Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Doctoral or professional degree
None
Internship/residency
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Physicians, all other, represent a large national workforce, with 341,000 people employed in this occupation. The field combines advanced medical knowledge with a broad set of professional skills, including science, critical and analytical thinking, and strong interpersonal abilities. Physicians in this group typically rely on adaptability, problem solving and decision making, and being detail oriented to handle complex situations. Communication skills such as speaking and listening, writing and reading, and customer service are also central to success. Computers and information technology round out the key skill set. Nationally, projected employment growth of 2.5% and 10,000 annual openings suggest ongoing opportunities across the country. For people exploring medical careers, related options include cardiologists, general internal medicine physicians, pediatricians (general), emergency medicine physicians, and physician assistants. Overall, this occupation can appeal to students, career changers, and professionals who are ready to pursue advanced education and who enjoy combining scientific knowledge with direct interaction and problem solving.
Earnings for physicians, all other, vary by location, creating different income profiles across states and metro areas. Among the top states by CareerGPS opportunity score, median annual salaries range from $236,580 in Massachusetts to $307,170 in Washington. California physicians have a median salary of $281,590, New York physicians earn $242,500, and Colorado physicians earn $298,320. At the metro level, the differences are also significant. Median salaries range from $98,870 in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro to $294,360 in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro. Other notable metros include New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $265,930, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $208,710, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $229,870. These variations highlight how earnings potential can shift substantially depending on the specific region and metro area where a physician practices.
Physicians, all other, have a large national presence with 341,000 employed across the country. The projected employment growth rate of 2.5% points to continued demand in the coming years. In addition to overall growth, the occupation is expected to see 10,000 annual openings. These openings can reflect a combination of new positions and the need to replace physicians who leave the workforce or move into other roles. The consistent 2.5% projected growth that appears in multiple states and metro areas indicates a broadly stable outlook rather than one concentrated in a single region. For students and career changers willing to pursue the required advanced education, this combination of a sizable existing workforce, measurable projected growth, and thousands of annual openings suggests that opportunities to enter or advance within the field should continue to be available across many parts of the country.
Location plays a major role in opportunity for physicians, all other, as shown by the CareerGPS opportunity scores and salary figures across states and metros. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York have the highest opportunity scores, ranging from 65.78 to 67.38, with median salaries from $236,580 to $281,590 and sizable employment levels. Washington and Colorado also stand out with opportunity scores in the mid-50s and median salaries above $298,000. This suggests that physicians can find strong combinations of employment levels, growth, and pay in several different regions. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ lead in opportunity scores, both above 77. Yet their median salaries differ significantly, at $98,870 and $265,930 respectively, underscoring how local market conditions can vary. Other metros like San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also offer notable opportunity scores and solid employment bases.
The typical education requirement for physicians, all other, is a doctoral or professional degree. This reflects the advanced level of scientific knowledge and professional responsibility associated with the role. The top skills for this occupation align closely with that level of preparation. Science, critical and analytical thinking, and problem solving and decision making are central, supporting evidence-based judgments. Being detail oriented helps with precision, while adaptability enables physicians to respond to changing situations. Strong interpersonal, speaking and listening, and customer service skills support effective interactions. Writing and reading are important for documentation and reviewing complex information. Computers and information technology round out the profile, indicating that comfort with digital tools is part of modern practice. For students and professionals planning their path, combining a doctoral or professional degree with development of these skills can help align their preparation with the expectations of this occupation.
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