How much do urologists make?

Urologists earn a median of approximately $481,000 per year according to physician compensation surveys. Employed urologists at health systems typically earn $380,000–$500,000, while private practice owners can earn $500,000–$900,000+.

Is urology a high-paying specialty?

Yes. Urology is consistently among the top 10 highest-earning physician specialties. It combines surgical and medical practice, giving urologists multiple revenue streams unavailable to purely medical specialists.

How long does it take to become a urologist?

After medical school (4 years), urologists complete a 5-year urology residency, for a total of 13 years of post-secondary education and training. Fellowship subspecialization (oncology, female pelvic medicine, pediatric urology) adds 1–2 years.

Do urologists earn more in private practice or hospital employment?

Private practice owners typically earn more at $500,000–$900,000+, but carry business risk and overhead management. Employed urologists earn $380,000–$500,000 with lower administrative burden and guaranteed compensation.

What states pay urologists the most?

Urologists tend to earn the most in states with high Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement and lower physician supply: Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and parts of the Midwest and South often report higher physician compensation despite lower cost of living.

Urologist Salary 2026: What Urologists Actually Earn by Setting and State

Urology is one of medicine’s highest-earning specialties — combining office-based procedures, surgery, robotics, and cancer care. The median urologist salary of $481,000 places the specialty firmly in the top tier of physician compensation.

Urologist Salary by Practice Setting

Setting	Median Annual Salary	Range
Private Practice (Solo Owner)	$580,000	$400,000–$900,000+
Private Practice (Group Partner)	$520,000	$380,000–$750,000
Health System / Hospital Employed	$440,000	$350,000–$550,000
Academic Medical Center	$370,000	$280,000–$500,000
VA / Government	$330,000	$280,000–$400,000
Locum Tenens	$650,000+	$500,000–$1,000,000+

Urologist Salary by Subspecialty

Subspecialty	Additional Earning Potential	Notes
Urologic Oncology	High	High surgical volume, robotic procedures
Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS)	Moderate	Growing subspecialty
Pediatric Urology	Moderate–High	Often academic; some private practices
Endourology (Kidney Stones)	Moderate	Procedurally dense
Male Reproductive / Andrology	Moderate	Lower surgical volume

Robotics-trained urologists (da Vinci system) command a premium in both employed and private settings — robotic prostatectomy and cystectomy are high-RVU procedures that directly impact compensation.

Urologist Salary by State

State	Estimated Median	Notes
California	$450,000	High demand but high COL
Texas	$500,000	No state income tax; large market
New York	$430,000	High COL; mix of academic and private
Florida	$490,000	Growing market; no state tax
Mississippi	$520,000	Rural premium; high need areas
Montana / Wyoming	$510,000	Underserved areas; strong premium
Illinois	$470,000	Chicago metro academic mixed with suburban private

Urologist Salary by Experience

Experience Level	Typical Range	Notes
Resident (PGY 1–5)	$62,000–$72,000	Resident salary, not attending
Fellow (Year 1–2)	$68,000–$80,000	Fellowship stipend
Early Career (0–5 years)	$350,000–$450,000	Often employed first
Mid-Career (5–15 years)	$450,000–$600,000	Partnership, ownership possible
Established (15+ years)	$500,000–$900,000+	Practice owners, high volume

How Urologists Build Wealth

At a median salary of $481,000:

Federal taxes consume roughly $140,000–$160,000 (effective rate ~30% at this income)
Take-home (Texas/Florida, no state tax): ~$315,000–$330,000/year
Student loan burden: $250,000–$400,000 for many; income-driven repayment or refinancing to 5–7 year terms is common
Net worth trajectory: Urologists who control spending and max retirement accounts (defined benefit plan can shelter $150,000–$250,000/year) can accumulate $3M–$6M+ by age 55

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

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