MBBS Doctor Salary in USA: What Indian Graduates Really Earn
When an MBBS doctor, a medical graduate from India who completed a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree moves to the USA, they don’t just swap stethoscopes—they restart their entire career. In India, an MBBS graduate might start earning ₹8–15 lakhs a year. But in the USA? The journey begins with unpaid or low-paid residency, a mandatory training program after medical school that all doctors, including foreign graduates, must complete to practice. This isn’t a bonus—it’s the gatekeeper. Without completing residency, an MBBS degree from India means nothing in the US healthcare system.
So how much do they actually make? During residency, Indian doctors earn between $55,000 and $70,000 a year, depending on the state and hospital. That’s not rich, but it’s enough to live on, especially compared to the cost of living back home. After residency, when they become licensed physicians, fully licensed medical practitioners authorized to practice independently in the United States, salaries jump. General practitioners make $200,000–$250,000. Specialists like cardiologists or neurosurgeons can hit $400,000 or more. The key? Passing the USMLE exams, getting a visa, and landing a residency spot—none of which are easy. But thousands of Indian MBBS grads do it every year, and they’re not just surviving—they’re thriving.
What you won’t hear from brochures is how long this takes. Most Indian doctors spend 7–10 years after MBBS just to reach a full salary: 1 year of internship, 3–4 years of USMLE prep and applications, then 3–7 years of residency. That’s a decade of sacrifice. But the payoff is real: better pay, better equipment, better work-life balance in many cases, and the chance to work in a system that values expertise over connections. If you’re an MBBS grad thinking about the USA, this isn’t about chasing money—it’s about building a career where your skills are recognized at their true value.
Below, you’ll find real stories, salary breakdowns, and the exact steps Indian doctors take to make this transition. No fluff. Just what works.
- By Nolan Blackburn
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- 21 Nov 2025
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