Highest-earning physician specialties over the past 4 years

Neurosurgery and thoracic surgery have been the highest-earning physician specialties for the past four years. 

Doximity recorded highest-earning physician compensation over the the past four years in its physician compensation reports from 2017-2020. The networking site for medical professionals surveyed full-time U.S. physicians on their compensation growth. 

2020:

1. Neurosurgery: $746,544
2. Thoracic surgery: $668,350
3. Orthopedic surgery: $605,330
4. Plastic surgery: $539,208
5. Oral and maxillofacial surgery: $538,590
6. Vascular surgery: $534,408
7. Cardiology: $527,231
8. Radiation oncology: $516,016
9. Gastroenterology: $485,460
10. Radiology: $485,460

2019:

1. Neurosurgery: $616,823
2. Thoracic surgery: $584,287
3. Orthopedic surgery : $526,385
4. Radiation oncology: $486,089
5. Vascular surgery: $484,740
6. Dermatology: $455,255
7. Cardiology: $453,515
8. Plastic surgery: $433,060
9. Gastroenterology: $431,767
10. Radiology: $428,572

2018:

1. Neurosurgery: $663,000
2. Thoracic surgery: $603,000
3. Orthopedic surgery: $538,000
4. Vascular surgery: $476,000
5. Plastic surgery: $473,000
6. Cardiology: $473,000
7. Radiation oncology: $468,000
8. Gastroenterology: $456,000
9. Dermatology: $434,000
10. Radiology: $431,000

2017:

1. Neurosurgery: $620,000
2. Thoracic surgery: $522,000
3. Orthopaedic surgery: $503,000
4. Vascular surgery: $446,000
5. Radiation oncology: $446,000
6. Plastic surgery: $420,000
7. Dermatology: $420,000
8. Cardiology: $415,000
9. Radiology: $408,000
10. Gastroenterology: $403,000