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Doctors' salaries: Who gets paid the most? Least?

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(CBS News) Do doctors make the big bucks? According to the latest annual survey from Medscape from WebMD, physicians across the board are earning less - and worrying more. Moreover, if they had a chance to start their careers all over again, 46 percent of doctors would not choose medicine, the report shows.

"Physicians' sense of worry may be greater than the reality, but it's understandable," Judy Aburmishan, a partner in FGMK, LLC in Chicago, a firm that represents physicians and other healthcare providers, told Medscape. "Hospitals are buying up private practices both in primary care and the specialties. The heavy-handed message they send out is that if you don't join us, you won't survive. There is great uncertainty and fear about what healthcare reform will mean for physicians once it's fully implemented."

Medscape surveyed 24,000 doctors from across 25 different medical specialties. The survey found wide pay differences, depending on the doctor's specialty - or gender. Female doctors make 40 percent less than male doctors.

Who gets paid the most? And who earns the least? Keep clicking to see the top 5 highest and lowest paid doctors...

Doctors' salaries: Who gets paid the most? Least?

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Top 5 highest-paid doctors

5. Urologists (TIE)

urinary catheter

Urologists specialize in diseases of the urinary organs - including urinary tract stones, incontinence, and male infertility. They get paid an average annual salary of $309,000.

Doctors' salaries: Who gets paid the most? Least?

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5. Anesthesiologists (TIE)

Doctors who administer anesthetics to patients during surgery or other medical procedures are among the highest paid. Anesthesiologists receive a salary of $309,000.

Doctors' salaries: Who gets paid the most? Least?

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3. Cardiologists

The human heart is a vital organ - and doctors who specialize in the heart are just as vital. Cardiologists get paid a salary of $314,000.

Doctors' salaries: Who gets paid the most? Least?

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1. Orthopedic surgeons (TIE)

broken, arm, fracture, injury, cast, stock, 4x3Who are the highest paid docs? Doctors who perform surgeries involving the musculoskeletal system, including those from sports injuries and degenerative diseases. Orthopedic surgeons get paid a salary of $315,000.

Doctors' salaries: Who gets paid the most? Least?

1. Radiologists (TIE)

Tied with orthopedic surgeons are radiologists, who also receive a salary of $315,000. These are the docs who perform diagnostic imaging examinations, such as X-rays.

Doctors' salaries: Who gets paid the most? Least?

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Top 5 lowest paid doctors

5. Psychiatrists

Mental health professionals who specialize in diagnosing and treating mental illnesses are among the lowest paid doctors. Psychiatrists get paid a salary of $170,000.

Doctors' salaries: Who gets paid the most? Least?

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4. Diabeticians/endocrinologists

finger, blood, diabetes, blood test, istockphoto, 4x3Endocrinologists specialize in diseases that affect the glands, including diabetes, osteoporosis, and thyroid diseases. Diabeticians/endocrinologists get paid a salary of $168,000.

Doctors' salaries: Who gets paid the most? Least?

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3. Internal medicine doctors

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Internal medicine doctors, who specialize in the prevention and treatment of adult diseases - including the toughest diagnostic mysteries - get paid a salary of $165,000.

Doctors' salaries: Who gets paid the most? Least?

istockphoto

2. Family medicine doctors

doctor, hospital, stethoscope, health, stock, 4x3Doctors who are trained in all areas of medicine, such as family medicine doctors, are paid less than those who specialize. Family medicine doctors get paid a salary of $158,000.

Doctors' salaries: Who gets paid the most? Least?

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1. Pediatricians

strep throat, tongue depressor, tonsils, child, doctor, stock, 4x3Doctors who care for children ranging from infants to adolescents get paid the least of them all. Pediatricians receive a salary of $156,000.

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