This week's episode reviews the findings published in Medscape's Physician Compensation Report for 2026. 

Key Points

• The Numbers: The average physician salary rose to $356K (+3%), with Specialists ($417K) continuing to outearn PCPs ($298K).
• Top Earners: Orthopedics leads the field at $611K, followed by Cardiology ($575K) and Radiology ($571K); Pediatrics remains at the bottom ($266K).
• The Negotiation Freeze: 27% of physicians reported negotiation wasn't an option, as some consultants now advise employers to adopt a "no-negotiation" philosophy to maintain workplace equity.
• Demographic Gaps: Significant disparities persist, including a 31% gender pay gap and slower compensation growth for Black (2.9%) and Hispanic (3.5%) physicians compared to their White peers (6.1%).
• Productivity & Hours: The average work week dipped to 49 hours, yet 35% of doctors now see their base salary—not just bonuses—tied directly to productivity metrics like RVUs.

https://www.medscape.com/p11/return-normalization-medscape-physician-compensation-report-2026a10009um

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Dr. Elisa Chiang is  a physician and money coach who helps other doctors reach their financial goals by mastering their money mindset through personalized 1:1 coaching .

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