September 2005

MD salaries paralyzed this year

The latest Medical Economics survey has found that total median compensation for MDs and DOs in 2004 was $180,000, the same as it was in 2003.Median total compensation for primary-care physicians remained at $150,000.

Reasons cited for the stagnation included penny-pinching by Medicare and private payers, the power of merging insurance companies, higher patient co-pays, and rising practice expenses, including malpractice insurance premiums.

Geography was also cited as a factor, with the Midwest leading the nation in physician income.

The survey sample included more than 5,500 office-based MDs and DOs in 23 specialties, and the results were weighted to reflect each specialty as to type of practice, age, geographical region, and gender.

Chiropractic Economics 8th Annual Salary and Expense Survey found that chiropractors fared better, with a 6.8 percent increase in salaries in 2005. Last year’s mean average was $97,702; this year, it was $104,363.

Sources: Medical Economics, www.memag.com; Chiropractic Economics, Issue 6, 2005

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