Gastroenterologists earn $400,000-$600,000+ per year — ranking among the highest-paid non-surgical specialists due to procedure volume.
Average Gastroenterologist Salary in 2026
| Experience Level |
Salary Range |
| New Attending (1-3 years) |
$375,000-$450,000 |
| Mid-Career (5-10 years) |
$480,000-$550,000 |
| Experienced (10+ years) |
$550,000-$700,000 |
| National Average |
$495,000 |
GI is one of the highest-paid internal medicine subspecialties.
Gastroenterologist Salary by Subspecialty
| Subspecialty |
Average Salary |
Fellowship |
| Interventional/ERCP |
$580,000 |
1 year (advanced) |
| Hepatology |
$470,000 |
1 year |
| IBD Specialist |
$480,000 |
— |
| Motility |
$450,000 |
1 year |
| Pediatric GI |
$380,000 |
3 years |
| General GI |
$490,000 |
— |
ERCP specialists (advanced endoscopy) command the highest salaries due to complex procedures.
Why GI Pays Well
| Factor |
Impact |
| Procedure volume |
15-25 colonoscopies/day possible |
| Screening demand |
Colonoscopy guidelines drive volume |
| Revenue per procedure |
$500-$2,000+ per case |
| Ancillary revenue |
Pathology, facility fees |
| Shortage |
Not enough GI doctors to meet demand |
A high-volume GI doctor performing 20+ procedures per day generates substantial revenue.
Gastroenterologist Salary by State
| State |
Average Salary |
vs. National |
| Wisconsin |
$600,000 |
+21% |
| Indiana |
$585,000 |
+18% |
| Nebraska |
$575,000 |
+16% |
| Oklahoma |
$565,000 |
+14% |
| Kentucky |
$555,000 |
+12% |
| Michigan |
$540,000 |
+9% |
| Texas |
$520,000 |
+5% |
| Florida |
$500,000 |
+1% |
| California |
$480,000 |
-3% |
| New York |
$470,000 |
-5% |
Rural and underserved areas pay significant premiums.
Gastroenterologist Salary by Practice Setting
| Practice Type |
Salary Range |
Notes |
| Private Practice (Partner) |
$550,000-$800,000+ |
Highest, requires volume |
| Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) |
$500,000-$700,000 |
Ownership equity |
| Hospital-Employed |
$425,000-$550,000 |
Stable, benefits |
| Academic |
$320,000-$450,000 |
Research, teaching |
| Locum Tenens |
$500,000-$650,000 |
Flexible |
ASC ownership can significantly boost income through facility fee revenue.
Path to Becoming a Gastroenterologist
| Stage |
Duration |
Cost/Salary |
| Bachelor’s degree |
4 years |
$50,000-$200,000 debt |
| Medical school |
4 years |
$200,000-$350,000 debt |
| Internal medicine residency |
3 years |
$65,000-$80,000/year |
| GI fellowship |
3 years |
$75,000-$95,000/year |
| Advanced fellowship (ERCP) |
1 year |
$90,000-$110,000/year |
| Total Training |
14-15 years |
— |
| Average Debt |
— |
$250,000-$370,000 |
Gastroenterologist Work Schedule
| Factor |
Typical Range |
| Hours per week |
50-60 |
| Procedures per day |
12-25 |
| Night call |
3-6 nights/month |
| Weekend call |
2-4 weekends/month |
| Vacation weeks |
4-6 |
GI offers good lifestyle compared to surgical specialties — procedures are outpatient with minimal emergencies.
Colonoscopy Economics
| Factor |
Average |
| Procedures per day |
15-25 |
| Medicare reimbursement |
~$400 professional |
| Private insurance |
$600-$1,500 |
| Annual procedure volume |
3,000-5,000 |
| Revenue potential |
$1.5M-$3M+ |
High-volume GI physicians in private practice can generate significant revenue.
Gastroenterologist Salary After Taxes
| Gross Salary |
Federal Tax |
FICA |
State Tax (5%) |
Take-Home |
| $400,000 |
$100,000 |
$11,773 |
$20,000 |
$268,227 |
| $495,000 |
$133,000 |
$11,773 |
$24,750 |
$325,477 |
| $650,000 |
$184,000 |
$11,773 |
$32,500 |
$421,727 |
GI Fellowship Competitiveness
| Factor |
Assessment |
| Match rate |
~75% |
| Average Step 1 (historical) |
235+ |
| Research |
Helpful but not required |
| Competition |
Moderate-high |
| Spots per year |
~450 |
GI is competitive due to high compensation and good lifestyle balance.
Job Market Outlook
| Factor |
Assessment |
| Shortage |
Significant (4,000+ needed) |
| Job growth (2024-2034) |
+6% (faster than average) |
| Aging population |
Driving demand |
| Screening guidelines |
Expanding age ranges |
| Wait times |
2-4 months in many areas |
Career Earnings Comparison
| Career Path |
Training Debt |
30-Year Earnings |
Net Lifetime |
| Academic |
-$300,000 |
$12M |
~$11.5M |
| Hospital-Employed |
-$300,000 |
$15M |
~$14.5M |
| Private Practice |
-$300,000 |
$20M |
~$19.5M |
| ASC Owner |
-$300,000 |
$23M |
~$22.5M |
Tips for Maximizing Income
- Advanced endoscopy fellowship — ERCP training commands premium
- ASC ownership/partnership — Facility fees add significant income
- High volume practice — Focus on efficient procedure scheduling
- Rural practice — 15-25% pay premiums
- Ancillary services — Anesthesia, pathology revenue sharing
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medscape Physician Compensation Report, MGMA, ACG. Updated March 2026.