The short answer: No. But the conversation is shifting.
For every dollar a male physician earns, a female physician earns approximately 78 cents . Over a 30-year career, that disparity adds up to roughly $3.3 million in lost earnings. And the gap persists even after accounting for specialty choice, hours worked, experience, and practice setting .
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| Physician salary trends in 2026 show gradual changes in compensation differences across specialties and career stages. |
If you expected progress, the data offers little comfort. The gender compensation gap in obstetrics and gynecology, for example, was just over $102,000 in male doctors' favor in the latest Medscape survey a 31% advantage, up from 29% two years earlier . Female specialists, in particular, have seen the gap widen.
The Gap Persists Across Every Specialty
Women physicians earn less than men in every medical specialty without exception . The size of the gap varies, but its direction does not.
| Specialty | Gender Pay Gap |
|---|---|
| Pediatric Nephrology | 16.5% |
| Allergy & Immunology | 16.3% |
| Ophthalmology | 16.0% |
| Plastic Surgery | 15.6% |
| Gastroenterology | 15.6% |
| Neurosurgery | 11.3% (smallest gap) |
Source: Doximity 2024 Physician Compensation Report
The gap exists at every level of compensation, across all specialties, and has not meaningfully closed over the past two years .
👉 Best Medical Specialties for Work-Life Balance
Why the Gap Persists
Specialty choice accounts for about half of the disparity . Women are significantly underrepresented in the highest-paying specialties neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, cardiology, and radiology where fewer than 20% of physicians are female . They are overrepresented in lower-paying fields such as family medicine, pediatrics, and endocrinology .
But specialty choice is not the whole story. Even after controlling for specialty, hours worked, and productivity, women still earn about 93 cents for every dollar their male counterparts earn an unexplained 7% gap .
Bonuses and non-salary income compound the inequality. Men report signing bonuses that average 26% higher than women's. They are also more likely to receive productivity bonuses and leadership incentives . Male physicians are almost twice as likely as female physicians to report K-1 ownership income a key driver of higher earnings .
Uncompensated work also plays a role. Women physicians take on more teaching, mentoring, and committee service labor that tends to be invisible in compensation formulas . Dr. Mara Antonoff, President of Women in Thoracic Surgery, explains: "Women also are known to take on more uncompensated work... That labor tends to be invisible in compensation formulas" .
The Pediatric Subspecialty Crisis
In pediatrics, one of the lowest-compensated specialties, the gap is particularly acute. Women pediatricians earn between 76% and 87% of what their male colleagues earn, depending on adjustments . Starting salaries for women pediatricians are a median of $10,000 lower immediately after training, with the gap widening to nearly $20,000 after 10 years in practice .
The American Academy of Pediatrics has called this a "professional and public health imperative," warning that lower compensation may hinder recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce and reduce access to pediatric care .
What the Data Shows About Closing the Gap
The gap persists because it is structural, not individual. Dr. Vikas Sabnani, CEO of Marit Health, puts it plainly: "A patient encounter is reimbursed the same regardless of the physician's gender, and medical school costs the same, so this gap is not just unfair it changes the financial trajectory of an entire career in medicine" .
The research also shows that female family physicians in Ontario spend 15 to 20% more time per patient than their male colleagues, yet earn less overall . Current payment models reward speed, not quality. "Fair pay should reflect both the quality and quantity of care delivered," researchers noted.
Will the Gap Close by 2030?
Not without systemic change. Salary transparency and access to accurate compensation benchmarks are essential tools . The AAP calls on employers and payers to eliminate inequities in compensation and career advancement . But until compensation structures value cognitive care, patient outcomes, and the invisible labor that women disproportionately perform, the gap will persist.
Written by: MedSalaryData Editorial Team
Healthcare Salary & Career Analysis
Additional Resources
| Resource | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Marit Health Pay Equity Report | Physician compensation benchmarks |
| AAP Gender Pay Equity Policy | Pediatric workforce guidance |
| Medscape Compensation Report | Specialty-specific salary data |
| Doximity Physician Compensation | Geographic and specialty trends |
Disclaimer: Data are 2026 projections based on multiple sources. Individual experiences vary. This information is for educational purposes.
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