What is the lowest doctor degree?

There isn't a single "lowest" doctoral degree, as it depends on the field, but for medical doctors in the U.S., the foundational degrees are the MD (Doctor of Medicine) and DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), both requiring extensive undergraduate and medical school training (around 8 years total), followed by 3-7+ years of residency; some international degrees like MBBS/MBChB are equivalent to an MD, and other health professions have their own doctoral paths like DNP or OTD, with varying lengths.

Which is the lowest degree of doctor?

Undergraduate medical degrees

• Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS, BMBS, MBChB, MBBCh)
• Bachelor of Medicine (B.Med, MB, BM)
• Bachelor of Surgery (B.S)/(B.Surg)

What is the lowest rank of a doctor?

In doctor ranks, the lowest level is general practitioner, and the highest rank is ordinary. 1- (Dr.) General Practitioner: The general practitioner's duties include examining patients, writing prescriptions and reports.

What is the easiest doctor degree to get?

Why is family medicine, or a family doctor, considered the easiest doctor to become? The simple answer is that it takes the least amount of time.

Is an MD or OD better?

Neither an OD (Optometrist) nor an MD (Medical Doctor) is inherently "better"; they are different professions, but both MDs and DOs (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine) are fully licensed physicians providing equivalent care, with the choice depending on your preference for a holistic approach (DO) or traditional illness treatment (MD), though lines blur in practice, so focus on the doctor's experience and communication style, notes Piedmont Healthcare. 

Every Doctor Specialty Ranked by Salary 📊 (2025)

Can an OD become a surgeon?

Yes, Doctors of Osteopathic medicine can become surgeons and perform the same surgeries that MD physicians can perform. To achieve this, both DO physicians and MD's attend the same residency training program and take the same licensing examinations after residency is completed.

Who has a higher salary, MD or DO?

Most large compensation surveys show higher average salaries for MDs, but this is largely because: MDs are more represented in higher-paying specialties like orthopedic surgery, dermatology, radiology, and certain subspecialties. DOs historically have been more concentrated in primary care, which generally pays less.

What is the least paid doctor?

The least paid doctors are typically in pediatric subspecialties (like endocrinology, rheumatology, infectious disease), alongside general pediatrics, public health/preventive medicine, and family medicine, with average incomes often below $300,000 annually, though specific rankings vary slightly by report, with pediatric endocrinology frequently cited as the lowest, followed closely by other pediatric subspecialties and family practice. 

Is there a 2 year doctorate degree?

In just two years, you can earn your doctorate in education and leadership in one of four specialized concentrations: Higher Education, Health Care Education, K-12 Leadership and Organizational Leadership. Rockhurst University's online Ed. D. in Education and Leadership program is entirely online and cohort-based.

What's the hardest doctor to become?

The hardest doctor to become is often cited as a Neurosurgery specialist, due to its extremely long training (7+ years after med school), intense intellectual and technical demands on operating on the brain/spine, and high competition, alongside other highly competitive fields like Dermatology, Plastic Surgery, and Otolaryngology (ENT). Difficulty is subjective, but these specialties rank highest for competitiveness, training length, and skill required. 

What is higher than a Dr.?

What's "higher" than a medical doctor (MD/DO) depends on context: in hospital administration, a Chief Medical Officer (CMO) or Hospital Administrator leads; in clinical hierarchy, a Consultant/Attending Physician is the most senior, leading teams; academically, a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) signifies the highest research degree, often teaching MDs but not practicing medicine. 

Is a PA higher than a DR?

Both PAs and MDs are professional medical clinicians who work closely with patients, diagnosing and treating medical conditions. Becoming a PA requires less training than becoming an MD, however. And in many circumstances, PAs work under the supervision of an MD.

What doctor is the least schooling?

Which medical specialty requires the shortest training time to become a qualified doctor? Family Medicine is the medical specialty with the shortest training time, typically requiring a three-year residency after medical school.

Is PhD or MD harder?

Neither an MD nor a PhD is inherently "harder"; they're challenging in different ways, with MDs focusing on vast memorization and clinical application (with grueling residency) while PhDs demand original research, self-direction, and dealing with ambiguity, often in specialized STEM fields. Medical school (MD) is a structured, high-stakes application of existing knowledge (drinking from a firehose), whereas a PhD involves creating new knowledge, a less defined path with long-term stress. 

Which doctor has the easiest job?

The "easiest" doctor job often means good work-life balance, less stress, or easier entry, with Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Pathology, Dermatology, and Public Health frequently cited for regular hours, predictable schedules, and less direct patient pressure. Pathology & Public Health offer minimal patient contact, while Family Medicine & Pediatrics provide good balance and community focus, and specialties like Dermatology have fewer hours. 

Who are the most overpaid doctors?

The highest-paid doctors in the U.S. are neurosurgeons, thoracic surgeons, and orthopedic surgeons. These surgical specialists earn average annual salaries between $650,000 and $760,000, making them the top earners among physicians.

What's the highest paying job that's not a doctor?

20 Highest Paid Non-Physician Jobs in Healthcare

1. Pharmacist. Pharmacists play a significant role in health and wellness.
2. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) ...
3. Physician Assistant. ...
4. Medical and Health Services Manager. ...
5. Biomedical Engineer. ...
6. Physical Therapist. ...
7. Occupational Therapist. ...
8. Radiation Therapist. ...

What jobs in the US pay $300,000 a year?

What jobs pay $300,000 a year non-medical?

• Investment Banker. ...
• Hedge Fund Manager or Portfolio Manager. ...
• Corporate Lawyer (Partner Track) ...
• Software Engineering Director / VP of Engineering. ...
• Tech Entrepreneur / Startup Founder. ...
• Real Estate Developer. ...
• Management Consultant (Partner or Director Level) ...
• Private Equity Executive.

How rich is the average doctor?

The average doctor's net worth varies, but a significant portion (around 60%) reaches $1 million or more, often by retirement, with many older physicians holding $2M-$5M, thanks to high incomes, though many start with substantial debt. While high-earners, doctors aren't always "rich" early on due to loans, but successful investing can make them multimillionaires, with specialties like Plastic Surgery, Orthopedics, and Cardiology often leading in wealth.
 

Which doctor has the highest salary in America?

With that said, here are the average annual salary of the highest-paying specialties: Anesthesiologists: USD 317,900. General Internal Medicine Doctors: USD 266,200. Obstetricians and Gynecologist: USD 214,300.

What job pays $400,000 a year without a degree?

Jobs that can pay $400K a year without a degree include commercial real estate brokers, successful YouTubers or influencers, self-employed software developers, high-stakes sales roles like enterprise tech sales, and business owners. These roles rely on skill, market demand, and performance rather than formal education.

What GPA DO you need for med school?

You need a strong GPA for medical school, with averages around 3.7-3.8 for MD programs and slightly lower for DO schools (around 3.5-3.6), though the minimum to even apply is often a 3.0; however, a GPA below the average requires an exceptional MCAT, clinical experience, and other application components to be competitive, as admissions committees prioritize your overall academic ability. 

Who is the richest doctor in the USA?

The Richest Doctors in the World

• Dr. Thomas Frist Jr. With a net worth of about $34 billion, Frist comes from a family of doctors. ...
• Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong. ...
• Dr. Gary Michelson. ...
• Dr. James Andrews. ...
• Dr. Mehmet Oz.