Devika Kapuria, MD

Who Really Keeps the Value? A Physician’s Cut of the Dollar Let’s break down a hard truth: Physicians — despite their years of training, clinical risk, and massive workloads — retain one of the smallest shares of the economic value they generate. A typical physician in the U.S. produces $2.4 to $4 million per year in revenue for their employer, whether that’s a hospital, ASC, or health system. But their actual compensation? Usually just 10–20% of that value. Here’s how that compares to other professionals: •Tech Founder/Exec: ~50% (equity-based) •BigLaw Partner: ~50% •Hedge Fund Manager: ~33–50% •CPA Firm Partner: ~30–40% •Plumber (Self-Employed): ~25–35% •Physician (MD/DO): 10–20% Why so low? Because physicians don’t own the system — they operate inside it. Hospitals retain the lion’s share. Administrative bloat absorbs the margins. Reimbursement rules prioritize institutions — not individuals. Meanwhile, those with ownership, equity, or control over the business model retain a much larger cut of the value they generate. This isn’t about greed. It’s about structural agency — and whether professionals get to capture the worth of their work. If we’re serious about retaining clinical talent and keeping healthcare viable, this imbalance needs to be part of the conversation. @jalbright22 gets credit for a lot of this data… thanks