Exhaustive Guide to Physician and Surgeon Salaries in India (INR) by Specialization and Experience

finance_article

Physician and Surgeon salaries in India vary significantly based on specialization, experience, location, and practice type (institutional employment vs. private practice). This article provides a detailed breakdown of annual earnings (in INR) for 13 medical specializations, categorized by experience and practice mode.


Annual Salaries for Job Roles vs. Private Practice

1. Surgeon

Role Overview: Includes general surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and cardiovascular surgeons.

  • Entry-Level (0–5 years):
  • Job: ₹6–12 LPA (government hospitals) to ₹8–15 LPA (private hospitals).
  • Private Practice: Limited initially; ₹5–10 LPA (if clinic is established).
  • Mid-Career (5–15 years):
  • Job: ₹15–25 LPA (private hospitals). Super-specialized surgeons (e.g., neuro) earn up to ₹30 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹20–50 LPA, depending on reputation and patient inflow.
  • Senior-Level (15+ years):
  • Job: ₹25–40 LPA in corporate hospitals.
  • Private Practice: ₹50 LPA–1.5+ CPA (crore per annum) for renowned surgeons.

2. Internal Medicine Physician

Role Overview: Manages complex adult diseases.

  • Entry-Level:
  • Job: ₹5–8 LPA (government) to ₹7–12 LPA (private).
  • Private Practice: Rare initially; ₹6–10 LPA if established early.
  • Mid-Career:
  • Job: ₹12–20 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹15–30 LPA.
  • Senior-Level:
  • Job: ₹18–30 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹30–60 LPA.

3. Dermatologist

Role Overview: Skin, hair, and cosmetic treatments.

  • Entry-Level:
  • Job: ₹5–10 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹8–15 LPA (cosmetic focus boosts earnings).
  • Mid-Career:
  • Job: ₹12–25 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹20–50 LPA (metros favor cosmetic procedures).
  • Senior-Level:
  • Job: ₹20–35 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹50 LPA–1+ CPA.

4. Cardiologist

Role Overview: Heart disease specialists.

  • Entry-Level:
  • Job: ₹10–18 LPA (private hospitals).
  • Private Practice: Rare initially; requires hospital affiliations.
  • Mid-Career:
  • Job: ₹20–40 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹25–60 LPA (procedures like angioplasty increase income).
  • Senior-Level:
  • Job: ₹35–60 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹70 LPA–2+ CPA.

5. General Practitioner (GP)

Role Overview: Primary care physicians.

  • Entry-Level:
  • Job: ₹4–7 LPA (government) to ₹5–9 LPA (private).
  • Private Practice: ₹3–6 LPA (initially).
  • Mid-Career:
  • Job: ₹8–15 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹10–25 LPA (with loyal patient base).
  • Senior-Level:
  • Job: ₹12–20 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹20–40 LPA.

6. Ayurvedic Doctor

Role Overview: Traditional medicine practitioners.

  • Entry-Level:
  • Job: ₹3–6 LPA (government) to ₹4–8 LPA (private clinics).
  • Private Practice: ₹5–10 LPA.
  • Mid-Career:
  • Job: ₹7–12 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹15–30 LPA (reputation-dependent).
  • Senior-Level:
  • Job: ₹10–18 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹25–50 LPA (well-known practitioners).

7. Homeopathic Doctor

Role Overview: Homeopathy-focused care.

  • Entry-Level:
  • Job: ₹3–5 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹4–8 LPA.
  • Mid-Career:
  • Job: ₹6–10 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹10–20 LPA.
  • Senior-Level:
  • Job: ₹8–15 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹15–35 LPA.

8. Diabetologist

Role Overview: Diabetes and metabolic disorder specialists.

  • Entry-Level:
  • Job: ₹6–12 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹8–15 LPA.
  • Mid-Career:
  • Job: ₹15–25 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹20–40 LPA.
  • Senior-Level:
  • Job: ₹20–35 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹40–80 LPA.

9. Gastroenterologist

Role Overview: Digestive system specialists.

  • Entry-Level:
  • Job: ₹10–18 LPA.
  • Private Practice: Rare early on.
  • Mid-Career:
  • Job: ₹20–35 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹25–50 LPA (endoscopy procedures add revenue).
  • Senior-Level:
  • Job: ₹30–50 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹60 LPA–1.2+ CPA.

10. Neurologist

Role Overview: Brain and nervous system specialists.

  • Entry-Level:
  • Job: ₹12–20 LPA.
  • Private Practice: Requires hospital ties; limited initially.
  • Mid-Career:
  • Job: ₹25–45 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹30–60 LPA.
  • Senior-Level:
  • Job: ₹40–70 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹80 LPA–1.5+ CPA.

11. Nephrologist

Role Overview: Kidney disease and dialysis experts.

  • Entry-Level:
  • Job: ₹10–15 LPA.
  • Private Practice: Rare.
  • Mid-Career:
  • Job: ₹18–30 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹25–50 LPA (dialysis centers boost income).
  • Senior-Level:
  • Job: ₹30–50 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹60 LPA–1+ CPA.

12. Oncologist

Role Overview: Cancer treatment specialists.

  • Entry-Level:
  • Job: ₹12–22 LPA.
  • Private Practice: Uncommon early due to infrastructure needs.
  • Mid-Career:
  • Job: ₹25–45 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹30–70 LPA (collaborations with hospitals).
  • Senior-Level:
  • Job: ₹40–80 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹1–2+ CPA (own oncology center).

13. Psychiatrist

Role Overview: Mental health professionals.

  • Entry-Level:
  • Job: ₹5–10 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹6–12 LPA.
  • Mid-Career:
  • Job: ₹12–25 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹20–40 LPA.
  • Senior-Level:
  • Job: ₹20–35 LPA.
  • Private Practice: ₹40–80 LPA (high demand in urban areas).

Factors Influencing Salaries

  1. Location: Metro cities (Mumbai, Delhi) offer 20–40% higher salaries.
  2. Institution Type: Corporate hospitals pay more than government setups.
  3. Reputation: Private practice earnings surge with patient trust and referrals.
  4. Additional Skills: Surgeons/proceduralists earn more via OT fees.
  5. Certifications: Super-specialization (e.g., DM, MCh) increases marketability.

Conclusion

While institutional jobs provide stability, private practice offers scalability. Surgeons, cardiologists, and oncologists top the earnings chart, especially in metros. Ayurvedic and homeopathic doctors earn less on average but can achieve parity with niche demand. Salaries are expected to rise with India’s growing healthcare needs and medical tourism. I hope you enjoyed our article on Physician and Surgeon salaries in India.


Note: Figures for Physician and Surgeon salaries in India are approximate and based on 2023 industry trends. Individual earnings may vary.

Read more such articles on our website by clicking on our homepage and for learning more about our author Varun Gadia you can either visit Hidoc or his LinkedIn profile.