2026 Healthcare Salary Benchmarks: RN, NP, Physician, and Therapy Roles Compared

Why Salary Data Matters for Recruiters

Compensation remains the number one factor candidates evaluate, but 2026 candidates also weigh schedule flexibility, burnout support, and organizational culture. Having current salary benchmarks is essential for making offers that close.

Physician Compensation

The median physician salary in 2026 stands at $438,000. Surgical specialists lead the pack — orthopedic surgeons average $795,000, with top earners in neurosurgery exceeding $1.3 million. Cardiology ($550K), anesthesiology ($535K), and gastroenterology ($450K) round out the top earners.

Primary care physicians average approximately $260,000 — an 87% gap compared to surgical specialists. Despite this disparity, primary care remains the backbone of healthcare delivery, and the declining family medicine Match fill rate (83.6% in 2026) signals growing recruitment challenges.

For detailed physician compensation data and direct contact access, specialized platforms like RecruitPhysician provide verified personal emails and phone numbers for 265,000+ physicians.

Nursing Compensation

Registered nurses now average $100,238 annually — a remarkable 52% increase since 2021. California leads at $149,000 for RNs. Nurse practitioners average $126,000-$133,000, with psychiatric-mental health NPs (PMHNPs) commanding the highest at $145,000+ due to severe mental health provider shortages.

Nurse recruiting requires specialty-specific knowledge. NurseSend covers 1 million+ nurses across 35+ specialties with verified personal contact data — not hospital switchboard numbers.

Therapy and Allied Health

Physical therapists average $101,000-$125,000 depending on setting, with outpatient specialty clinics paying the most. Occupational therapists average $98,000. Mental health counselors range from $61,000 to $67,000 — the lowest among clinical roles, but demand has grown 15-25% since 2020.

What This Means for Your Offers

If your compensation package falls below the 25th percentile for the role and geography, you are not in the conversation. Candidates in 2026 are informed — they benchmark against national data before your first call. Lead with total compensation, not just base salary. Include sign-on bonuses, loan repayment, schedule flexibility, and mental health benefits in your offer structure.