United States, with an average starting salary of $654,000, according to AMN Healthcare’s 2026 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives. This represents an 18.5% increase year over year. Orthopedic surgeons’ average starting salaries fell 12% to $507,000, while interventional cardiologists ranked second at $650,000.
The report found that average starting salaries across all physicians rose to $419,000, up from $403,000 the previous year. Physician signing bonuses increased 29% to $49,306, with bonuses offered in 87% of AMN Healthcare’s physician recruiting engagements, compared with 74% a year earlier. Specialists accounted for 84% of the company’s physician searches, reflecting continued demand for specialized clinical expertise.
Compensation also varied by practice setting. Average starting salaries were $452,000 for nonacademic positions versus $362,000 for academic roles. Most physician contracts included a base salary plus a production bonus, commonly tied to relative value units (RVUs).