which doctor has highest salary in india per month
Which Doctor Has the Highest Salary in India? — Specialisations, Numbers & Reality :- Becoming a doctor is a long journey: MBBS, then a specialization (MD, MS), sometimes super-specialization (DM, MCh), or additional fellowships. What many students and parents want to know is: Which kind of doctor gets paid the most? What does the top of the scale look like in India right now? Below is what available data (2024-25) reveals, what factors influence high salaries, and what you can realistically expect.
What the Latest Data Says
From recent surveys, job portals, and medical career reports, these are some of the highest-earning doctor specialties in India, along with approximate salary ranges. Keep in mind: “highest salary” often refers to doctors in private hospitals, big cities, with many years of experience (and possibly private practice or consultancy).
Here are top‐specialities and what they are reported to earn:
| Specialisation | Reported Average Annual Salary* | Approx Monthly Equivalent* |
|---|---|---|
| Neurosurgeon / Neurological Surgery | ₹25-50+ lakhs per annum, sometimes exceeding ₹1 crore for very senior in top private hospitals. | ₹2-4+ lakhs per month (for high end) |
| Cardiothoracic Surgeon / Interventional Cardiologist / Cardiology | ~₹20-90 lakhs per annum depending on experience and hospital. | ~₹1.5-7+ lakhs/month |
| Oncologist | ~₹25-70 lakhs/year in many cases. | ~₹2-5+ lakhs/month |
| Radiologist | Reports show approx ₹12-60 lakhs/year depending on work (diagnostic, interventional etc.). | ~₹1-5+ lakhs/month |
| Plastic Surgeon | ~₹15-70 lakhs/year in many reports. | ~₹1.2-6+ lakhs/month |
| Anaesthesiologist | ~₹12-40 lakhs per annum in many private setups. | ~₹1-3+ lakhs/month |
| Orthopedic Surgeon | ~₹12-50+ lakhs/year, higher in metros and with specialization. | ~₹1-4+ lakhs/month |
* These numbers are indicative, and large variation exists depending on location, experience, private vs public sector, reputation, additional income sources (private practice, consultations etc.).
Who Likely Earns the Absolute Most?
Putting all this together, who are likely to be at the top of the earnings? Based on current reports:
- Neurosurgeons are often cited as among the highest paid, especially those doing complex surgeries in prominent private hospitals in big cities.
- Cardiologists (especially interventional cardiologists) are also among the top.
- Cardiothoracic Surgeons, Oncologists, and Plastic Surgeons follow closely.
So if someone asked, “which doctor has the highest salary in India per month?” — in many cases it will be a senior neurosurgeon or interventional cardiologist, possibly also a high-profile oncologist or cardiothoracic surgeon. Their monthly earnings can go into several lakhs per month (₹3-₹5+ lakhs or more) in top setups. Sometimes exceeding that for very established names or those with their own clinic(s).
What Determines the Salary
It’s not just “speciality” that decides how much a doctor earns. Several factors matter:
- Experience & Expertise
Doctors with many years of practice, those with super-specialization, rare skill sets, or high success rates tend to command higher pay. - Hospital / Clinic Type
Private corporate hospitals in metro cities pay much more than government hospitals or smaller private/non-metro clinics. - Location
Big cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad etc pay more due to higher cost of living, prestige, and patient volume. - Additional Income Sources
Private consultations, surgeries, diagnostic revenues, share in profits, teaching, research, publications, reputation—these can boost the take-home significantly. - Super-Specialisation & Sub-speciality
Fields like neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, transplant surgery, interventional cardiology, etc. require many years of training but also bring higher rewards. - Reputation / Branding
Doctors who build a strong reputation, or have established practices, often charge more, have more patients, and sometimes earn via media, consultation, etc.
Realistic Monthly Figures in Practice
To put this in real terms, here are approximate monthly salaries in different scenarios (private / big city / senior vs junior) for top specialities:
| Scenario | Specialisation | Monthly Earnings Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Senior neurosurgeon in a top private hospital (metro) with high reputation | Neurosurgery | ₹3-7+ lakhs/month (or even more depending on surgeries, private clients etc.) |
| Mid-level cardiologist (interventional) with 5-10 years experience in private hospital | Cardiology | ~₹2-4+ lakhs/month |
| Senior oncologist (private / high demand) | Oncology | ~₹2-3+ lakhs/month |
| Established plastic surgeon with high volume of cosmetic/ reconstructive work | Plastic Surgery | ~₹1.5-4+ lakhs/month |
| Radiologist with good diagnostic centre + private consults | Radiology | ~₹1-3+ lakhs/month |
On the lower end (junior, government, less experience, non-metro) the monthly pay may be far less: ₹50,000-₹1,50,000 etc.
Data & Some Official/Reported Examples
- AmbitionBox survey data suggests doctor salaries range widely; highest among surveyed doctors go up to ₹32 lakhs/year (~₹2.6 lakhs/month) in some cases.
- According to “Top 10 Highest Paid Doctors in India: Specialisations & Salaries (2025)” from Chegg India, neurologists and cardiologists are among the highest, with salaries mentioned approx ~₹2.5 lakhs/month for experienced doctors.
- TimesPro blog reports for doctors with 3-5 years’ experience in top specialisations, incomes in private sector can be ₹1,00,000-₹2,90,000/month depending on speciality (cardio, neuro etc.).
Limitations & What’s Not Always Counted
- Many published numbers are gross incomes (before taxes, costs, overheads). Private practice involves costs (staff, clinic rent, equipment, diagnostic imaging etc). Net take-home will be lower.
- Public sector jobs often have lower base pay but more job security, pensions etc. Private sector may pay higher but variable based on patient load etc.
- Some doctors also get income from teaching, research, writing, consults; these are not always included in “salary” reports.
- Reporting is not always consistent; there is no single government database that publicly gives exact monthly salaries for all doctors by speciality in private sector. Most data comes from surveys, job postings, anecdotal reports.
Bottom Line: Who Truly Has the Highest Salary?
If you ask, “Which doctor has the highest salary in India per month?” the best answer is:
A senior neurosurgeon or interventional cardiologist (or similarly super-specialist) in a top private hospital in a metro city—this type of doctor likely holds the top monthly earnings, possibly ~₹3-₹7+ lakhs per month, sometimes more, depending on additional income streams.
But that is the exception rather than the norm. For many doctors, even in specialist fields, actual monthly earnings are significantly lower, especially early in career or in government setups.
FAQ
Here are common questions with answers.
Q1: Can any doctor earn crores per year?
A: Yes, especially those who combine private practice, consultations, surgeries, diagnostic centre ownership, reputations etc. Very senior surgeons in super‐specialities in big private hospitals sometimes cross ₹1 crore/year. But that’s rare, and not base salary but total income.
Q2: Does speciality always mean more pay?
A: Not always. You can have a less “glamorous” speciality but if you’re in a private high-volume hospital, have high demand, good reputation and additional consults, you can do very well. Conversely, being in a super-speciality in a government hospital may not pay as much as a busy private specialist.
Q3: What’s difference between public (govt) vs private hospital pay?
A: Public hospitals generally give fixed salaries, benefits, pensions. Private hospitals may give higher pay but it varies widely; also depends on number of surgeries, patient flow, bonuses. For many top salary reports, private sector dominates.
Q4: How much do junior doctors / residents earn?
A: Residents / junior doctors earn much less, often in the range of ₹70,000 to ₹1,50,000 per month or equivalent, depending on institution and city. As experience increases, salary rises.
Q5: Do location and city really impact income a lot?
A: Yes, big time. Doctors in metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad etc earn substantially more than in small towns. The cost of living, hospital rates, patient capacity etc are all higher in major cities. Also, clinics with high patient footfall and specialised services fetch more.
Q6: What specialisations have high demand now and likely to grow?
A: Interventional cardiology, neurosurgery, oncology (especially with rising cancer rates), plastic & reconstructive surgery, radiology (diagnostics and intervention), organ transplant specialities. These have high demand, and hence good earning potential.
Tips if You Want to Aim for Top Salary
If you’re a medical student or doctor planning your path, here are some tips that increase chances of earning higher:
- Pick a super-speciality or specialization in high-demand fields (cardio, neuro, oncology, etc.).
- Get training/ fellowships from reputed institutions; build both skills & reputation.
- Work in metro or big cities, or at least associate with hospitals having high footfall, prestige & good infrastructure.
- Offer additional services (private consultancy, diagnostic imaging, workshops, teaching) to diversify income.
- Invest in continuing education, stay updated with latest medical technologies.
Conclusion
- The doctors with the highest salaries in India are usually neurosurgeons, interventional cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, oncologists, plastic surgeons, etc., especially in private and metro settings.
- Their monthly earnings can go into several lakhs (₹3-₹7+ lakhs) for established senior professionals, sometimes more when considering all income sources.
- But for most doctors, especially early in career or in government roles, earnings are much more modest.