How many hours a week do medical doctors work?

Medical doctors generally work 40 to over 60 hours a week, with the average often hovering around 50-53 hours, but this varies significantly by specialty, practice setting, and experience, with surgeons often working the longest (60+ hrs) and some specialists like dermatologists or psychiatrists working closer to 40 hours, sometimes in shifts (e.g., 7 days on, 7 days off) or with significant admin/EHR time outside of clinic.

How many hours a week do most doctors work?

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.

Is being a doctor a 9 to 5 job?

No, most doctors do not work a standard 9-to-5; their hours are often long, irregular, and include nights, weekends, and on-call shifts, varying greatly by specialty, with roles like ER or OB/GYN having less fixed schedules, while some outpatient or VA physicians might find more 9-to-5 opportunities, though still typically exceeding 40 hours weekly. 

Do doctors work 7 days on 7 days off?

Yes, many hospital-based doctors, especially hospitalists, work a common "7 days on, 7 days off" schedule, working long shifts (often 12 hours) for a week, including weekends, then having a full week off, which allows for long periods of rest but can lead to burnout during work weeks. This schedule ensures continuity of care for patients but is just one model, with other specialties like emergency medicine or surgery having different patterns, and some doctors even prefer more frequent, shorter shifts.
 

What doctor makes $500,000 a year?

Doctors in surgical and high-demand procedural specialties frequently earn over $500,000 annually, with top earners often being Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Cardiology, and Thoracic Surgery, driven by complex skills, high demand (especially with aging populations), and lucrative elective procedures or emergency needs. Other fields like Radiology, Gastroenterology, Urology, and Anesthesiology also see average incomes exceeding this threshold.
 

How many hours do doctors ACTUALLY work?

What is the most overworked doctor?

Emergency medicine physicians experience the most intense burnout, with the highest emotional fatigue (68%) and depersonalization (55%). Therapists reported the next-highest rate of emotional fatigue at 61%, along with the highest mental fatigue (77%).

What's the longest shift a doctor can work?

Yes, doctors can work 24-hour shifts. They are not on their feet, working for the duration of the shift, however. The 24 hours alludes to how long they're on call. Physicians are permitted to rest when they can find time during this shift, but they must be ready to go if or when they are called to attend to a patient.

What is the golden rule for doctors?

But the essence of medical ethics, the golden rule, has been largely overlooked or undervalued: “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12). If man lived alone, a code of ethics would be superfluous; only in society does it become requisite and intelligible.

What are the best states for doctors?

Topics. In 2025, Montana, Indiana and South Dakota were found to be the best states for practicing medicine, while Hawaii, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia are the most difficult, according to WalletHub's recently released list of the best and worst states for physicians.

What is the lowest a doctor makes?

The lowest-paid doctor specialties consistently fall in primary care and certain pediatric subspecialties, with Pediatrics often cited as the lowest overall, followed by Public Health/Preventive Medicine, Family Medicine, and pediatric subspecialties like Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases. These roles offer lower compensation than surgical or high-demand adult specialties, often due to the broad nature of primary care and the focus on children's health, though they provide excellent work-life balance for many.
 

How old is the youngest doctor?

The youngest person to become a doctor, according to Guinness World Records, is Dr. Balamurali Ambati, who earned his medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 1995 at the age of 17 years, 294 days, after completing school and college at exceptionally young ages. He graduated from high school at 11, NYU at 13, and finished medical school shortly after turning 17, becoming the world's youngest physician.
 

What personality type are most doctors?

Using the division into 16personalities, the most common types were: ESFJ (Extroverted, Observant, Feeling, Judging; n=280, 13.3%), ISFJ (Introverted, Observant, Feeling, Judging; n=258, 12.3%), ENFJ (Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging; n=233, 11.1%), ENFP (Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Prospecting; n=210, 9.9 ...

What is the average salary of a doctor in the US?

The average doctor's salary in the US varies significantly by specialty, but general figures hover around $370,000 to $400,000+ annually, with high earners in fields like Orthopedic Surgery and Cardiology making over $500,000, while Family Medicine and Pediatrics average closer to $250,000-$300,000. Key factors influencing pay include specialization, location, experience, and practice setting.
 

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.

How stressful is being a physician?

Yes, being a doctor is often highly stressful, given the immense responsibilities and pressures associated with the profession. One significant source of stress is the necessity to make critical decisions quickly and accurately, sometimes in life-threatening situations.

What is the 5 2 1 0 rule?

The 5-2-1-0 rule is a guideline for children's healthy habits: 5 or more servings of fruits/veggies daily, 2 hours or less of recreational screen time, 1 hour or more of physical activity, and 0 sugary drinks, promoting better nutrition and activity to combat childhood obesity. It's a simple, memorable framework for families to build healthier lifestyles, focusing on diet, limiting media, and increasing movement.
 

How many patients is a doctor allowed to have?

The ideal average patient load for a primary care provider has been estimated at 1,000; however, many physicians say the reality is around 2,500.

What is the first rule of being a doctor?

"First do no harm"

How much are doctors paid per hour in the USA?

As of Jan 15, 2026, the average annual pay for a Doctor in the United States is $132,499 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $63.70 an hour. This is the equivalent of $2,548/week or $11,041/month.

How long do doctors go without sleep?

At the request of Congress, the physician body had audited the ACGME rules and said that the limit for shifts should be 16 hours. (Or 30 hours with a “5-hour protected sleep period” in the middle. Which sounds meager, but there were times I would have sold my soul for even 20 minutes of sleep.)

Which doctor gets the most time off?

In online forums, hospitalists, nocturnists and intensivists boast having some of the most free time. Even though most hospitalists work 84 hours a week doing 12-hour shifts for seven days straight, they have the next seven days off.

What is the most unhappy medical specialty?

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%).

What is the most underpaid doctor?

These are the lowest-paid medical specialties, ranked by median salary:

• 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 are the top 3 riskiest surgeries?

The three riskiest surgeries often involve the most delicate organs and complex procedures, commonly including brain surgery, open-heart (cardiac) surgery, and major organ transplants, due to high precision requirements and severe potential complications like hemorrhage, permanent neurological damage, or organ rejection. Other highly risky procedures frequently cited are aortic aneurysm repair, spinal surgery, and complex cancer surgeries, depending on the specific case.