Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Paying close attention to accuracy, quality, instructions, and small but important details.
Identifying problems, considering possible solutions, and choosing appropriate actions.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
Physicians and surgeons typically need a bachelor’s degree as well as a medical degree, which takes an additional 4 years to complete. Depending on their specialty, they also need 3 to 9 years in internship and residency programs. Subspecialization includes additional training in a fellowship of 1 to 3 years. PayThe median annual wage for physicians and surgeons was $275,930 in May 2025. Job Outlook Overall employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 22,100 openings for physicians and surgeons are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. State & Area Data Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for physicians and surgeons. Similar Occupations Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of physicians and surgeons with similar occupations. More Information, Including Links to O*NET Learn more about physicians and surgeons by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Your Next Step
Compare colleges and education options that can support the typical entry-level education for this career.
Pay
The median annual wage for physicians and surgeons was $275,930 in May 2025. Job Outlook Overall employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 22,100 openings for physicians and surgeons are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. State & Area Data Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for physicians and surgeons. Similar Occupations Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of physicians and surgeons with similar occupations. More Information, Including Links to O*NET Learn more about physicians and surgeons by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Job Outlook
Overall employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 22,100 openings for physicians and surgeons are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. State & Area Data Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for physicians and surgeons. Similar Occupations Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of physicians and surgeons with similar occupations. More Information, Including Links to O*NET Learn more about physicians and surgeons by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
What They Do
Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance.
Work Environment
Physicians and surgeons work in both clinical and nonclinical settings. Clinical settings include physicians' offices and hospitals; nonclinical settings include government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and insurance companies.
How to Become a Physician or Surgeon
Physicians and surgeons typically need a bachelor’s degree as well as a medical degree, which takes an additional 4 years to complete. Depending on their specialty, they also need 3 to 9 years in internship and residency programs. Subspecialization includes additional training in a fellowship of 1 to 3 years.
Pay
The median annual wage for physicians and surgeons was $275,930 in May 2025.
Job Outlook
Overall employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 22,100 openings for physicians and surgeons are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
State & Area Data
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for physicians and surgeons.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of physicians and surgeons with similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about physicians and surgeons by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Work Environment
Physicians and surgeons work in both clinical and nonclinical settings. Clinical settings include physicians' offices and hospitals; nonclinical settings include government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and insurance companies.
How to Become a Physician or Surgeon
Physicians and surgeons typically need a bachelor’s degree as well as a medical degree, which takes an additional 4 years to complete. Depending on their specialty, they also need 3 to 9 years in internship and residency programs. Subspecialization includes additional training in a fellowship of 1 to 3 years.
Pay
The median annual wage for physicians and surgeons was $275,930 in May 2025.
Job Outlook
Overall employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 22,100 openings for physicians and surgeons are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
State & Area Data
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for physicians and surgeons.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of physicians and surgeons with similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about physicians and surgeons by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
State & Area Data
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for physicians and surgeons.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of physicians and surgeons with similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about physicians and surgeons by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
More Information
Learn more about physicians and surgeons by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Take the Next Step
Find Education Programs
Compare colleges and education options that can support the typical entry-level education for this career.
Explore pathway →Hear From ED
Use the guided career counseling experience to connect this career to your goals, skills and education preferences.
Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.