Articles
Physician Pay vs. Inflation: Which Specialties Lost Ground in 2026
November 10, 2026
Key takeaways
A September 29 analysis by Marit Health, reported by Becker's ASC Review, found that pay in 17 of 30 specialties trailed inflation this year.
The analysis compared 2026 MGMA pay benchmarks with the 3.4 percent rise in consumer prices over the 12 months ending in August.
Psychiatry had the largest real gain, up 5.1 percent after inflation. Neurosurgery roughly kept pace, and endocrinology, urology, and infectious disease came out ahead.
Pay is moving unevenly across specialties, which makes predictable income worth more.
Part-time rural work at a predetermined daily rate doesn't depend on patient volume or collections.
A raise doesn't mean much if prices rise faster. That's the question behind a recent Becker's ASC Review piece, Which Physicians Are Losing the Most Ground to Inflation, and the answer is more mixed than many physicians might expect.
What the analysis found
The piece reports on a September 29 analysis by Marit Health. It compared 2026 pay benchmarks from MGMA with the 3.4 percent rise in consumer prices over the 12 months ending in August.
The headline finding: pay in 17 of 30 specialties trailed inflation this year. For more than half of the specialties in the analysis, pay that went up on paper still lost ground in real terms.
Not every specialty fell behind
Psychiatry had the largest real gain, up 5.1 percent after inflation. Neurosurgery roughly kept pace. Others, including endocrinology, urology, and infectious disease, came out ahead.
The full Becker's piece breaks the results down by specialty, and it's worth a look if you want to see where yours landed.
Why predictable pay matters
When pay moves unevenly from one specialty to the next, predictability is worth more. Many of the physicians I talk with aren't chasing the highest possible number. They want to know what they'll earn for the time they put in.
That's one reason some physicians find a daily-rate arrangement steadier. When income doesn't depend on patient volume or collections, a slow clinic day or a billing delay doesn't change what you take home. I wrote more about the trade-offs in Part-Time Physician Work: What Makes It Pay Off.
How part-time rural work is paid
At Midwest Doctor Link, part-time rural roles are paid at a predetermined daily rate. The hospital provides the clinic space, staff, equipment, scheduling, billing, and EMR. Schedules can range from a couple of days a month to several days a week.
It isn't the right fit for every physician. But for those who value a predictable income on a flexible schedule, it's worth a look. See how it works for physicians.
FAQ
How many specialties saw pay trail inflation in 2026?
According to a Marit Health analysis reported by Becker's ASC Review, pay in 17 of 30 specialties trailed inflation this year.
Which specialty gained the most after inflation?
Psychiatry, with a 5.1 percent gain after inflation, the largest in the analysis.
How is part-time rural work with Midwest Doctor Link paid?
At a predetermined daily rate, so income doesn't depend on patient volume or collections. The hospital handles the clinic, staff, scheduling, billing, and EMR.
Available Providers
Credentialed and ready to discuss a schedule:
Click here to see the most updated list of available providers!
Other providers are available. Give us a call at (816) 560-4720.
Ron Booth, Founder & CEO, Midwest Doctor Link
Have a staffing gap, a provider to refer, or a question about anything here? I'm glad to talk it through, no obligation.
📞 (816) 560-4720
