Do fellows make more than residents?

Yes, fellows generally earn more than residents because they are further along in their advanced medical training, but the difference isn't as large as when they become attending physicians; both are paid stipends, with salaries increasing with each year of training, though fellows have completed residency and are more specialized. For example, residents might average around $65k-$67k, while fellows average closer to $78k-$80k, with higher-level training in fellowships leading to even higher pay.

Is a fellow higher than a resident?

A fellow is a practicing doctor who is in a post-residency training phase. They have completed medical school and residency, holding medical licenses and often board certifications. While they continue to learn and refine their skills, they are qualified practitioners actively contributing to patient care.

Do fellows work as much as residents?

Fellowship years are considered even more labour-intensive than residency years. The years passed in residency depend on the individual program but generally consist of rounds, patient consultations, specialty training, and practicing under the supervision of a senior specialist.

Is a fellow better than a resident?

Level of specialization and autonomy

While a resident may be training broadly in internal medicine or general surgery, a fellow, having already completed their residency, might specialize further in areas like cardiology or pediatric surgery. Fellows also tend to have more clinical autonomy and.

Do doctors with fellowship get paid more?

After completing fellowship training, specialists earn much higher salaries than general practitioners. In general, fellows can expect a salary between $46,000 and $93,000, which on average is $66,364.

Highest Paid Doctor Specialties in 2026 (💰New Leaders)

What doctor makes $500,000 a year?

Doctors in high-demand surgical and specialized fields like Orthopedics, Plastic Surgery, Radiology, Cardiology, and Gastroenterology often earn over $500,000 annually, with some top earners in Thoracic Surgery or Neurosurgery making significantly more, while even family doctors can reach this level through practice ownership or specialized services.
 

How much do fellowships make compared to residency?

According to survey results, the average annual salary for a resident is $65,395. Fellows reported earning an average of $78,501 every year.

Is it prestigious to be a fellow?

Yes, fellowships are widely considered prestigious, especially national and international ones, because they are highly competitive, merit-based awards that offer significant funding, unique networking, mentorship, and career opportunities, marking recipients as top talent in their fields and boosting their professional reputation dramatically. Winning one signifies outstanding achievement and potential, often opening doors to advanced roles or further study. 

Which is harder, residency or fellowship?

Fellowship is often considered harder than residency due to increased responsibility, mental load, and navigating new environments, though the intensity varies greatly by specialty, with some fellowships having lighter hours but greater intellectual demands (like cardiology/GI), while others (like critical care/vascular surgery) can be physically grueling and isolating, especially the first year, as you transition from a large support system to greater autonomy and deeper specialization. 

Do all residents become fellows?

Interns become residents in the second year of their residency as they focus more on their field of specialty. After completing residency, those who advance on to subspecialties are called fellows, and their training is called a fellowship.

How many years is a doctor a fellow?

After your residency training, you may choose to further sub-specialize by completing fellowships usually lasting 1-3 additional years.

Are fellowships a big deal?

Yes, a fellowship is a big deal; it's a prestigious, highly competitive opportunity that offers significant career advancement, specialized training, funding, and invaluable networking with established leaders in a field, setting recipients apart for future academic or professional roles. These merit-based programs are a major resume booster, showing dedication and expertise, and can provide financial support or resources for research or education.
 

What is the lowest rank of a doctor?

The lowest rank of a fully qualified doctor in the US hierarchy is often an intern (first-year resident) or junior resident, following medical school, while in the UK it's a foundation doctor, both undergoing initial postgraduate training under supervision before becoming independent specialists or general practitioners. They work under senior residents and attending physicians, handling patient care tasks but still learning.
 

Can you bill for a fellow?

At a minimum, in order to bill under an attending/faculty physician, the attending/faculty physician must co-sign the fellow's note. Non-billable fellows are enrolled in an ACGME approved program, are listed on the UCDMC Medicare Cost Report and are considered residents under Medicare's Teaching Physician Rules.

Can a resident call themselves a doctor?

The answer is generally “no,” as the ability to use the title is tied to being licensed by the medical board1.

What are the hardest fellowships to get into?

The top-three most-competitive fellowships for applicants who are US medical graduates (USMGs) are gastroenterology (internal medicine), with 68.7 applications/applicant; cardiovascular disease (internal medicine), with 64.9 applications/applicant; and gynecologic oncology (OB/GYN), with 54.5 applications/applicant.

How much money do you make as a fellow?

Fellowship salaries vary significantly but generally range from the mid-$60,000s to over $90,000 annually, increasing with years of training (PGY levels) and dependent on specialty, institution, and location, with higher-paying fields like Cardiology and Orthopedics paying more than Pediatrics or Infectious Diseases. Fellows earn more than residents but less than fully practicing physicians in high-demand fields. 

Are fellows considered doctors?

A fellow is a doctor who has finished medical school and residency and has chosen to further study a subspecialty in medicine. Fellowships are approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and usually last one to three years.

What are the cons of fellowships?

Fellowship Cons

• Hard work is non-negotiable. These opportunities demand consistent hard work. ...
• Deadlines matter. Fellowships have strict guidelines and protocols, so if you are the kind of person who tends to procrastinate, this opportunity may not be for you.
• Applying doesn't guarantee selection.

Can you be a fellow without a PhD?

You must have completed a PhD or equivalent before the fellowship award can start.

How hard is it to get into a fellowship?

It can be overwhelming, especially when you are facing difficulty in securing your fellowship of choice. Most fellowships are competitive for many reasons. This is largely because of the limited spots available, which makes them even more challenging to apply for than residency programs.

Do doctors get paid while doing residency?

Yes, doctors absolutely get paid during residency; it's a paid, on-the-job training period where they earn a stipend or salary, typically starting around $60,000-$70,000 annually and increasing slightly each year, though pay is often considered low given the long hours. Salaries vary by location, hospital, and specialty, with first-year residents (PGY-1) earning less than senior residents. 

Why do doctors do fellowships after residency?

Physicians pursue fellowship to better understand a particular subfield in medicine and to truly become experts in that area, developing a deeper understanding and rigorous skill set.

What is the highest paid residency?

The highest-paying medical residencies are typically in surgical and procedural specialties like Orthopedic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Plastic Surgery, Cardiology, and Radiology, often paying over $60k-$65k+ annually during residency and leading to much higher physician salaries post-residency, though resident pay varies significantly by PGY year and location. While actual resident salaries rise with training level (PGY), these fields promise the greatest long-term earning potential, with some surgeon roles averaging $650k+ after training.