Where physician pay satisfaction is lowest in the U.S.

Physician pay satisfaction is influenced by far more than salary alone. According to MaritHealth.com data from May 2025, these 9 states and Washington, D.C., report the lowest physician satisfaction with compensation, despite varying pay. The 5-point rating system (1 = Very Dissatisfied, 5 = Very Satisfied) shows where doctors feel their compensation falls short of expectations.

This analysis is based on physician-reported compensation data submitted to Marit Health and includes only states and jurisdictions with at least 25 verified submissions. Marit Health calculates satisfaction scores alongside total average compensation, taking into account job type, employer type, benefits and work schedule. The national average pay satisfaction score is 3.59★.

For more, check out the 10 states where physicians are most satisfied with their pay.