Pursuing a career as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) is a significant commitment of time, energy, and financial resources. It's also a path to a profoundly rewarding profession with excellent financial stability and high earning potential. For those considering this field, a key question is: What salary can an osteopathic physician expect to earn?
The short answer is that compensation is exceptional, with most physicians earning well into the six figures. The national average salary for physicians, including DOs, is over $229,300 per year, and for many specialists, it's significantly higher.
This guide will provide a detailed breakdown of osteopathic medicine salaries, explore the key factors that influence your earning potential, and offer a look at the future job outlook for this dynamic profession.
What Does a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) Do?
Before diving into the numbers, it's essential to understand the role. A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) is a fully licensed physician who can prescribe medication, perform surgery, and practice in all medical specialties. Like their Medical Doctor (MD) counterparts, DOs complete four years of medical school followed by residency training.
The key distinction of osteopathic medicine is its patient-centered, holistic philosophy. DOs are trained to see the patient as a whole person—interconnected systems of nerves, muscles, and bones—rather than just treating symptoms. In addition to standard medical training, DOs receive hundreds of hours of hands-on training in Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), a technique used to diagnose and treat illness and injury.
While historically more concentrated in primary care fields like family medicine and pediatrics, DOs now practice across the full spectrum of medical specialties, from neurosurgery to cardiology.
Average Osteopathic Physician Salary
When analyzing physician salaries, it's important to note that most official data sources, like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), group DOs and MDs together under the category of "Physicians and Surgeons." This reflects their equivalent practice rights and responsibilities in the U.S. healthcare system.
Here's what the most current data reveals about physician compensation:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): The most recent BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook reports the median pay for physicians and surgeons was greater than or equal to $229,300 per year as of May 2022.
- Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2023: This widely cited industry report found that the average overall physician salary (including both MDs and DOs) was $352,000 per year. The report noted a slight difference in overall averages, with MDs earning an average of $357,000 and DOs earning $346,000. However, this small gap is primarily attributed to a higher percentage of DOs choosing primary care specialties rather than any difference in pay for the same work.
- Salary.com: As of late 2023, Salary.com reports the average Osteopathic Physician salary in the United States is $216,400, with a typical range falling between $187,410 and $241,830.
A physician's salary journey begins in residency, where they earn a much lower salary (typically $60,000 to $75,000 per year) while they complete their training. Upon finishing residency and entering practice, their income increases dramatically.
Key Factors That Influence Salary
While the average figures provide a strong baseline, a DO's actual salary is influenced by a combination of critical factors. The most significant driver of income is not the DO vs. MD designation but the choices a physician makes regarding their career path.
Area of Specialization
This is arguably the most significant factor determining a physician's salary. Compensation varies dramatically between primary care and surgical or procedural subspecialties. DOs who choose to sub-specialize after their initial residency can command much higher salaries.
Here is a sample hierarchy based on the Medscape 2023 report, which is representative of earnings for both DOs and MDs in these fields:
- Top-Tier Specialties:
- Plastic Surgery: $619,000
- Orthopedics: $573,000
- Cardiology: $507,000
- Urology: $506,000
- Gastroenterology: $501,000
- Mid-Tier Specialties:
- Radiology: $483,000
- Anesthesiology: $448,000
- Emergency Medicine: $352,000
- Primary Care Specialties:
- Internal Medicine: $273,000
- Family Medicine: $255,000
- Pediatrics: $251,000
The takeaway is clear: A DO specializing in orthopedics will earn substantially more than a DO in family medicine, and this difference far outweighs any minor average variance between DO and MD degrees.
Geographic Location
Where you practice matters. Salaries can vary by more than $100,000 from state to state based on supply, demand, and cost of living. Often, states with a greater need for physicians, particularly in rural or underserved areas, offer higher compensation to attract talent.
According to the Doximity 2023 Physician Compensation Report, the metropolitan areas with the highest average physician compensation included Charlotte, NC, and St. Louis, MO. Conversely, major coastal cities like Washington, D.C., and Boston, MA, which have a high saturation of physicians, tend to offer lower average salaries.
Years of Experience
Like most professions, income for osteopathic physicians grows with experience. A physician's salary sees a significant jump immediately after completing residency. Earnings continue to climb steadily for the first 10-15 years of practice as the physician builds a patient base, gains efficiency, and establishes their reputation. After about 20 years, salaries tend to plateau.
Practice Setting (Company Type)
The type of organization a physician works for also plays a crucial role in their compensation package.
- Physician-Owned Private Practice: This setting offers the highest earning potential, especially for practice owners who retain a portion of the profits. However, it also comes with the greatest financial risk and administrative responsibilities.
- Hospital or Health System Employee: This is an increasingly common model. It provides a stable, predictable salary, robust benefits packages, and relief from the administrative burdens of running a business. Salaries are highly competitive to attract top talent.
- Academic Medical Centers: Physicians working in academia often earn less than their counterparts in private practice. This trade-off is often balanced by better benefits, more predictable hours, and opportunities for teaching and research.
- Government Positions: Working for entities like the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or the military offers excellent job security and federal benefits but may come with a lower base salary compared to the private sector.
Level of Education
The baseline educational requirement is the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. The real salary impact comes from education *beyond* the initial degree. Completing a residency is mandatory. However, choosing to pursue a fellowship to sub-specialize (e.g., a 3-year cardiology fellowship after a 3-year internal medicine residency) is what unlocks the highest salary tiers.
Job Outlook
The future for osteopathic physicians is exceptionally bright. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment for physicians and surgeons will grow by 3% from 2022 to 2032.
This steady demand is driven by several factors, including the healthcare needs of a large, aging population and a wave of retiring physicians. Furthermore, the holistic, wellness-focused approach of osteopathic medicine is increasingly popular among patients, positioning DOs perfectly to meet the growing demand for primary and preventative care.
Conclusion
A career as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine is a pathway to a secure, respected, and financially lucrative profession. While the national average salary is well over $200,000, your individual earning potential is largely in your hands.
Here are the key takeaways for anyone considering this path:
- High Earning Potential: DOs are high-income professionals with salaries comparable to their MD colleagues.
- Specialty is Key: Your choice of medical specialty is the single most important factor determining your income.
- Geography Matters: Where you choose to practice can significantly impact your salary, with less-saturated markets often paying more.
- Strong Job Growth: The demand for physicians, including DOs, is expected to remain strong for the foreseeable future.
For prospective students, the message is encouraging. By focusing on academic excellence, strategically choosing a specialty, and being flexible with location, you can build a successful and highly compensated career as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.