Doximity recently released its second annual Physician Compensation Report, one of the most comprehensive surveys of U.S. physician compensation. This year’s study found that doctors saw an average 4 percent wage increase nationally from 2016 to 2017. However, compensation varied significantly across metropolitan areas, between genders and across medical specialties. The report is based on more than 65,000 verified U.S. physician respondents, making it one of the largest studies available on physician pay in the United States.

In 2017, the national gender gap for physicians increased as female doctors earned 27.7 percent less ($105,000) than their male counterparts. The disparity in 2016 was 26.5 percent, when female doctors earned $91,284 less. There remains no medical specialty in which female doctors earn more than male doctors. Additionally, women earn less than men in all of the top 50 metro areas.

Key California findings include:

• Metro areas with the SMALLEST gender wage gaps in 2017:
  #5. Sacramento: 23 percent or $86,180 less

• Metro areas with the LARGEST gender wage gaps in 2017:
  #5. Riverside:  31 percent or $115,991 less

• Metro areas with DECREASES in the gender wage gap from 2016 to 2017:
  #7. San Jose: 3 percent

• Metro areas with INCREASES in the gender wage gap from 2016 to 2017
  #3. Riverside: -8 percent

Physicians can sign up for a free Doximity account to access the full report.