10 High Paying Medical Jobs

When you’re considering a career in the medical field, salary expectations greatly influence your specialisation selection. According to Invest India, the hospital sector in India was worth ₹7940.87 billion in 2021, and the organization projects the hospital industry will reach a value of ₹18,348.78 billion by 2027, representing a compounded annual growth rate of 18.24 percent [1]. The medical field is expected to have higher than average wages for all occupations, and healthcare careers are in demand.

Explore 10 high-paying medical jobs in India and what you need to begin your medical career journey.

Medical careers with high pay

The healthcare industry in India is on the rise thanks to rising life expectancy and slowly declining death rates, not to mention the burgeoning population now considered the largest in the world. Public healthcare spending represented 2.6 percent of the GDP in 2023 [2]. With the proper education, you can qualify for a six-figure position in hospitals, physician offices, private practice, and other healthcare settings.

Explore 10 of the highest-paying medical jobs, their average salaries according to Glassdoor, and their education requirements:

*All annual base salary data is sourced from Glassdoor as of February 2025 and does not include additional pay, such as commission and benefits.

1. Doctors and surgeons

Average monthly salary in India (Glassdoor): Doctors: ₹61,000 

Surgeons: ₹1,26,333

You can work in a hospital, nursing home, medical college, or other medical facilities as a physician or surgeon. You can also work in public or private practice. 

To become a doctor or surgeon, you need a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) plus a Master of Surgery (MS) or a Doctor of Medicine (MD), depending on your future specialisation. The MBBS is a five-and-a-half-year course that also includes one year of mandatory internships. To specialise, you will need to complete a three-year post-graduation degree in your area. Some of the highest-paying physician and surgeon positions and their average salaries include the following:

• Cardiologists diagnose and treat heart and blood vessel diseases and conditions. They specialise in valve problems, high blood pressure, and heart attacks. You will diagnose patients, develop treatment plans, and prescribe medication where needed. Cardiologists earn an average monthly salary of ₹1,30,000.

• Emergency physicians treat injured and ill patients in urgent medical situations. In this role, you tend to patients whose illnesses or injuries require immediate attention. Emergency physicians make an average of ₹90,000 per month.

• Paediatric surgeons collaborate with physicians who care for foetuses, infants, children, and adolescents to determine the best treatment for illnesses and diseases. In this role, you treat paediatric diseases like cancer, trauma, and birth defects. Some paediatric surgeons perform surgery that can include appendix removal and repairing birth defects. Paediatric surgeons earn an average of ₹2,09,673 monthly.

• Neurologists diagnose and treat disorders of the brain and nervous systems, such as Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and epilepsy. Some specialise in paediatric neurology and treat children with autism, behavioural disorders, or other neurological conditions. Neurologists earn an average monthly salary of ₹2,59,557.

• Family medicine physicians are generalists who work with patients, often entire families, for health maintenance and conditions that occur in everyday life. The family medicine physician treats infections, bone fractures, and other short- and long-term illnesses. Family medicine physicians make an average monthly salary of ₹55,208.

2. Advanced practice nurse practioner

Average monthly salary in India (Glassdoor): ₹31,667

To become a nurse practioner, you will need advanced training, education, and experience in the nursing field. You can pursue one of two advanced nursing specializations:

• Nurse practitioners in critical care (NPCC) work as part of an emergency care team to stabalise patients and provide emergency services to critically ill or injured patients. CRNAs typically earn an average monthly salary of ₹24,064.

• Nurse practitioners in midwifery provide care to women during their pregnancies. You may deliver babies, assist surgeons with caesarean births, and provide wellness care. In some situations, you might provide a mother with maternity care throughout pregnancy. The average monthly salary for a nurse midwife is ₹18,860.

3. Physician assistants

Average monthly salary in India (Glassdoor): ₹25,417

The role of a physician assistant varies, but most can examine patients, order diagnostic tests and laboratory work, diagnose and treat patients, and prescribe medication.

A physician assistant must hold a bachelor’s degree in a physician’s assistant program. Alternatively, you could pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, or a related field and take a PG physician’s degree or diploma course. In this role, you will work under the supervision of a physician.

4. Pharmacists

Average monthly salary in India (Glassdoor): ₹21,104

Pharmacists dispense prescription medications and counsel patients on how to take and store them. In this role, you will work closely with doctors and nurses to ensure patients have the best prescriptions for their unique health needs. Pharmacists must have a bachelor’s in pharmacy, although earning a master’s degree may help you find a higher-paying job.

5. Registered nurses

Average monthly salary in India (Glassdoor): ₹26,000

As a registered nurse (RN), your duties will depend on where you work, but most RNs work directly with patients under the supervision of a physician. Duties include providing patient care, recording symptoms and medical history, operating medical equipment, and counselling patients on aftercare.

Some RN job titles include:

• Critical care nurse

• Paediatric nurse

• Surgical nurse

• Staff nurse

• Psychiatric nurse

According to the Indian Nursing Council, you can choose a speciality with a post-graduate diploma program [3]. You can also become a nurse with a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

6. Physical therapists

Average monthly salary in India (Glassdoor): ₹85,216

Physical therapists work with injured or ill patients to improve movement and manage pain. In this role, you might work in a hospital, private clinic, nursing home, sports and fitness centre, orthopaedic clinic, national defense organization, or rehabilitation centre. Some physical therapists are self-employed. Physical therapists need a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT).

7. Occupational therapists

Average monthly salary in India (Glassdoor): ₹30,750 

As an occupational therapist, you’ll work closely with patients who need therapy for daily living skills. These patients may be ill, injured, or disabled and need to learn how to use adaptive equipment or exercise for mobility and pain relief. You might work in school settings, hospitals, private practices, and home care. The position requires a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy.

8. Radiation therapists

Average monthly salary in India (Glassdoor): ₹35,867

Radiation therapists operate the equipment used to deliver concentrated radiation therapy to tumours. The goal of radiation treatment is to shrink or eliminate cancers and tumours. A radiation therapist is part of an oncology team. You can train for a job as a radiation therapist with an undergraduate, postgraduate, or diploma program.

9. Speech-language pathologists

Average annual salary in India (Glassdoor): ₹63,333

As a speech-language pathologist, you’ll work with patients with speech and language problems, such as difficulty speaking, inability to speak, and stuttering. Speech-language pathologists also work with those who have difficulty understanding language. Some speech-language pathologists work with other types of therapists in schools, hospitals, or offices. This role usually requires a bachelor's degree in speech and hearing sciences or a related field.

10. Nuclear medicine technologists

Average annual salary in India (Glassdoor): ₹50,000

Nuclear medicine technologists prepare and administer radioactive drugs to patients undergoing imaging or treatment. They work with physicians and other healthcare professionals in the diagnostic field. The position typically requires a bachelor’s of nuclear medicine technology.

Next steps 

Within the healthcare industry, you can choose from these 10 high-paying medical jobs or seek out one of many other potential careers in the healthcare field. If your goal is to have a career in the medical field, you can learn more with the Introduction to Healthcare course offered by Stanford University on Coursera. If you have a bachelor’s degree and want to advance your career, the Master of Public Health accredited degree program offered by the University of Michigan can be completed in 24 months.