Medical Student Compensation: No Salary Until Residency

Medical students do not receive a salary. They pay tuition and expenses; some obtain scholarships/grants/loans.

Residency (post-med school): 3–7 years of supervised training with a stipend/salary (typically $55K–$70K starting, increasing annually).

Post-residency: Fully licensed physicians enter practice with starting salaries averaging ~$208,000 (Medscape 2019), varying by specialty, location, and practice model.