What is the least popular medical specialty?

There isn't one single "least popular," but Family Medicine consistently ranks as the least competitive/popular due to broad scope and lower pay, while Psychiatry, Pathology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care are also often cited as less desired by trainees, often due to lower compensation, less direct patient interaction (in pathology), or demanding patient populations (geriatrics). Highly specialized fields like Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology or Pediatric Critical Care have very few doctors but aren't necessarily "unpopular," just extremely niche.

What is the least desirable medical specialty?

With that in mind, the five least competitive medical specialties are:

• Family medicine.
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation.
• Anesthesiology.
• Pediatrics.
• Psychiatry.

What is the most underrated medical specialty?

Exploring underrated specialties like Geriatrics, Palliative Care, Preventive Medicine, Sleep Medicine, and Health Informatics can open doors to fulfilling careers that align more closely with your values, strengths, and lifestyle goals.

What is the rarest medical specialty?

There isn't one single "rarest" specialty, as it varies by location and data, but fields like Pediatric Ophthalmology, Wound Care, Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine, Medical Microbiology, and Fetal & Perinatal Pathology consistently rank among the least common due to extensive training, niche focus, or limited demand, with some specialties like Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology also having very few active physicians. 

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.
 

5 RISKIEST Doctor Specialties

What is the least common type of doctor?

For example, oral and maxillofacial surgery and plastic surgery are both considered among the rarest specialties in medicine. In the case of oral and maxillofacial surgery, professionals are trained in both dentistry and surgery, which makes it an even rarer specialty.

What is the lowest paying doctor specialty?

The lowest-paid doctor specialties consistently include Pediatrics, Family Medicine, Psychiatry, Public Health/Preventive Medicine, Endocrinology, and Infectious Diseases, often due to their primary care focus and lower volume of high-paying procedures, though exact rankings vary slightly by report. Subspecialties within Pediatrics, like endocrinology or infectious diseases, can also be among the lowest earners. 

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

Jobs paying $300k/year in the U.S. are concentrated in medicine, tech, finance, law, and executive leadership, including roles like specialized physicians (radiologists, surgeons, anesthesiologists), tech leaders (VPs, senior engineers), private equity executives, management consultants, top lawyers, and high-level sales directors, often requiring advanced degrees, specialized skills, or significant experience, with compensation often including bonuses and performance-based incentives. 

Which doctor is in most demand?

Family medicine is currently the most in-demand physician specialty, according to AMN Healthcare's (formerly Merritt Hawkins) recent report on physician recruiting.

What specialty has the highest burnout rate?

The study found burnout varies across the medical field, with some specialties facing more severe challenges than others. Emergency medicine physicians experience the most intense burnout, with the highest emotional fatigue (68%) and depersonalization (55%).

Which doctor has the highest malpractice?

Surgery is one of the riskiest medical fields for both patients and doctors. It's no surprise that surgeons have some of the highest rates of malpractice claims. Here's why: Complexity of Procedures: Surgeries often involve delicate, high-precision work on vital organs or intricate systems.

What doctors have the lowest job satisfaction?

On the other hand, Allergy & Immunology physicians reported the lowest job satisfaction with a mean of 3.00, followed by Pathology, General Surgery and OB/GYN at 3.18, 3.21 and 3.21 respectively. See the full list of specialties in the chart below.

What is the easiest medical specialty to get into?

The "easiest" medical field depends on your definition, but Phlebotomy is often cited for the fastest entry (weeks/months for certification), while Medical Assisting, Medical Billing/Coding, and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) offer quick, stable paths with short programs (under a year). For roles requiring slightly more education but offering good work-life balance, Dental Hygienist is praised for its low stress and high pay with an Associate's degree. 

What are the happiest medical specialties?

Top 10 Happiest Medical Specialties

• Allergy and Immunology. Allergy & Immunology ranks #1 in physician-reported happiness, with 94% saying they feel happy and well-balanced. ...
• Pathology. ...
• Dermatology. ...
• Public Health & Preventive Medicine. ...
• Psychiatry. ...
• Ophthalmology. ...
• Otolaryngology (ENT) ...
• Orthopedics & Orthopedic Surgery.

What type of doctor works 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.

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

The most prominent "$400,000 job without a college degree" discussed in recent news is a Walmart Supercenter Store Manager, where compensation can reach that level through a combination of increased base pay (around $128k average), significant bonuses (up to 200% of base), and annual stock grants (up to $20k) for top performers, making the role lucrative for those rising from hourly work. Other paths to high income without a degree include skilled trades, tech sales, and specialized roles like power plant operators, often achieved through skills-based training, certificates, or apprenticeships rather than a traditional four-year degree.
 

What jobs allow you to make $500,000 a year?

Jobs paying $500k a year are typically high-level executive, specialized medical, or top-tier finance/sales roles, including Neurosurgeons/Specialized Surgeons, Investment Bankers/Private Equity, Tech Executives/Senior Engineers, Top Sales Executives (Enterprise/Tech), Law Firm Partners, and Successful Entrepreneurs/Business Owners, often requiring extensive experience, specialized skills, and performance-based compensation (like commissions or bonuses). 

Which is the no. 1 high salary job?

The number one highest-paying job consistently ranks as Pediatric Surgeon, specializing in complex surgeries for children, followed closely by other medical specialists like Cardiologists, Anesthesiologists, and Neurosurgeons, due to extensive training, high responsibility, and critical skills, with CEOs and top tech/finance roles also offering very high earning potential. 

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 is the easiest doctor to become with a high salary?

15 highest-paying doctor jobs

• Psychiatrist. ...
• Obstetrics and gynecology physician. ...
• Pathologist. ...
• Internal medicine physician. ...
• Family medicine physician. ...
• Emergency medicine physician. ...
• Orthopedic surgeon. ...
• Radiologist.

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.
 

What is the most needed doctor right now?

Neurology

Our aging population is leading to more cases of neurological disease than ever before. Stroke rates are climbing. Alzheimer's and other dementia cases are projected to triple by 2050, and Parkinson's disease is on the rise as well. Right now, patients are waiting months to see a neurologist.

What is a 5 letter word for doctor?

Common 5-letter words for "doctor," especially in crosswords, can include MEDIC, or sometimes words related to their title like DRS (abbreviation), but often it's a wordplay answer such as ALTER or DROLL (if 'DR' is part of the clue). 

What specialty has the most 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%).