Quick Summary
- The highest-paid doctor is typically a specialist with advanced training and expertise in a medical field such as neurosurgery or orthopaedic surgery.
- Specialists such as cardiothoracic surgeons, neurosurgeons, oncologists, and pulmonologists are some of the doctors who receive high pay.
- On average, doctors in India can earn around 10 to 15 lakhs per annum.
Table of Contents
In India, doctor is considered one of the highest-paid professionals, offering both financial security and the opportunity to make a significant impact on society. Not all doctors have the same salary range as it varies depending on specialization, experience, and training. As the demand for specialized healthcare services grows, certain medical specialities have emerged as promising and rewarding career paths. These specialists are the highest paid doctors in India.
Here in this article, we have listed the highest paid doctors in India, their specializations and their salaries.
Highest Paid Doctors in India
Want to know which type of doctors are highest paid in India? Currently, the second highest-paying job in the world is a doctor. But there is a misconception that all doctors earn a high salary. In reality, the salary range varies according to the doctor’s specialization. Below is a list of India’s highest-paid specialist doctors and their salary ranges.
| Ranking | Specialization | Average Salary |
| 1 | Cardiologist | Rs. 50.0 LPA |
| 2 | Oncologists | Rs. 28.3 LPA |
| 3 | Pulmonologist | Rs. 21.7 LPA |
| 4 | General Surgeon | Rs. 15.4 LPA |
| 5 | ENT Specialist | Rs. 14.8 LPA |
| 6 | Neurologists | Rs. 12 LPA |
| 7 | Pediatricians | Rs. 12 LPA |
| 8 | Psychiatrist | Rs. 9.6 LPA |
| 9 | General Physician | Rs. 7.2 LPA |
| 10 | Dentists | Rs. 3.6 LPA |
The location of the hospital where the doctors work will also affect the salary range. The below table provides a list of the highest paid doctors in India as per the location.
| Ranking | Location of the hospital | Average Anual Salary |
| 1 | Delhi | Rs. 13.0 LPA |
| 2 | Mumbai | Rs. 8.0 LPA |
| 3 | Hyderabad | Rs. 6.2 LPA |
| 4 | Bangalore | Rs. 5.0 LPA |
| 5 | Kolkata | Rs. 4.8 LPA |
Source: https://www.ambitionbox.com/
List of Highest-Paid Doctors in India
“Who are the highest-paid doctors in India?” There are different types of doctors and relevant salary ranges. The specialization indicates the type of diseases and patients they focus on. Doctors get paid a high salary as per their specialization with intensive procedures. Sometimes, doctors with demand have a high salary range. Here are the specializations of the top 10 highest-paid doctors in India.
- Cardiologist
- Oncologists
- Pulmonologist
- General Surgeon
- ENT Specialist
- Neurologists
- Paediatricians
- Psychiatrist
- General Physician
- Dentists
In the rest of the article, we’ll take a closer look at each specialization and the skills needed for them.
Cardiologist
Cardiologists are the ones who deal with blood vessels and heart diseases. They specialize in cardiovascular systems. They offer help in other specializations as necessary. For example, providing consultancy on a psychic patient regarding his/her heart. Cardiologists perform the most critical open heart surgery. It makes them one of the top 10 highest paid doctors in India.
Job description: The job responsibilities include diagnosing and treating patients with cardiovascular diseases. For example, performing open heart surgery to replace a heart valve.
Educational Qualification: Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, MBBS degree (any one degree). After UG, a Doctor of Medicine (MD) in general medicine and a Doctorate of Medicine (DM) in cardiology.
Skills needed: Decision-making, emotional intelligence, time management, and attention to detail.
Average Salary: Rs. 50.0 LPA
Oncologists
Oncology is a field that studies cancer and its treatment. The oncologists are responsible for conducting medical trials. Through medical trials on test cases, they create an efficient treatment plan. They are also responsible for their patients from diagnosis to recovery. Oncologists always work with other specializations to provide better treatment.
Job description: An oncologist offers treatment for cancer-diagnosed patients. It involves chemotherapy and laser treatment as per the type of cancer.
Educational Qualification: MBBS degree, Doctor of Medicine (MD) in general medicine. After UG, a Doctor of Medicine (DM) in oncology.
Skills needed: Accurate diagnostic skills, Interpersonal skills, Research skills, and Medical management skills.
Average Salary: Rs. 28.3 LPA.
Pulmonologist
Pulmonologists are specialists that take care of the respiratory system. They deal with breathing issues that affect the chest cavity, such as treating asthma. The increase in air pollution levels leads to various cardiopulmonary problems. This prompts pulmonology as one of the highest paid doctors fields in India.
Job description: A pulmonologist prevents, diagnoses, and treats patients with cardiopulmonary diseases.
Educational qualification: 5½ years MBBS degree and M.D. (Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine).
Skills needed: Communication, patience, Attention to detail, and effective assessment.
Average Salary: Rs. 21.7 LPA.
General Surgeon
The general surgeon specializes in surgical procedures. They perform surgery with the help of other specializations as well. They specialize in a vast range of illnesses rather than focusing on a single human system.
Job description: General surgeons assess the patients to determine the need for surgery. And they perform surgery on patients if necessary.
Educational Qualification: Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, MBBS degree (any one degree). After UG, MS in general surgery and a one-year internship program.
Skills needed: Leadership, critical thinking, eye-hand coordination, and observation skills.
Average Salary: Rs. 15.4 LPA.
ENT Specialist
ENT Specialist cares for the patient’s nose, ears, and throat. They assess the patients for possible infections and provide relevant medication. They also perform surgeries as necessary.
Job description: An ENT Specialist handles the medical conditions associated with ENT.
Educational Qualification: B.Sc. (Bachelor of Science) Anatomy/ Biology/ENT/ M.B.B.S. (any one degree). After UG, an M.Sc. (Master of Science) Otolaryngology or M.S. (Master of Surgery) Otolaryngology/ Otorhinolaryngology/ ENT. An M.D. (Master of Doctor) in Otolaryngology/ENT is applicable too.
Skills needed: Dexterity, good vision, eye-to-hand coordination, and organizational ability.
Average Salary: Rs. 14.8 LPA.
Neurologists
Neurology is the specialization that deals with the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. A neurologist evaluates the neurological symptoms and treats the neuro system. Sometimes, recommending therapy is also the job of the neurologist. The importance of the brain makes neurologists one of India’s top 10 highest-paid doctors.
Job description: The responsibilities include diagnosing and treating patients with neurological diseases.
Educational Qualification: MBBS, M.D. (Medicine or Pediatrics) or equal DNB course. After UG, a DM in Neurology, a one-year internship, and a residency in neurology.
Skills needed: Attention to detail, decision-making, remaining calm under pressure, and dexterity.
Average Salary: Rs. Rs. 12.0 LPA.
Paediatricians
Pediatrics studies medical conditions associated with newborn babies, children, and young adults. As the infant grows, they experience fast physical changes. Therefore, we need paediatrics to maintain the patient’s health from infants to young adults.
Job description: A paediatrician diagnoses and treats the medical conditions of infants, children, and young adults.
Educational Qualification: MBBS and M.D. in paediatrics.
Skills needed: Teamwork, patience, communication, empathy, and good with children.
Average Salary: Rs. 12.0 LPA.
Psychiatrist
Psychiatry is a specialization of medicine that deals with mental illness. It offers treatment for emotional disorders and physical illnesses associated with mental. Psychiatrists are the doctors who practice psychiatry. The recent demand for treating mental illness makes psychiatrists one of the highest paid doctors in India.
Job description: Psychiatrists check a patient for mental illness. They prescribe medications and conduct psychotherapy.
Educational qualification: Pre-med or a degree in psychology, Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.). After a master’s degree, a four-year psychiatry residency, and a year fellowship.
Skills needed: Communication, perception, logical Reasoning, and empathy.
Average Salary: Rs. 9.6 LPA.
General Physician
General physicians deal with a wide range of common health issues. They provide non-surgical treatment to patients. They often deal with healing injuries. General physicians offer consults to patients referred by doctors of other specializations.
Job description: The job responsibilities involve the conduction of check-ups and disease diagnoses. It also involves the prescription of medications and working with healthcare teams.
Educational Qualification: 5.5 years MBBS degree and MD in general medicine.
Skills needed: Communication, patience, Attention to detail, and effective assessment.
Average Salary: Rs. 7.2 LPA.
Dentists
A Dentist, also called a dental surgeon, promotes a patient’s oral health. A dentist will advise the patients to follow specific routines. They offer consultations on dental issues. Visiting a dentist will increase the oral health of an individual.
Job description: Dentists assess, diagnose, and treat dental issues. They perform surgeries to fill cavities and clean teeth.
Educational Qualification: Bachelor of dental surgery or an MBBS degree. A year of compulsory internship is necessary.
Skills needed: Dexterity, good vision, eye-to-hand coordination, and organizational ability.
Average Salary: Rs. 3.6 LPA.
Why Do Doctors Get Paid High?
For thousands of years, people entrusted doctors to maintain their well-being. They try to save a life as humanly possible without discrimination. But being a doctor is no easy task. As glorious as it sounds, it also sometimes engages with losing lives. Doctors must have a crucial skill set and qualified education to save a life. They need to make decisions in a matter of seconds. Being late for even a second can make a difference between life and death. Also, they have to remain calm in critical situations.
Becoming a doctor itself is a struggle. Doctors spent most of their lives acquiring undergraduate and postgraduate degrees like PhD and MD. Unlike other professions, doctors can’t afford to make mistakes. In a life-or-death business, doctors must always be at the top of their game. These exceptional skills we expect of doctors make them one of the highest paid professionals. But make no mistake, with a high salary comes intense work.
Doctor: A Noble Job
We can’t put a price on life, can we? Hence doctors are getting paid according to the care they provide and the responsibility they carry. Doctors do everything in their power to stay loyal to the trust. Doctors sacrifice most of their personal lives to take care of others. As the nature of the work is complex, doctors are getting paid what they deserve. Till now, we have established all about highest paid doctors in India. But other specialist doctor roles in India offer you great career opportunities. Even though they don’t provide a high salary, they allow you to grow professionally. Therefore when choosing a career, it is important to consider the salary of the field as well as the learning scope of the field. If you wanna become a doctor and save lives then, start your journey and we wish you good luck in achieving your goals.
Evaluate numerous career choices to choose the right career path for yourself. Dive into our guide on Career Advice.
Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQ’s )
Psychiatrists are the highest paid doctors in India. The high salary range is due to high education and training. The extensive training in medical school and residency programs is a significant investment of time and money. Therefore, they get compensated accordingly. The complex and challenging nature of the psychiatrist’s work also impacts the salary.
The type of doctors who are the highest paid doctors in India are those who perform complex procedures. Psychiatrists and cardiologists are on the list as they are involved in some of the complex procedures. Those who are highly specialized (neurosurgeons and oncologists) earn significantly more than general physicians. Likewise, the location of hospitals also influences the salary of a doctor.
A doctor can earn 50 lakhs per month. But not right after finishing the studies. It depends on the doctor’s specialization, education, skills, experience, and work location. To earn as high as 50 lakhs, doctors must reach the peak of their careers. The only possible way to reach 50 lakhs salary per month is to get paid hourly.
A doctor can’t earn 1 crore per month. Even though doctors can get a high salary, 1 core per month is surreal. Remember, earning money shouldn’t be the sole purpose of being a doctor. You can serve society and still make good money, but not as high as 1 crore per month.
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