How much do doctors work during residency?

Doctors in residency work intensive, long hours, typically up to the ACGME's limit of 80 hours per week, averaged over four weeks, though this can translate to very long shifts (up to 24 hours) and frequent overnight calls, varying significantly by specialty and rotation, with some inpatient rotations demanding closer to 80+ hours while outpatient shifts might be less. Residency is full-time, hands-on training where residents gain practical experience under supervision, but the workload often feels like more than a standard job, with many feeling underpaid for the hours put in.

How many hours a week do doctors work during residency?

It is a supervised clinical training period and an intensive, full-time job—requiring 60-80 hours per week—which provides physicians, also referred to as residents or trainees, with hands-on experience and increasing autonomy in delivering health care under the guidance of experienced attending physicians.

Do doctors make money during residency?

Yes, doctors absolutely get paid during residency, but it's a salary/stipend for their on-the-job training, not a full physician's wage, typically ranging from around $60,000 to over $70,000 annually, increasing slightly each year, with benefits like health insurance included. While they earn money, it's often seen as modest given the long hours, with compensation varying by location and specialty, notes the American Medical Association (AMA) and Medscape.
 

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.
 

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. 

How Much Do Resident Doctors Make?💸 Per Hour Breakdown!⏱️

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.
 

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 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 is 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 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.

How much do 2 year residents make?

Second-year (PGY-2) residents earn roughly $60,000 to $75,000 annually, with averages around $65,000-$73,000 in 2024-2025, depending on the institution, location, and specialty, with figures like $69,000 at Banner University and $72,672 at UT Southwestern showing typical increases over first-year pay. 

Is residency harder than med school?

Yes, residency is generally considered harder than medical school, but in a different way; medical school is academically intense with exams, while residency trades academic pressure for real-world responsibility, longer hours, physical exhaustion, critical patient-care decisions, and emotional stress, though it's where you truly become a doctor. Residency shifts focus from book learning to hands-on, high-stakes clinical practice, often involving 80+ hour weeks, overnight calls, and constant responsibility for patients' lives, making it more draining on stamina and time. 

What happens after 3 years of residency?

Residency comes first, and the length of the program varies with specialty; the shortest are 3 years and the longest are 7 years. After your residency training, you may choose to further sub-specialize by completing fellowships usually lasting 1-3 additional years.

How many doctors quit during residency?

Selected Finding: Overall, 54.2% of the individuals who completed residency training from 2008 through 2017 are practicing in the state of residency training. Retention rates range from 27.2% in Wyoming to 77.7% in California.

What is the hardest doctor residency?

The hardest medical residencies, characterized by extreme competitiveness to match and intense, lengthy training, consistently include Neurosurgery, Dermatology, Plastic Surgery, and Orthopedic Surgery, often followed closely by Otolaryngology (ENT), Radiation Oncology, and Interventional Radiology, due to limited spots, highly complex procedures, and demanding hours, with neurosurgery frequently cited as the most challenging overall because of its 7-8 year duration and high-stakes nature.
 

How much free time is in residency?

In most programs, residents receive 3-4 weeks of vacation per academic year where they're free from educational and clinical work. Depending on your program, this may come in the form of 2-week stretches, 1-week stretches, or a combination. This is your best opportunity in residency to go somewhere for vacation.

Do residents get weekends off?

On most inpatient rotations in residency, you're working ~6 days a week. If you have two days off in a row on the weekend (aka a normal weekend for most people) that's considered a ✨golden weekend✨

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.

Why do resident doctors work so much?

There is also a belief that long hours do, or can, improve training. The ability to follow a patient from admission through the next 30 or 40 hours may be valued more than observing several patients for shorter periods.

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 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.
 

What is the first rule of being a doctor?

"First do no harm"

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 profession has the highest burnout rate?

Nurses lead for those with the most burnout risk, with an estimated 6.9% burnout likelihood. This role is followed closely by ER physicians at 6.6% and primary-care doctors at 6.2% odds. Child and family social workers come in at 6.0%, while teachers and EMTs round out the top five with odds between 5.4–5.6%.