Osteopathic Physicians

Osteopaths (O.D.) are doctors and earn incomes comparable to their M.D. counterparts. The potentially high income that comes with being a seasoned physician can be an enticing perk. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the mean annual salary for physicians and surgeons was $208,000 in May 2019. Some physicians earn less than $82,380. Physicians with a specialty can earn much higher annual incomes.

Osteopaths work extremely hard and for many years until they earn a high income. Counting postgraduate education, most physicians are in their early 30s before starting to practice. Physicians who are still in their residencies typically earn an average of $50,000 to $70,000 annually, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, yet residents work up to 80 hours per week. Most physicians incur high educational debt by the time they begin to practice. Like other professions, passion is critical to success.

Benefits for osteopathic physicians vary, depending on whether they work in private practice or for an employer. An American Medical Association survey indicates that median net income for self-employed physicians is approximately 40 percent higher than that of employee physicians. Many factors contribute to the difference. Self-employed physicians tend to be older, have more years of experience, work more hours, and be more likely to be board certified, all of which are associated with higher earnings. On the other hand, 75 percent of employee physicians receive non-cash benefits in addition to their reported income (paid health insurance, vacation and sick leave), whereas some self-employed physicians do not. These benefits represent approximately 5 percent of income for employees.