Gastroenterologists Salary Guide

According to Medscape’s 2023 gastroenterologist compensation report, gastroenterologists made an annual average of $501,000. Gastroenterologists increased their compensation by 11% from 2022, one of the largest increases in compensation compared to other specialties. 

Locum tenens gastroenterologists can make upwards of $290 per hour on average, however, there are many factors that impact rates including location, years of experience, and the level of demand.

If you were to extrapolate that rate over a year (at 40 hours per week), the average locum salary comes out to around $602,200.

That means locum tenens gastroenterologists can make up to 20% more than the average provider. However, making direct salary comparisons can be complicated. While perm gastroenterologists are more likely to be salaried, locum tenens gastroenterologists are independent contractors earning an hourly rate, which can vary based on which assignments they take in a year. 

Furthermore, because locum tenens gastroenterologists are paid by the hour, the hours they work are directly reflected in their pay, while a salaried gastroenterologists additional hours may not be reflected in their salary.

Finally, paid time off and insurance may be reflected in the perm gastroenterologists salary structure, but locum tenens providers do have options when it comes to health insurance. 

While the state breakdown of salaries from US Bureau of Labor Statistics for gastroenterologists is not available, the BLS reports the top 5 highest paying states for general internal medicine physicians salary are:

• Alaska
• Kentucky 
• Minnesota
• South Dakota
• Wisconsin

This can provide some insights into the highest paying states for gastroenterologists.

Gastroenterologists within the top 5 earners of the 30+ physician specialties surveyed in the Medscape 2023 compensation report. The top five specialties (plastic surgery, orthopedics, cardiology, urology, gastroenterology) all reported annual income of greater than $500,000.

Gastroenterologists salaries have increased over the last several years, with the average compensation increasing 35% over the past decade. Gastroenterologists increased their compensation 11% from 2022 to 2023. Based on this data, gastroenterologists can expect to make roughly $556,110 in 2024. 

Overall, this statistic shows the possible compensation growth for gastroenterologists time, making this a lucrative career choice.