Number of specialty physicians in the U.S. 2024, by field of specialty

As of May 2024, there was a total of 582,296 specialty physicians active in the United States. Of these, most were specialized in emergency medicine.

Active physicians in the U.S.

A physician in the United States can be trained in medical education or also be an international medical graduate that has obtained a license to practice within the state. There are three organizations in the U.S. that deal with certification including the American Board of Medical Specialties and the American Medical Association. In 2019, in the United States, anesthesiologists, psychiatrists, and surgical doctors were amongst the most active physicians. Anesthesiologists are able to provide care in often acute situations, for example, preoperative examination, airway management, and surgical team consultations. In the United States, the number of anesthesiologists has often been too low and so it has become more common for physicians to have residency positions in anesthesiology.

By state, the District of Columbia has the highest number of active physicians per 10,000 civilians in the U.S. with 72.8 physicians for every 10,000 people in 2019. Doctors in Northeastern and Southwestern parts of the United States have a tendency to earn the least across the country. The number of primary care doctors is only slightly higher than those of non-primary care. Primary care includes physicians that are family doctors, general practitioners and internists, general pediatrics, and geriatricians. Around half of U.S. citizens that visit a physician, go to a primary care physician. However, family practice, pediatrics, and internal medicine are among the lowest paid salaries for physicians. Specialties such as orthopedic surgeons, urology, and invasive cardiology earn some of the highest wages in the country.