Pay, location & work-life context
Otolaryngology Salary Map by State (2026)
Median otolaryngology pay across 4 states from real job listings — switch views to adjust for cost of living or overlay burnout scores. Medians blend permanent salaries with annualized locums/contract rates. National median: $467,500.
Highest median
Illinois
$525,000
Best real purchasing power
Illinois
$525,221 adjusted
Best lifestyle score
California
4.7/10 avg burnout score
Compare state markets
Choose a metric, then select a state to see its figures and available breakdown.
Tile positions are approximate, not geographic boundaries. Selection adds an outline without changing the metric color. Work-life scores describe listings, not surveyed clinician burnout.
Otolaryngology pay by state
Sorted by median advertised pay. On smaller screens, scroll the table sideways to compare all metrics.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Take-home, COL-adj. | Work-life score | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $525,000 | $525,221 | $499,222 | 4.2/10 | 20 |
| California | $479,262 | $432,859 | $392,604 | 4.7/10 | 15 |
| Colorado | $466,000 | $452,199 | $432,302 | 4.7/10 | 6 |
| New York | $375,000 | $347,476 | $323,674 | 4.3/10 | 10 |
Common questions
Which state pays otolaryngology physicians the most?
Illinois currently has the highest median otolaryngology salary at $525,000, based on 20 real job listings.
Which state offers the best after-tax otolaryngology pay?
Illinois currently leads the take-home view at $499,222 — the state median after its state income tax (Tax Foundation state income tax rates (2025)), divided by the local cost-of-living index. No-income-tax states like Texas, Florida and Tennessee often outrank nominally higher-paying states here.
Why adjust otolaryngology salaries for cost of living?
Prices differ across states. The adjusted view divides each state's pay benchmark by its regional price index (U.S. average = 100). Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (2024). This is a state-level comparison, not a personal budget or a city-level cost estimate. Missing price data is shown as unavailable.
Which state has the best otolaryngology lifestyle scores?
California currently has the highest average WeekdayDoc burnout score (4.7/10, higher is better) for otolaryngology listings — a measure of call burden, weekend requirements, and schedule flexibility across postings.
More salary maps
See the full percentile breakdown on the Otolaryngology salary page.