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Nephrologist Salary in the United States

How much does a Nephrologist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Nephrologist in the United States is $277,700 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $134.

However, a Nephrologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $333,103
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $261,000 to $306,700
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $245,796
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Nephrologist Salaries

A Nephrologist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Nephrologist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Nephrologist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $270,970
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $272,216
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $273,463
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $275,207
  • Expert (over 8 years): $279,864
Levels Salary
Entry Level Nephrologist$270,970
Intermediate Level Nephrologist$272,216
Senior Level Nephrologist$273,463
Specialist Level Nephrologist$275,207
Expert Level Nephrologist$279,864
View as Graph

How Do Nephrologist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Nephrologists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $307,400.
  • California: $306,300.
  • Massachusetts: $302,200.

Top Paying Cities for Nephrologists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $350,200
  • San Francisco: $346,400
  • Oakland: $339,100

What Skills Can Increase a Nephrologist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 4.12% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Acute Care (Mentioned in 4.4% Job Postings): Acute care is a branch of secondary health care where a patient receives active but short-term treatment for a severe injury or episode of illness, an urgent medical condition, or during recovery from surgery. In medical terms, care for acute health conditions is the opposite from chronic care, or longer term care. Acute care services are generally delivered by teams of health care professionals from a range of medical and surgical specialties. Acute care may require a stay in a hospital emergency department, ambulatory surgery center, urgent care centre or other short-term stay facility, along with the assistance of diagnostic services, surgery, or follow-up outpatient care in the community. Hospital-based acute inpatient care typically has the goal of discharging patients as soon as they are deemed healthy and stable. Acute care settings include emergency department, intensive care, coronary care, cardiology, neonatal intensive care, and many general areas where the patient could become acutely unwell and require stabilization and transfer to another higher dependency unit for further treatment.
  • Medical Education (Mentioned in 3.02% Job Postings): Medical education is a course of study directed toward imparting knowledge and skills required for the prevention and treatment of diseases to persons seeking to become physicians.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 4.12%
Acute Care 4.4%
Medical Education 3.02%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Nephrologist's salary.

  • Teamwork: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Radiology: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Teamwork $286,031
3%
Coaching $286,031
3%
Radiology $286,031
3%
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Nephrologist Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Nephrologist salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $312,205. While startup companies pay approximate $265,086.

Nephrologist Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $265,086
Growth Stage 51~500 $280,086
Established 501~5000 $301,722
Enterprise 5000+ $312,205

Nephrologist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Nephrologist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Nephrologist positions in Pharmaceuticals or Biotechnology typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Nephrologist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Nephrologist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$416,550$200.050%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$333,240$160.020%

How Education impacts a Nephrologist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Nephrologists enter the field with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Nephrologist with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $271,640 and $291,882).

Nephrologist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Nephrologist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.5%
High School 2.5%
Associates 95.0%
Bachelors 0.0%
Masters 2.5%
Doctorate 95.0%
View as Graph

Nephrologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Nephrologist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$261,000
Average $277,700/year
$306,700
$21,750
Average $23,142/month
$25,558
$5,019
Average $5,340/week
$5,898
$125
Average $134/hour
$147
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $306,700 $25,558 $5,898 $147
Average $277,700 $23,142 $5,340 $134
25th Percentile $261,000 $21,750 $5,019 $125

Most common benefits for Nephrologist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Nephrologist

Here are companies hiring for Nephrologist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Nephrologist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Nephrologist?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Nephrologist roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

2. Who is the best nephrologist in the world?

Determining the best nephrologist in the world is subjective, but several renowned specialists are often mentioned. Notable names include Dr. Manju Aggarwal, Dr. Harsha Jauhari, and Dr. Ashwini Goel. The salary range for nephrologists typically falls between $246,400 and $320,300, with a median salary around $282,800, reflecting their expertise and the demand for their services.

3. Is there a shortage of nephrologists in the US?

Yes, there is a shortage of nephrologists in the U.S., reflecting a global trend. The 2019 Global Kidney Health Atlas indicated that over 70% of countries report a lack of nephrologists. This shortage is concerning, especially given the competitive salaries in the field, with nephrologists earning between $246,400 and $320,300 annually.

4. How much do top urologists make?

Based on the salary data for nephrologists, the minimum salary is approximately $246,400, the mid-range salary is around $282,800, and the maximum salary can reach up to $320,300 annually. This indicates a solid earning potential in the field, with opportunities for growth as experience and expertise increase.

5. What is the highest degree in nephrology?

The highest degree in nephrology is a postgraduate degree focused on kidney-related diseases. After obtaining a postgraduate degree, one can pursue a Doctor of Medicine (DM) in Nephrology or a DNB in Nephrology, typically lasting three years. Nephrologists earn salaries ranging from $246,400 to $320,300, with a median salary of $282,800.

6. How much does a Nephrologist make at Harvard?

A Nephrologist's salary can range from $246,400 to $320,300, with a median salary of $282,800. This is significantly higher than the estimated average pay of $86,296 per year at Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians in Massachusetts, which is 65% below the national average for this specialty.

7. Which doctor is highest paid in USA?

In the USA, the average salary for a doctor is approximately USD 95,000 per month. Among specialists, Nephrologists earn between USD 20,533 and USD 26,692 monthly, with a median salary of USD 23,567. While Neurosurgeons and Plastic Surgeons are among the highest-paid, Nephrologists also command a significant salary in the medical field.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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