According to Medscape’s most recent data, gastroenterology is the fifth-best-compensated specialization for medical doctors in the US, earning around $515,000 per year.
But exactly how much could you expect to make in this role? This article covers the average gastroenterologist salary you could expect working in this profession.
You’ll learn about the different factors that can affect your salary as a gastroenterologist.
Key Takeaways
- Gastroenterologists earn an average of $515,000 annually, with wide variations by factors.
- Location, practice type, and subspecialization significantly impact salary potential and bonuses.
- Bonuses and benefits can increase total compensation to over $570,000 annually.
- Negotiating contracts, changing settings, or seeing more patients boosts earning potential.
Table of Contents
Average Gastroenterologist Salary
The average annual salary for a gastroenterology physician is $515,000, according to the 2024 Medscape Gastroenterologist Compensation Report.
Salary information varies by source and factors such as the data used and the date when it was gathered.
Salary.com lists $425,728 as the median salary for this occupation in the U.S. as of October 2024, with a range from $298,985 to $572,782.
When bonuses and benefits are added in, Salary.com lists the median total compensation as $449,952.
ZipRecruiter lists the national average salary as $379,519, while Indeed.com says the average base salary is $263,654. Payscale says the average pay without bonuses and benefits is $387,807.
Factors That Affect Gastroenterologist Salary
Salary varies due to many factors. This knowledge can be advantageous in finding ways to increase your salary. These factors affecting salary influence the major discrepancies in salary ranges between various sources.
Here are the top factors that affect gastroenterologist salary:
Area
Living in different parts of the country can change your gastroenterology salary.
The size of the area where you practice as a physician makes a major difference. You may be surprised to learn that gastroenterology doctors earn the lowest salaries in large metropolitan areas of more than one million people, while non-metropolitan areas are the most lucrative.
ZipRecruiter lists the highest paying states for this occupation, which pay above the national average:
|
State |
Annual Salary |
|
New York |
$426,689 |
|
Vermont |
$419,741 |
|
Maine |
$401,869 |
|
Pennsylvania |
$390,770 |
|
Washington |
$388,414 |
|
Massachusetts |
$382,611 |
|
New Hampshire |
$381,401 |
|
New Jersey |
$380,968 |
|
Alaska |
$380,462 |
Related: 10 Best States to Practice Medicine
Type of Practice
Like most other medical specialties, gastroenterologists make more money when they work in single-specialty practices than in multi-specialty practices.
Another factor is the majority owner of the practice. According to Physician Side Gigs, gastroenterologists earn the most in non-private equity-backed group private practices, while their salary is lowest in academic hospitals.
According to Medscape, employed and self-employed gastroenterologists earn a comparable amount. Nonetheless, this information does not factor in the potential for bonuses or benefits.
Read our interview with Gastroenterologist, Dr. Khadija Chaudrey
Level of Experience
It’s natural to make less money when you’re just starting in your occupation and then earn more as you gain years of experience and increase levels within your field. During your fellowship, as you work to become a gastroenterologist, you make an average of $63,600 in total compensation, according to Student Loan Planner.
After that, Payscale notes that an entry-level physician in this specialty makes an average total compensation of $355,216. By their late careers, gastroenterologists can earn $408,702 on average.
Bonuses and Benefits
For a gastroenterology physician, there is a significant amount of money to be made through bonuses and benefits for a gastroenterology physician.
Salary.com shows that this type of physician makes a median of $24,224 annually as a bonus. In addition, the total median value of annual benefits adds up to $120,132. Adding the value of benefits and bonuses to the base salary brings the yearly income up from $425,728 to $570,084, which is a considerable increase.
Medscape data gives even higher amounts as bonuses for this occupation. Payscale says that a gastroenterologist’s bonuses can range from $10,000 to $63,000.
Salary by Subspecialties
|
Subspecialty/Skill |
Annual Salary |
|
Hepatologist |
$297,999 |
|
Gastroenterology (Average) |
$394,711 |
|
Gastrointestinal Lab |
$372,316 |
|
Internal Medicine |
$375,950 |
|
Diagnosis and Treatment Planning |
$385,202 |
|
Medicine/Surgery |
$397,115 |
You can also consider how a subspecialty may impact your salary. A common subspecialty is a hepatologist, who focuses on the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder in particular. This specialty earns less than the average gastroenterologist’s salary, with a national average of $297,999 per year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Gastroenterologists may focus on various skills, which can impact salary. Payscale shows that an average gastroenterology salary is $394,711, while the salary for the gastrointestinal lab is $372,316, internal medicine is $375,950, diagnosis and treatment planning is $385,202 and medicine/surgery is $397,115.
Ways to Increase Your Gastroenterologist Salary
You can see from the above information that changing your place of employment could bring in more income. For gastroenterologists, you could expect to make more money in general by working in the Midwest. Nonetheless, some Northeastern states have the highest income when you look at the numbers state-by-state instead of by region.
Another way to potentially move up is to switch to a single specialty practice from a multispecialty one.
If possible, you could see more patients. This may include taking on more patients within your practice or taking on shifts in a secondary workplace. Medscape data shows that this specialty spends 15.2 hours a week on administrative work, so if it’s possible to get that number down, you could potentially see more patients instead to increase income.
By negotiating a good contract, you can negotiate a signing bonus or a good production bonus structure. Once you have a good incentive bonus potential, aim to meet that potential as much as possible. Also, make sure to negotiate a good benefits package that fairly increases your total compensation.
Seek Support to Maximize Your Earning Potential
Once you get started in this profession, all of your training and knowledge will be in gastroenterology and the medical field. You can focus on your own specialty while you work with experts to get you the best contract, helping you get the highest possible gastroenterologist salary.
Our team is ready to review your contract, so reach out to us whenever you’re starting a new job or are in a position to renegotiate your contract. Read our Definitive Guide to Physician Contract Review to find out everything you need to know.
This is the best way to ensure that your compensation is fair, that the responsibilities and duties of your job are what you expect them to be, and that the terms of your exit or termination are clearly stated.
For more information on contract review and help with negotiating the best possible gastroenterology salary, contact Physicians Thrive now.
