How many doctors are there in the United States? Where do they work, and how old are they? What trends are shaping the physician workforce?
Whether you’re a healthcare executive who employs physicians, a doctor curious about your profession, or just preparing for trivia night, these are useful numbers to know.
These statistics also provide a snapshot of the physician workforce that can contextualize current challenges and opportunities in healthcare. This article draws from trusted sources like the AAMC Workforce Reports, Medscape’s Physician Compensation Report, and HRSA.gov. Let’s dive in.
1. Nearly 1 million physicians are working in the U.S.
According to HRSA, there are 933,788 professionally active physicians in the United States. Of these, about 800,000 are patient care physicians, meaning they work directly with patients.
2. 30% of physicians are primary care doctors
Primary care physicians (PCPs) represent about one-third of U.S. doctors. There are approximately 280,000 PCPs in the U.S., including those specializing in internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics.
As patients’ first point of contact, PCPs address everything from acute illnesses to chronic disease management, behavioral health, and women’s health. Their work is essential in promoting preventative care and improving population health.
However, with a looming physician shortage, healthcare systems must address underlying challenges to ensure a steady supply of primary care physicians.
3. The U.S. will be short 124,000 physicians by 2034
The AAMC projects a shortfall of up to 124,000 doctors within the next decade. This shortage results from multiple factors:
- An aging population requiring more care
- High rates of physician burnout
- A “residency bottleneck” that limits the number of new doctors entering the field
- The ongoing retirement of older physicians
Policymakers and healthcare leaders are grappling with potential solutions, such as increasing residency slots, expanding medical education funding, and leveraging technology to enhance efficiency in care delivery.
4. Wyoming has just 1,245 doctors
The physician workforce is unevenly distributed across the U.S., with populous states like California employing over 125,000 physicians. In contrast, Wyoming has only 1,245 doctors.
Six states have fewer than 3,000 physicians: Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming. This disparity highlights the challenges rural areas face in accessing medical care, a trend that exacerbates health inequities.
For context, states like Ohio and Michigan have mid-sized physician workforces of about 40,000 each, while densely populated states like New York and Texas have 90,000 and 75,000 doctors, respectively.
5. Your doctor is probably 54 years old
The average U.S. physician is about 54 years old, compared to a median age of 42 across the general workforce. This trend is partly due to the lengthy training physicians undergo and the tendency for many doctors to work well into their later years.
The aging physician workforce parallels the aging U.S. population, amplifying the demand for healthcare services just as more doctors approach retirement. This trend could further strain an already stretched system without interventions to recruit and retain younger physicians.
6. Nearly 8 in 10 doctors are employed
The independent physician practice is quickly becoming a relic of the past. In 2024, a record 77.6% of doctors are employed by hospitals or corporate entities. This marks a sharp decline from 2012 when more than half of physicians were self-employed.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this shift as many private practices struggled to stay afloat. For many doctors, employment offers stability and relief from the administrative burdens of managing a practice, albeit at the cost of some professional autonomy.
This trend reflects broader changes in the healthcare landscape, with hospitals and corporations consolidating practices to streamline operations and reduce costs.
7. The average physician salary is $363,000
According to Medscape, physicians are among the highest-paid professionals in the U.S., with an average salary of $363,000 in 2023.
Primary care doctors earn an average of $277,000, while specialists like orthopedists, plastic surgeons, and cardiologists often make over $500,000 annually. Despite these numbers, 61% of physicians believe their profession is underpaid, citing factors like long hours, administrative burdens, and the rising cost of education.