Which doctors work the most hours?

Surgeons, especially Neurosurgeons, consistently work the most hours, often exceeding 60+ per week, followed closely by specialties like Cardiology, Urology, and those in Hospital Medicine (Intensivists/Hospitalists) who often work grueling 7-on/7-off shifts, leading to very long work weeks during their active shifts. Academic physicians in surgical fields also log extensive hours due to teaching and research.

What is the most overworked doctor?

1 | Emergency Medicine

There are many reasons why so many EM doctors report burnout. EM doctors work on the front line, which means consistent high intensity, stress, and unpredictability. It's also an unfortunate reality that a large number of patients abuse the emergency department.

Which doctor has the most work-life balance?

10 Best Physician Specialties for Work Life Balance

• Teleradiology.
• Anesthesiology.
• Dermatology.
• Otolaryngology (ENT)
• Endocrinology.
• Clinical Pathology.
• Psychiatry.
• Ophthalmology.

How many hours do most doctors work?

Work Schedules

Most physicians and surgeons work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week. Many physicians and surgeons work long shifts, which may include irregular and overnight hours or being on call. Physicians and surgeons may travel between their offices and the hospital to care for patients.

What doctors work 40 hours a week?

What is the average number of hours worked per week by specialty for physicians working for corporate groups?

• Anesthesiology: 49 hours a week.
• Emergency Medicine: 40 hours a week.
• Family Medicine: 43 hours a week.
• Hospital Medicine: 56 hours a week.
• Internal Medicine: 46 hours a week.
• OB/GYN: 51 hours a week.

Best Doctor Lifestyle Specialties

Do surgeons make more than doctors?

As you can see, surgeons tend to make more money than nonsurgical physicians. In fact, the five highest-paying medical specialties are all surgical specialties—oral and maxillofacial surgery, plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery, thoracic surgery, and neurosurgery.

Which doctor is the happiest?

Doctors in the following fields had the highest rates of agreeing that happiness in their specialty was possible:

• Allergy and immunology: 94%
• Pathology: 88%
• Dermatology: 87%
• Public health and preventive medicine: 87%
• Psychiatry: 87%
• Ophthalmology: 84%
• Otolaryngology: 81%
• Orthopedics and orthopedic surgery: 81%

What is the least stressful doctor?

10 Physician Specialities With Low-Stress & More Flexibility

• Family Medicine.
• Otolaryngology.
• Dermatology.
• Anesthesiology.
• Ophthalmology.
• Pediatrics.
• Psychiatry.
• Clinical Immunology/Allergy.

What is the most underpaid doctor?

Medical Specialities with Lowest Reported Salaries

• Pediatric Endocrinology: $218,000.
• Pediatric Infectious Disease: $221,000.
• Pediatrics: $243,000.
• Family Medicine: $255,000.
• Geriatrics: $275,000.
• Preventive Medicine: $275,000.
• Endocrinology: $276,000.
• Infectious Disease: $288,000.

What is the hardest type of doctor to be?

The "hardest" doctor type varies, but Neurosurgery, Plastic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, and Dermatology are consistently ranked hardest due to extreme competitiveness, long training, high skill demands, and intense focus, with Neurosurgery often cited for its brain/spine complexity and Dermatology for being exceptionally difficult to match into despite better work-life balance. Other very tough fields include Cardiac Surgery, ENT, and Oncology, balancing technical difficulty with high emotional stress or vast knowledge. 

Which physician has the highest burnout?

According to the 2024 Medscape Physician Burnout & Depression Report, 63% of emergency medicine doctors have felt burned out—the most of any specialty—and they're followed by OB-GYNs (53%), oncologists (53%), and pediatricians (51%).

Which doctors work the least?

Public Health & Preventive Medicine

Because they are more likely to work in academic, governmental, nonprofit, or corporate settings, these jobs offer a similar work/life balance to many professions outside of medicine, working the fewest hours of many doctors.

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 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.
 

What doctors have the best lifestyle?

Doctors with the best lifestyles often work in specialties like Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Anesthesiology, and Radiology (the "ROAD" specialties), offering predictable hours, fewer emergencies, and good work-life balance, though Psychiatry, Pathology, Allergy/Immunology, and Family Medicine also rank highly for flexibility and lower stress. These specialties allow for more control over schedules, better compensation without intense pressure, and reduced burnout, enabling doctors to focus on personal time and interests. 

What is the rarest doctor specialty?

There's no single "rarest" specialty, but fields like Pediatric Critical Care, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Wound Care, Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine, and Interventional Neuroradiology are among the least common due to extensive training, niche focus, or specialized needs, often having only hundreds or a few thousand practitioners globally. Rarity can also depend on location, with some subspecialties being non-existent in certain regions. 

How many doctors quit medicine?

A decade-long study reveals that the percent of physicians leaving clinical practice jumped from 3.5% to 4.9% between 2013 and 2019—a troubling trend that threatens to compound the nation's projected shortage of up to 86,000 doctors by 2036. The nationwide analysis, published Oct.

Are doctors happy with their life?

Yes, many doctors enjoy their lives and find deep fulfillment in helping patients, but the career also brings significant challenges like burnout, administrative burden (paperwork/insurance), long hours, and high stress, leading to varied levels of happiness that have fluctuated, especially post-pandemic. While high percentages report job satisfaction from patient impact and intellectual challenges, burnout and dissatisfaction with systemic issues are common, with some studies showing declining happiness in recent years. 

Which type of doctor has the highest rate of depression?

They were:

• Urology: 38.5%.
• Emergency medicine: 38.3%.
• Family medicine: 35.8%.
• Obstetrics and gynecology: 33.6%.
• General internal medicine: 33.3%.
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation: 32.7%.
• Radiology: 32%.
• Pediatric subspecialty: 31.9%.

How often do doctors change jobs?

Statistically, the majority of physicians will change jobs within their first five years out of training. Additionally — even at later stages of physician careers — an increasing percentage of the physician population consider changes in their career.

Can surgeons make 1 million a year?

Yes, many surgeons, especially in high-demand specialties like neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, and cardiovascular surgery, can earn over $1 million annually, particularly in the U.S., though it often requires extensive experience, specific subspecialties (like spine or sports medicine), high patient volume, or efficient private practice models. While average salaries are lower, top earners in these fields often exceed the $1 million mark through a combination of high procedure volume, bonuses, and strategic practice management, notes. 

Do doctors work 7 days on 7 days off?

Even though most hospitalists work 84 hours a week doing 12-hour shifts for seven days straight, they have the next seven days off. It's grueling, but many insist it's worth it. If you want periods of extended free time but are more interested in fields that average long hours, you might consider locum tenens.

Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?

Can most lawyers realistically make $500,000 a year? While it's not typical, many attorneys—especially in high-value fields—can reach $500K+ with the right growth strategy and client base.