors in Alaska earn the most with an average annual salary of $235,600. In contrast, physicians in Oklahoma earn $144,100 a year, the lowest of any state.

Doctors’ average earnings do not necessarily correlate with overall earnings in a state. Rich and poor states are found on both sides of the doctor pay spectrum. Notably in Mississippi — the poorest state in America where the average salary across all jobs is just $37,620 a year — the average physician salary is the fifth highest of all states.

Click here to see the states with the highest and lowest paid doctors.

Every state could use more doctors. The Health Resources and Services Administration sets thresholds for provider-to-patient ratios. These thresholds indicate states with a doctors shortage. Twelve states have less than 50% of the primary doctors necessary to meet the needs of residents.

Because of the shortage, physicians can choose where to practice with relative ease, compared to many other professions. Similarly, high pay in a state can attract doctors who may not otherwise have considered practicing there. For example, doctor pay is highest in the remote state of Alaska, while states with traditionally high-paying jobs such as New York and California, that are perhaps more desired locations, physician salaries are lower.

The high salaries among medical doctors come at high cost. The typical graduate of a medical school in 2015 had accumulated $183,000 in student debt. While many factors contribute to a doctor’s decision where to practice, such a large amount of debt can entice doctors to choose to practice where they would be paid most.

A large medical student population in a state can also drive earnings for doctors down. Graduating medical students are more likely to stay in the state where they went to school, and with a higher supply of available doctors, pay often decreases. West Virginia, Vermont, and Missouri are the three states with the most medical students per capita. All three are among the 10 states paying doctors the least.

To determine the states with the highest and lowest paid doctors, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 2015 average annual salaries of family and general practitioners in every state using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics survey. The average 2015 salary for all occupations is also from this BLS survey. Cost of living figures are 2014 state level regional price parities from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The number of doctors per 100,000 residents in 2013 were obtained from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. All data are for the most recent period available.

Click here to see the states with the highest and lowest paid doctors.

Source: Thinkstock

50. Oklahoma
> Avg. salary, doctor: $144,100
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $41,820 (11th lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 63.5 (6th lowest)
> Cost of living: 9.9% lower than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

49. Missouri
> Avg. salary, doctor: $155,480
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $43,640 (21st lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 70.3 (17th lowest)
> Cost of living: 10.6% lower than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

48. Nevada
> Avg. salary, doctor: $160,070
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $42,800 (16th lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 56.0 (2nd lowest)
> Cost of living: 2.3% lower than nation

Source: Thinkstock

47. West Virginia
> Avg. salary, doctor: $164,420
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $39,100 (4th lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 78.0 (20th highest)
> Cost of living: 11.1% lower than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

46. Delaware
> Avg. salary, doctor: $164,980
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $50,300 (12th highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 71.5 (19th lowest)
> Cost of living: 1.9% higher than nation

Source: Thinkstock

45. Vermont
> Avg. salary, doctor: $165,710
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $46,060 (21st highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 113.5 (the highest)
> Cost of living: 1.2% higher than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

44. New Mexico
> Avg. salary, doctor: $167,140
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $43,170 (19th lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 76.1 (24th highest)
> Cost of living: 5% lower than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

43. Arizona
> Avg. salary, doctor: $169,520
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $45,310 (25th highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 65.3 (11th lowest)
> Cost of living: 3.6% lower than nation

Source: Thinkstock

42. New Jersey
> Avg. salary, doctor: $174,080
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $54,950 (6th highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 85.3 (10th highest)
> Cost of living: 14.5% higher than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

41. Rhode Island
> Avg. salary, doctor: $174,300
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $50,780 (11th highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 95.0 (4th highest)
> Cost of living: 1.3% lower than nation

Source: Thinkstock

40. Michigan
> Avg. salary, doctor: $174,360
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $46,310 (20th highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 80.4 (18th highest)
> Cost of living: 5.9% lower than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

39. Tennessee
> Avg. salary, doctor: $174,430
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $41,300 (10th lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 72.1 (20th lowest)
> Cost of living: 9.8% lower than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

38. Indiana
> Avg. salary, doctor: $177,540
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $42,070 (14th lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 66.9 (15th lowest)
> Cost of living: 8.6% lower than nation

Source: Thinkstock

37. Maine
> Avg. salary, doctor: $177,790
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $43,260 (20th lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 109.8 (2nd highest)
> Cost of living: 2.9% lower than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

36. Maryland
> Avg. salary, doctor: $179,410
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $54,630 (7th highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 88.6 (8th highest)
> Cost of living: 10.3% higher than nation

Source: Thinkstock

35. Oregon
> Avg. salary, doctor: $181,570
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $48,100 (16th highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 92.2 (6th highest)
> Cost of living: 1% lower than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

34. New York
> Avg. salary, doctor: $181,870
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $57,030 (2nd highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 82.9 (14th highest)
> Cost of living: 15.7% higher than nation

Source: Thinkstock

33. Virginia
> Avg. salary, doctor: $184,420
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $51,670 (9th highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 74.7 (23rd lowest)
> Cost of living: 2.6% higher than nation

Source: Thinkstock

32. Idaho
> Avg. salary, doctor: $187,270
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $40,810 (tied-7th lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 62.5 (5th lowest)
> Cost of living: 6.6% lower than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

31. Illinois
> Avg. salary, doctor: $189,480
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $49,970 (13th highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 81.0 (17th highest)
> Cost of living: 0.7% higher than nation

Source: Thinkstock

30. Minnesota
> Avg. salary, doctor: $190,140
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $49,740 (14th highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 90.5 (7th highest)
> Cost of living: 2.4% lower than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

29. Kentucky
> Avg. salary, doctor: $191,400
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $40,880 (9th lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 66.4 (14th lowest)
> Cost of living: 11.3% lower than nation

Source: Thinkstock

28. Ohio
> Avg. salary, doctor: $191,890
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $44,750 (25th lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 77.0 (23rd highest)
> Cost of living: 10.7% lower than nation

Source: Thinkstock

27. North Dakota
> Avg. salary, doctor: $191,930
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $45,660 (23rd highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 77.5 (22nd highest)
> Cost of living: 8.5% lower than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

26. Montana
> Avg. salary, doctor: $191,970
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $40,620 (6th lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 75.6 (25th highest)
> Cost of living: 5.8% lower than nation

Source: Thinkstock

25. North Carolina
> Avg. salary, doctor: $195,980
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $44,170 (24th lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 70.0 (16th lowest)
> Cost of living: 8.3% lower than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

24. Connecticut
> Avg. salary, doctor: $196,730
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $56,280 (3rd highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 85.2 (11th highest)
> Cost of living: 8.8% higher than nation

Source: Thinkstock

23. Florida
> Avg. salary, doctor: $197,090
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $42,860 (17th lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 70.8 (18th lowest)
> Cost of living: 0.9% lower than nation

Source: Thinkstock

22. California
> Avg. salary, doctor: $198,380
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $55,260 (5th highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 77.5 (21st highest)
> Cost of living: 12.4% higher than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

21. Texas
> Avg. salary, doctor: $198,430
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $46,560 (18th highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 58.4 (4th lowest)
> Cost of living: 3.4% lower than nation

Source: Thinkstock

20. Alabama
> Avg. salary, doctor: $198,890
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $41,920 (13th lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 63.6 (7th lowest)
> Cost of living: 12.2% lower than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

19. Wyoming
> Avg. salary, doctor: $200,260
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $45,850 (22nd highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 66.4 (13th lowest)
> Cost of living: 3.8% lower than nation

Source: Thinkstock

18. South Carolina
> Avg. salary, doctor: $202,120
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $40,580 (5th lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 66.1 (12th lowest)
> Cost of living: 9.5% lower than nation

Source: Thinkstock

17. Colorado
> Avg. salary, doctor: $202,780
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $51,180 (10th highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 79.9 (19th highest)
> Cost of living: 2% higher than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

16. Pennsylvania
> Avg. salary, doctor: $205,310
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $46,550 (19th highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 82.0 (15th highest)
> Cost of living: 1.8% lower than nation

Source: Thinkstock

15. Utah
> Avg. salary, doctor: $205,720
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $44,130 (23rd lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 56.6 (3rd lowest)
> Cost of living: 3% lower than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

14. Washington
> Avg. salary, doctor: $206,250
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $54,010 (8th highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 83.3 (13th highest)
> Cost of living: 3.8% higher than nation

Source: Thinkstock

13. Louisiana
> Avg. salary, doctor: $206,440
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $40,810 (tied-7th lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 64.2 (8th lowest)
> Cost of living: 8.6% lower than nation

Source: Thinkstock

12. Georgia
> Avg. salary, doctor: $207,770
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $45,420 (24th highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 64.4 (9th lowest)
> Cost of living: 8% lower than nation

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Source: Wikimedia Commons

11. South Dakota
> Avg. salary, doctor: $210,150
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $38,820 (3rd lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 75.6 (25th lowest)
> Cost of living: 12% lower than nation

Source: Thinkstock

10. Arkansas
> Avg. salary, doctor: $211,410
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $38,540 (2nd lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 64.6 (10th lowest)
> Cost of living: 12.5% lower than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

9. Massachusetts
> Avg. salary, doctor: $212,210
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $59,010 (the highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 105.1 (3rd highest)
> Cost of living: 7.1% higher than nation

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8. New Hampshire
> Avg. salary, doctor: $214,020
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $48,710 (15th highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 93.8 (5th highest)
> Cost of living: 5.2% higher than nation

Source: Thinkstock

7. Nebraska
> Avg. salary, doctor: $216,200
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $42,630 (15th lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 73.3 (21st lowest)
> Cost of living: 9.4% lower than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

6. Wisconsin
> Avg. salary, doctor: $218,480
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $43,930 (22nd lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 81.7 (16th highest)
> Cost of living: 6.6% lower than nation

Source: Thinkstock

5. Mississippi
> Avg. salary, doctor: $223,250
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $37,620 (the lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 53.7 (the lowest)
> Cost of living: 13.3% lower than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

4. Hawaii
> Avg. salary, doctor: $228,220
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $47,740 (17th highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 85.6 (9th highest)
> Cost of living: 16.8% higher than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

3. Kansas
> Avg. salary, doctor: $228,590
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $42,930 (18th lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 75.1 (24th lowest)
> Cost of living: 9.3% lower than nation

Source: Thinkstock

2. Iowa
> Avg. salary, doctor: $234,600
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $41,840 (12th lowest)
> Doctors per 100K: 73.6 (22nd lowest)
> Cost of living: 9.7% lower than nation

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Source: Thinkstock

1. Alaska
> Avg. salary, doctor: $235,600
> Avg. salary, all jobs: $55,760 (4th highest)
> Doctors per 100K: 84.0 (12th highest)
> Cost of living: 5.7% higher than nation