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Senior Physician Salary in the United States

How much does a Senior Physician make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Senior Physician in the United States is $196,078 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $94.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $226,722
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $176,952 to $212,118
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $159,539
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Senior Physician Salaries

A Senior Physician'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Senior Physician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Senior Physician'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): $137,074
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $159,838
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $197,406
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $234,616
  • Expert (over 8 years): $292,150
Levels Salary
HR Busine... Level Senior Physician$137,074
HR Busine... Level Senior Physician$159,838
Senior Ph... Level Senior Physician$197,406
VP of HR ... Level Senior Physician$234,616
SVP of HR... Level Senior Physician$292,150
View as Graph

How Do Senior Physician 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 Senior Physicians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $217,098.
  • California: $216,274.
  • Massachusetts: $213,392.

Top Paying Cities for Senior Physicians

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: $247,313
  • San Francisco: $244,605
  • Oakland: $239,450

What Skills Can Increase a Senior Physician's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 13.08% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Organizational Development (Mentioned in 1.75% Job Postings): Process of developing, implementing, and evaluating organizational strategies, structures, and procedures to create overall growth and development.
  • Employment Law (Mentioned in 1.19% Job Postings): Applying the knowledge of employment law to regulate relationships between employers and employees.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 13.08%
Organizational Development 1.75%
Employment Law 1.19%
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 Senior Physician's salary.

  • Business Strategy: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Communication Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Career Development: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Business Strategy $205,882
5%
Communication Skills $203,921
4%
Career Development $203,921
4%
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Senior Physician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Senior Physician roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 70% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Senior Physician positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Senior Physician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Senior Physician

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$254,901$123.030%
Financial Services$245,098$118.025%
Biotechnology$235,294$113.020%
Healthcare$225,490$108.015%
Software & Networking$225,490$108.015%

Senior Physician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Senior Physician'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
$176,952
Average $196,078/year
$212,118
$14,746
Average $16,340/month
$17,677
$3,403
Average $3,771/week
$4,079
$85
Average $94/hour
$102
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $212,118 $17,677 $4,079 $102
Average $196,078 $16,340 $3,771 $94
25th Percentile $176,952 $14,746 $3,403 $85

Most common benefits for Senior Physician

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

Common company salaries for Senior Physician

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

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FAQ about Senior Physician

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Senior Physician?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Senior Physician roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

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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