According to the most recent available AAMC data, the average total salary (sometimes called a stipend) for medical residents is $68,166 during Postgraduate Year 1 (PGY-1). Each year, residents receive a predetermined salary increase.
In most programs, all residents at the same PGY level within the same institution are paid the same rate, regardless of medical specialty. These salary rates are determined primarily by cost of living, so the highest-paid residents are typically in larger metropolitan areas.
Other job benefits, such as insurance, transportation benefits, and paid time off, differ by residency program but are offered equally across the institution.
Let’s go through the relevant stats and important factors to consider, like healthcare job benefits to look out for. We may even be able to help you boost your odds during The Match.
Watch our free Residency Specialty Spotlight videos to explore the daily life of residents in various specialties and hear practical advice for navigating the match process in each specialty.
Here are some quick statistics about salary packages for graduate medical education programs (GMEs):
For every year that you’re in residency, your salary typically increases. Below are the salary ranges for each postgraduate year of residency, based on the most recent AAMC data.
| Resident Job Level | Average Annual Salary |
| PGY-1 (Postgraduate Year 1) Residents | $68,166 |
| PGY-2 Residents | $70,499 |
| PGY-3 Residents | $73,301 |
| PGY-4 Residents | $77,593 |
| PGY-5 Residents | $81,807 |
| PGY-6 Residents | $84,744 |
| PGY-7 Residents | $89,187 |
| PGY-8 Residents | $94,215 |
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Because the cost of living is the major determinant for a residency program’s salary rate, the largest disparities in residency salary are by location. Below are the PGY-1 residency salaries by region.
| Region | PGY-1 Average Salary |
| Northeast | $74,994 |
| Southern | $65,076 |
| Central | $68,580 |
| Western | $77,649 |
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In many cases, chief residents earn a slightly higher salary than the rest of the residents in their program.
Last year, the AAMC found that 71.1% of residency programs pay chief residents a higher stipend than the rest of the residents in the program. The average additional salary amount was $5,071.
The AAMC report also found that 13.5% of residency programs reported paying additional salary to residents other than chief residents. Factors that may lead to a higher monthly stipend for non-chief residents included:
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Residency training programs may offer additional benefits, including:
Ask the program director for more info on any of these potential job benefits.
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Unlike physicians, residents typically cannot negotiate salary increases. The Match is legally binding, so once you match into a program, you automatically agree to whatever they’re offering. Institutions almost always set standard resident salaries, and you generally don’t have the patient care experience to leverage any bargaining power.
In 2025, a nationwide survey revealed that 20% of medical residents work in a unionized hospital. 63% reported their intent to vote for unionization, while 10% reported their intent to vote no if unionization came up.
If more residents unionize, they’d have more collective bargaining power, potentially leading to more salary increase negotiations. Unions have already helped residents secure higher compensation that reflects the cost of living and inflation, while addressing long work hours and other workplace concerns.
However, hospitals are likely to resist further changes like this, citing budget constraints, which could lead to tougher negotiations and less friendly relations between residents and hospital administrations.
Even if residency unions become more common, individual residents would not have the ability to negotiate their own salary increases or other benefits. All negotiations would apply to every resident union member within those systems.
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How much do doctors make after residency? The average physician salary varies based on specialty, location, and years of experience. Several organizations report different average physician salaries, from under $300,000 (Medscape) to $430,000 (Marit).
In September 2025, the American Medical Association reported the average physician salary at $403,000 (general practitioners and specialists combined), down slightly from their findings the previous year.
The top-paying specializations post-residency include orthopedic surgery ($576k) and gastroenterology ($552k). The lowest-paying specialties are family medicine ($275k) and pediatrics ($258k).
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While PGY-1 resident pay averages around $70,000, Physician’s Assistant salaries can hover around $130,000.
However, after 3-7 years of training, residents become fully-fledged physicians that make a rough average of $400,000 a year. Read more about PA vs. MD here.
My colleagues and I have helped thousands of students like you achieve their residency goals. Let us help you look for your perfect residency. We aim to make the residency application and interview process stress-free and successful.