In-Demand Physician Specialties

Every year, the healthcare network Doximity releases a report called the U.S. Physician Employment Report. For the 2019 report, the arguments analyzed 27,000 job listings for physicians in the top 50 metropolitan areas between 2018 and 2019. The report summarizing this analysis reveals the following top 10 most in-demand physician specialties. Included is the average salary for each position as of the time of this report.

1. Family Medicine: A type of primary care physician, the role of a family physician is to diagnose and treat injuries and illnesses in the general populace. For most patients and in most instances, they are the preliminary point of contact in the health care system. Then, when necessary, a family physician can refer a patient to a specialist. The field is currently facing a major shortage, with from 21,100 to 55,200 too few primary care physicians overall, including family physicians, by 2032. Average salary for a family physician: $234,000
2. Internal Medicine: Also called internists, internal medicine doctors diagnose injuries and illnesses of the internal organ systems, like diabetes and heart disease, and provide non-surgical treatment for them. Mainly caring for adults, they treat an array of internal organ conditions. This field is growing at a fast rate of 15% or greater per year through 2026. Average salary for an internal physician: $251,000
3. Emergency Medicine: Also known as hospitalists, emergency medicine doctors focus their diagnostic and treatment skills on hospital inpatients, including in emergency rooms, acute care units and intensive care units. In addition to admitting patients, they give continuous care to those patients throughout their stay in the hospital. This field is growing in demand at a rate of 10 to 14% per year through 2026. Average salary for an emergency medicine doctor: $357,000
4. Psychiatry: Psychiatrist perform both psychological and medical lab tests to diagnose and treat mental, behavior and emotional disorders. This field is growing at an estimated rate of 10-14% per year through 2026. Experts anticipate that, as more psychiatrists retire in the coming years and fewer medical students select psychiatric residencies, the deleterious effects will ripple throughout the entire medical community. The demand for psychiatrists is estimated to be between 10 and 14% per year through 2026. Average salary for a psychiatrist: $268,000
5. Obstetrics and Gynecology: Obstetricians and gynecologists (OB/GYNs) are physicians who specialize in the female reproductive system. They offer care for women undergoing pregnancy and childbirth as well as diagnose and treat other illnesses and injuries specific to a woman’s reproductive system. This field is estimated to be growing even faster than 15% per year through 2026. Average salary for an OB/GYN: $308,000
6. Neurology: Neurologists specialize in the brain, nervous system, spinal cord and peripheral nerves as well as the blood vessels and muscles. Neurologists are one type of physician who spend much of their time in consultation with patients, given they frequently treat patients experiencing spinal cord disorders, seizures, Alzheimer’s disease and strokes. This field is growing at a rate of between 10 and 14% per year through 2026. Average salary for a neurologist: $280,000
7. Radiology: Radiologists utilize radioactive substances, x-rays, ultrasound sound waves and/or the body’s own natural magnetic fields via MRIs to diagnose diseases. This field is estimated to grow from 10 to 14% per year through 2026. Average salary for a radiologist: $427,000
8. Anesthesiology: A special type of physician who administers sedation and anesthetics during surgical and other medical procedures, anesthesiologists also maintain airway management and life support. Like OB/GYNs, this field is growing at an even faster rate than 15% per year through 2026. Average salary for an anesthesiologist: $398,000
9. Pediatrics: Pediatricians are primary care doctors who care, specifically, for babies, adolescents and children. They offer preventative medicine as well as diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries, including common children conditions like allergies, croup and asthma. Like internists, pediatricians are increasing in demand at an estimated rate of 15% per year through 2026. Average salary for a pediatrician: $232,000
10. Cardiology: Cardiologists specialize in diagnosing, treating and preventing illnesses affecting the blood vessels and the heart. As the U.S. faces an increasingly aging population and a broadening disease burden, demand in the cardiology field is estimated to grow by as much as 18% per year through 2025. Average salary for a cardiologist: $438,000

By exploring the most in-demand physician specialties at the time you’re ready to select one for yourself, you can find the areas where you can do the most good while giving yourself the widest field of potential job opportunities and highest possible salaries.

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