How Much Do Resident Doctors Earn in 2025? Salary Guide by Year & Specialty

Do Resident Doctors Get Paid?

Yes—residents do get paid. While residency is a continuation of medical training, it also involves intensive service within hospitals and clinics. As such, residents are compensated for their time, skill, and contributions to patient care.

After four (or more) years of medical school, many residents are carrying substantial student debt and eager to finally earn a salary. Though pay during residency isn't comparable to post-residency income, it’s a critical step in your medical career and financial independence.

Why Residents Receive a Salary

Unlike traditional students, medical residents perform essential clinical duties—managing patient care, leading rounds, responding to emergencies, and often covering overnight shifts. In many ways, residents function as early-career physicians in training, contributing significantly to healthcare delivery.

Because of this, residency pay is structured more like a stipend for full-time professional work than a tuition-based educational program.

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Understanding Residency Pay in the United States

What Affects a Resident’s Salary?

In the U.S., how much you make during residency generally depends on:

• Post-graduate year (PGY) level: PGY1s earn the least, with incremental increases each year.
• Institution: Larger or more prestigious hospitals may offer slightly higher stipends.
• Geographic location: Cost-of-living differences often influence compensation.
• Program structure: Early match and longer residencies (e.g., neurosurgery) will include higher PGY-level pay in reported averages.
  
  

Average Resident Salaries by Year

According to recent data, the average salaries by residency year are:

• PGY1 – $57,100
• PGY2 – $58,800
• PGY3 – $61,000
• PGY4 – $64,500
• PGY5 – $66,800
• PGY6–8 – $68,500
• Overall Average – $63,400

The numbers rise gradually with each year of experience, but fellowships (PGY4+) and subspecialty tracks tend to skew the overall average upward.

Do Salaries Vary by Specialty?

Yes—but not drastically in the early years. More competitive or subspecialty residencies like dermatology, neurosurgery, and urology often reflect higher average salaries due to their longer durations and inclusion of PGY4+ compensation.

However, it’s important to distinguish between length of residency and year-by-year salary. For example, a three-year family medicine residency will naturally have lower average earnings than a seven-year neurosurgery residency, simply due to fewer high-earning PGY years.

Additional Compensation and Benefits

Beyond Salary: Non-Monetary Perks

Most U.S. residency programs include standard benefits such as:

• Health and dental insurance
• Paid time off (vacation and sick leave)
• CME allowances (for continuing education)
• Meals or call-room access during shifts
  
  

Optional Income Opportunities

Residents may also increase earnings through:

• Moonlighting: Taking on extra clinical shifts outside of required duties
• On-call bonuses: Extra pay for night/weekend responsibilities
• Teaching stipends: Compensation for mentoring junior residents or medical students

These options depend on institutional policies and may require approval.

Key Resident Salary Trends and Takeaways

Gender Pay Gap

The pay gap between male and female residents is smaller than that seen among attending physicians. Medscape reports a ~$700 annual difference among residents, though inequality persists post-residency with some specialties showing 20–25% gaps.

Satisfaction with Residency Pay

While starting salaries are modest, many residents report satisfaction during their PGY1 year due to the relief of finally earning an income. However, satisfaction tends to decline in PGY2 and PGY3 as responsibilities grow and financial pressure remains.

Most Common Salary Range

Most residents in the U.S. earn between $57,000 and $65,000 per year, with higher levels in later PGYs. When adjusted for long work hours (often exceeding 60–80 hours per week), this translates to a modest hourly rate, but the long-term payoff is significant.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What specialties have the highest average resident salaries?

Subspecialties such as hematology, allergy & immunology, and medical genetics show higher average salaries—primarily due to PGY4–6 years being included in reporting. These figures don’t reflect true PGY1 salaries.

2. Which physicians earn the most after residency?

Attending physicians in orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, and cardiology consistently rank among the highest earners, with salaries ranging from $450,000 to $550,000+.

3. Does competitiveness impact residency salary?

Somewhat. Highly competitive specialties often involve longer training and more PGY years, which raise the average salary. However, early-year pay is relatively consistent across programs.

4. Are there pay cuts if you switch residencies?

Yes. If you restart a new residency program (particularly in a different specialty), you may revert to a PGY1-level salary, even if you previously completed PGY1 elsewhere.

5. Do fellows make more than residents?

Generally, yes. Fellowships are considered PGY4+ training levels, so the compensation aligns with the pay of later-stage residents. Fellow stipends typically range from $65,000 to $75,000.

6. Why is family medicine resident pay lower?

Because family medicine programs are usually shorter (3 years), their average pay reflects PGY1–PGY3 data only, whereas longer residencies include higher PGY compensation.

Final Thoughts: Focus on Training, Not Just the Paycheck

While resident salaries aren’t glamorous, they represent a turning point—your first step toward financial independence as a physician. The focus during residency should be on mastering clinical skills, building relationships, and growing in confidence as a doctor.

Your future earnings will far surpass your current stipend. So while budgeting and financial planning are important, don’t let the numbers overshadow the transformative experience of residency training.

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Article Details

Categories

Recent Articles , Pre-health, Medical Electives,

Author: Go-Elective Abroad

Date Published: May 14, 2025