Top 10 Highest Paid Doctors in India: Salary & Duties 2024

In India, a doctor is considered one of the highest paid professions, offering both financial security and the opportunity to make a significant impact on society. The highest paid doctors in India vary depending on specialization, experience, and training to determine which doctor has the highest salary. 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.

What are the Highest Paid Doctors in India?

Want to know which doctor earns the most in India? Below is the list of the highest paid doctors in India in terms of their specializations and salary ranges.

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 Annual 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

Salary Source: Ambitionbox

List of 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 in intensive procedures. Sometimes, doctors with demand have a high salary range. Here are the top 10 highest paid doctors in India:

1. 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 the top 10 highest paid doctors in India.

• Job Description: The responsibilities include diagnosing and treating patients with neurological diseases.
  
• Career Path: After neurology, paths include neurosurgery, neuropsychiatry, clinical neurophysiology, neurocritical care, neuro-oncology, stroke specialist, academic researcher, or healthcare administration in neurology departments.
  
• 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. 31 LPA.

Suggested Read: Differences Between Neurologist and Neurosurgeon

2. 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 highest earning 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.
  
• Career Path: To become a cardiologist, one typically completes a bachelor’s degree, followed by medical school, residency in internal medicine, and fellowship in cardiology. Certification through exams and licensure is required. Career paths include clinical practice, research, teaching, or hospital administration.
  
• 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. 30 LPA.

Also, Read:

• BSc Cardiology: Course Details, Syllabus and Jobs in 2024-25
• How To Become A Cardiologist In India-A Comprehensive Guide

3. 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.
  
• Career Path: After oncology, consider roles like cancer research scientist, clinical trial investigator, medical director in healthcare administration, or consultant specializing in oncology.
  
• 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.

4. Pulmonologist

Pulmonologists are specialists who 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.
  
• Career Path: After pulmonology, consider roles such as critical care specialist, sleep medicine physician, respiratory therapist educator, healthcare administrator, or medical researcher focusing on lung 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. 21.5 LPA.

5. 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 and ensure proper recovery of the patients.

• Job Description: An ENT Specialist handles the medical conditions associated with ENT.
  
• Career Path: After ENT specialization, consider roles such as head and neck surgeon, facial plastic surgeon, allergy specialist, voice disorder specialist, academic researcher, healthcare administrator, or medical consultant in ENT practices.
  
• 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. 21 LPA.

6. 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.
  
• Career Path: Options include specializing in surgical subspecialties like vascular, colorectal, or trauma surgery, pursuing surgical oncology, academic surgery, healthcare administration, or medical consultancy in surgical practices.
  
• 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. 13 LPA.

7. Paediatricians

Paediatrics studies medical conditions associated with newborn babies, children, and young adults. As the infant grows, they experience fast physical changes. Therefore,  we need paediatricians to maintain the patient’s health from infants to young adults.

• Job Description: A paediatricians or pediatrician diagnoses and treats the medical conditions of infants, children, and young adults.
  
• Career Path: After pediatrics, consider pediatrics subspecialties such as neonatology, pediatrics cardiology, pediatrics oncology, or pediatrics gastroenterology. Other paths include pediatrics surgery, pediatrics neurology, academic pediatrics, healthcare administration, or global health initiatives focusing on child health.
  
• Educational Qualification: MBBS and M.D. in paediatrics.
  
• Skills Needed: Teamwork, patience, communication, empathy, and good with children.
  
• Average Salary: Rs. 12 LPA.

8. 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.
  
• Career Path: After psychiatry, paths include child and adolescent psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, or psychiatric research. Other options: psychiatric hospital administration, telepsychiatry, or consulting in mental health policy and advocacy.
  
• 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. 10 LPA.

Related Read: Key Differences Between Psychiatrists and Psychologists

9. 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.
  
• Career Path: After general practice, paths include specializing in internal medicine, family medicine, emergency medicine, or occupational medicine. Other options: healthcare administration, medical education, clinical research, telemedicine, or public health roles.
  
• 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. 7.8 LPA.

10. 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.
  
• Career Path: After dentistry, consider specializing in orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, or pediatric dentistry. Other paths include academia, dental research, public health dentistry, dental administration, or dental consultancy.
  
• 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.

Related Article:

• How to Become a Dentist: Career in Dentistry
• BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery): Course, Duration, Admission, Fees, Eligibility, Syllabus, Scope, Salary, Jobs

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 paying doctor jobs 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 )