Ten years ago, radiologists and orthopedic surgeons topped the list of the highest paying physician specialists, making an average salary of $315,000 a year, according to Medscape's yearly physician compensation report.
Orthopedists, which include orthopedic surgeons, held the top spot for highest paying specialties for six years in a row, from 2012 to 2017. In 2018, plastic surgeons took over the top slot, retaining it in 2021 and 2022.
2012: Radiologists and orthopedic surgeons, $315,000
2013: Orthopedists, $405,000
2014: Orthopedists, $413,000
2015: Orthopedists, $421,000
2016: Orthopedists, $443,000
2017: Orthopedists, $489,000
2018: Plastic surgeons, $501,000
2019: Orthopedists, $482,000
2020: Orthopedists, $511,000
2021: Plastic surgeons, $526,000
2022: Plastic surgeons, $576,000