Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) Salary by State in 2026 | Average Physician Pay

How Much Do Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) Physicians Earn in 2026?

Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) are fully licensed physicians, and in most cases, their earning potential is very similar to MD physicians.

That is because DOs and MDs can both practice in the same specialties, work in the same healthcare settings, and hold the same types of physician roles across the United States.

In 2026, DO salaries generally range from about $200,000 to $370,000 per year, depending on factors such as specialty, state, experience, and employer type.

What Is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)?

A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, or DO, is a licensed physician who treats patients using the same medical standards as an MD, while also emphasizing a whole-person approach to care.

DOs often focus on:

• preventive care

• overall wellness

• musculoskeletal health

• treating the body as an integrated system

In the job market, however, DO salaries usually track closely with broader physician compensation trends.

What Is the Average DO Salary in the U.S. in 2026?

The average DO salary in 2026 is generally estimated to fall between $220,000 and $260,000 for many general physician roles, although total physician pay can go much higher depending on specialty.

Based on the state-level salary table you provided, the overall physician average is around $220,000 annually.

However, broader physician compensation reports often show national averages in the $374,000 to $394,000 range when specialist compensation is included.

This means one important thing: specialty matters a lot.

Why Do DO Salaries Vary So Much by State?

DO salaries vary by state because physician pay is heavily influenced by supply, demand, cost of living, healthcare access, and local physician shortages.

In practical terms:

• States with doctor shortages often pay more

• Rural and underserved regions may offer stronger compensation packages

• Urban and coastal states may have higher competition

• Some areas offer extra incentives like loan repayment, bonuses, or relocation support

So even when the base salary looks similar, the real total compensation may be very different.

Which States Pay DO Physicians the Most in 2026?

The highest-paying states in your dataset are:

• Alaska — $263,195

• District of Columbia — $248,695

• New York — $248,237

• Hawaii — $243,916

• Washington — $243,589

• Massachusetts — $239,022

• Wyoming — $238,060

• Nevada — $237,832

• Illinois — $234,752

• Maine — $234,256

These states tend to rank highly because of factors such as:

• physician shortages

• remote practice demand

• urban healthcare complexity

• regional workforce gaps

Northern and Western states appear especially strong in your 2026 salary data.

Which States Pay DO Physicians the Least in 2026?

The lowest-paying states in your dataset are:

• Louisiana — $176,718

• Georgia — $184,566

• Florida — $185,345

• Delaware — $189,606

• North Carolina — $191,852

• Arkansas — $192,566

• South Carolina — $197,212

• West Virginia — $198,038

• Kentucky — $198,264

• Mississippi — $221,723 was not actually low, so it should not be included in a bottom list

A more accurate takeaway is that the lower-paying states in your data are mostly concentrated in the South and Southeast.

Possible reasons include:

• greater physician supply in some metro areas

• lower reimbursement rates

• stronger competition

• different healthcare market structures

What Are the Top 10 Highest-Paying States for DO Salaries in 2026?

Here is a clean version of the top-paying states from your table:

This ranking suggests that location strategy can make a major difference in physician earnings.

What Are the Lowest-Paying States for DO Salaries in 2026?

Here is a cleaner bottom-range salary view from your data:

Even in these lower-ranked states, physician pay still remains strong compared with most professions overall.

How Much Do DO Physicians Make Per Month and Per Hour?

Based on your dataset, DO-aligned physician compensation usually breaks down into strong monthly and hourly earnings.

For example:

• Alaska: $21,932 per month / $126.54 per hour

• New York: $20,686 per month / $119.34 per hour

• California: $18,862 per month / $108.82 per hour

• Texas: $16,667 per month / $96.16 per hour

• Florida: $15,445 per month / $89.11 per hour

This makes it easier to compare pay across states in terms of work-life and income expectations.

Does Specialty Affect DO Salary More Than State?

Yes — specialty often affects salary even more than location.

That is one of the biggest takeaways when analyzing physician income.

For example:

• DOs in family medicine, internal medicine, or primary care may earn less than specialists

• DOs in orthopedics, cardiology, radiology, anesthesiology, or surgery can earn far more

• Primary care-oriented DO careers may still offer strong value through bonuses, job stability, and demand

So while state matters, specialty selection is usually the biggest driver of long-term earnings.

How Much Do Entry-Level and Experienced DO Physicians Earn?

Experience plays a major role in compensation growth.

According to the salary overview you provided:

• entry-level DOs (1–3 years) often earn around $140,000 to $200,000

• mid-career and experienced DOs may move into the $200,000+ range

• senior DOs with 8+ years of experience can exceed $240,000 annually

• specialists and leadership roles can push earnings much higher

This means physician earnings often improve meaningfully over time, especially after residency and early-career development.

Do Rural Areas Pay DO Physicians More?

In many cases, yes — rural and underserved areas often pay DO physicians more effectively.

That may happen through:

• higher base salaries

• signing bonuses

• relocation support

• loan repayment programs

• retention incentives

These opportunities are common in places where physician shortages are more severe.

Even if a rural job is in a lower-cost area, the total compensation package may be highly attractive.

Are DO Salaries Expected to Increase After 2026?

Your content suggests that physician salaries are projected to rise by about 3% to 5% annually, mainly because of ongoing physician shortages.

That said, real earnings growth may be affected by:

• inflation

• reimbursement changes

• administrative burdens

• practice overhead

• healthcare system pressures

So nominal salaries may rise, but real purchasing power depends on broader economic conditions.

How Do DO Salaries Compare With MD Salaries?

DO salaries are generally comparable to MD salaries, especially when physicians work in the same specialty and practice setting.

The historical salary gap between MDs and DOs has narrowed significantly as osteopathic medicine has become more established nationwide.

In most real-world hiring situations, compensation depends more on:

• specialty

• region

• employer

• productivity model

• experience

• call burden

In other words, the letters after the degree usually matter less than the role itself.

What Factors Have the Biggest Impact on DO Salary?

The biggest factors that influence DO salary in 2026 include:

1. Specialty

Specialists usually earn much more than primary care physicians.

2. Location

Some states and regions pay substantially more due to demand or shortages.

3. Experience

Early-career physicians usually earn less than senior physicians.

4. Practice setting

Hospitals, private practices, academic centers, and corporate groups all pay differently.

5. Incentives

Bonuses, sign-on packages, and loan repayment can significantly raise total compensation.

What Is the Best State for a DO Physician to Maximize Income?

The best state depends on whether you are focused on:

• highest raw salary

• lowest cost of living

• best work-life balance

• strongest bonuses

• rural incentives

• career growth potential

If your goal is the highest reported annual salary, then your table points to:

• Alaska

• District of Columbia

• New York

• Hawaii

• Washington

If your goal is strong pay plus lower living costs, other states may offer better real value even if the headline salary is slightly lower.

What Is the Main Takeaway About DO Salaries in 2026?

The main takeaway is simple: DO physicians earn strong salaries in 2026, and location plus specialty make the biggest difference.

Most DOs can expect compensation that is broadly comparable to that of MD physicians, especially when practicing in similar roles. State salary differences are real, but specialty choice, experience, and incentives often have an even larger impact on long-term earnings.

If someone is pursuing a DO career, the smartest strategy is not just to ask, “Which state pays the most?” It is also important to ask:

• Which specialty fits my goals?

• Which location has strong demand?

• Which employers offer the best total package?

• Where can I grow income over time?

FAQ About DO Salaries in 2026

How much does a DO make in 2026?

A DO physician in 2026 typically earns between about $200,000 and $370,000 annually, depending on specialty, experience, employer, and state.

Are DO salaries the same as MD salaries?

In most cases, yes. DO and MD salaries are usually very similar when both physicians work in the same specialty and practice setting.

Which state pays DO physicians the most in 2026?

Based on your data, Alaska has the highest annual physician salary at $263,195.

What is the lowest-paying state for DO physicians in 2026?

Based on your table, Louisiana is the lowest-paying state at $176,718 annually.

Do rural DO jobs pay more?

Often, yes. Rural and underserved areas may offer higher salaries, bonuses, loan repayment, or relocation incentives.

Does specialty matter more than location?

Usually, yes. Specialty is often the single biggest driver of physician compensation.