Are most doctors millionaires?

Asked by: Hal Rempel  |  Last update: September 27, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (41 votes)

About 51% of doctors reach a net worth of $1 million or more, but this changes a lot based on their age and area of work. Younger doctors, especially those just starting out, usually have lower net worths. This is because they often have student loans and haven't had enough time to grow their savings.

Are doctors usually rich?

In fact, according to the latest 2022 Medscape report which surveyed 13,000 doctors, the average physician graduated with $203,000 in debt. Only half of physicians reported a net worth of over $1 million, and not until the age of 55. Today let's review net worth by age for doctors through the decades.

What percent of doctors make over a million?

The top ten percent of physician earners averaged $1.3 million, and the top one percent averaged $4 million, although the vast majority of their incomes came from business income or capital gains, according to The Washington Post.

What is the average net worth of doctors?

In comparison, physicians as a whole are doing very well. More than half of respondents report a net worth exceeding the national net worth average figure of $748,800. Nearly six in 10 (59%) of respondents said they are worth more than $1 million, consistent with physicians surveyed in 2022.

Does being a doctor make you a millionaire?

Yes, doctors can be millionaires. Many factors contribute to this, including: Specialization: Certain medical specialties, such as orthopedic surgery, cardiology, and dermatology, tend to have higher salaries compared to primary care fields.

Why More Doctors Aren’t Millionaires

28 related questions found

What percent of doctors make over $500,000?

More than 25 percent of physicians in 2017 earned above $425,000 annually and the top 1 percent of physicians averaged $4 million in annual earnings — 10 times the average annual earnings in the sample and more than twice the average earnings in the top 5 percent.

What is the richest type of doctor?

A neurosurgeon is the highest-paid doctor on our list. Neurosurgery encompasses surgery of the brain, spinal cord/column, and peripheral nerves. Aspiring neurosurgeons must complete at least a seven-year residency. The average annual compensation for neurosurgeons is $763,908, putting them at the top of our list.

Do doctors make 300k a year?

Overall, the average physician salary is $277,000 annually for primary care physicians and $394,000 for specialists, according to the 2024 Medscape Physician Compensation Report.

Are most doctors gifted?

How low? The average IQ for a doctor is 120, with 80% falling between 105 and 135. Even with higher than average IQs, most medical students find the course hard going.

Do most doctors retire rich?

On average, men stated that $4.1 million would provide a comfortable retirement, with women stating $3.6 million. Overall, the average for physicians was $3.9 million. At these levels, physicians have typically funded about 77% of their desired amount.

At what age do doctors start making money?

For example, while a graduate who holds a master's degree in computer science can start competing for top developer jobs after about six years of college, or around their mid-20s, doctors won't start earning their $200,000-plus salaries until much later (early 30s).

Do most doctors come from rich families?

In 2008, research in an Analysis in Brief (AIB) comparing the economic diversity of U.S. medical school matriculants with U.S. Census data found that “more than three-quarters of medical students came from families in the top two quintiles of family income.” This AIB replicates that previous research and methodology to ...

Are doctors upper middle class?

Most people in the upper-middle class strata are highly educated white collar professionals such as but not limited to physicians, dentists, lawyers, military officers, economists, business analysts, urban planners, university professors, architects, stockbrokers, psychologists, scientists, managers, accountants, ...

What age do most physicians retire?

Physicians most often expect to retire around age 60, but actually retire closer to age 69, according to a systematic review of 65 studies published on Nov. 15 in Human Resources for Health.

Who is the richest doctor in the world?

The 5 richest physicians of 2024
  • Thomas Frist Jr., MD, $20.2 billion, founded Hospital Corp. ...
  • Patrick Soon-Shiong, MD, $5.8 billion, was a practicing physician before inventing the cancer medication Abraxane.
  • Gary Michelson, MD, $1.8 billion, is a retired orthopedic and spine surgeon who holds over 340 U.S. patents.

What doctors make $500,000 a year?

Otolaryngology (ENT)

These physicians make just over half a million at $502,543 a year. ENT is a surgical subspecialty focusing on diseases of the head and neck region, including the nose, sinuses, vocal cords, ears, thyroid, and parathyroid, as well as cancers of the head and neck.

What is the most highly paid doctor?

What Are The Highest Paid Doctor Jobs?
  1. Cardiologist. ...
  2. Nephrologist. ...
  3. Orthopaedic Surgeon. ...
  4. Urologist. ...
  5. Neurologist. ...
  6. Oncologist. ...
  7. Surgeon. ...
  8. Pulmonologist.

Can a pharmacist make 300K?

The potential for generating $200-300K annually in remote pharmacy consulting is within your reach. By embracing this shift, you can not only enhance your income but also improve patient care and satisfaction.

What is the hardest doctor to become?

What is the most difficult type of doctor specialty? Neurosurgery is known to be particularly challenging because of the intricate nature of the nervous system and the significant risks involved in surgical procedures.

What is the highest paid job in the world?

  • Professional Athlete (Top Earners) Professional athletes are the elite performers of the sports world. ...
  • General Surgeons. Surgeons get paid according to the level of their skills and experience. ...
  • Anesthesiologist. ...
  • Investment Banker. ...
  • Corporate Lawyer. ...
  • Software Engineer/Architect. ...
  • Cosmetic Surgeon. ...
  • Psychiatrists.

What is the lowest paying doctor?

1. Medical Genetics and Genomics. In the number 1 spot for lowest paid medical specialty is medical genetics and genomics at $244,517. Medical geneticists focus on the relationship between genes and health.

What do 90% of millionaires do?

It has become especially popular because it can potentially be a gateway to millionaire status. The famed wealthy entrepreneur Andrew Carnegie famously said more than a century ago, “Ninety percent of all millionaires become so through owning real estate.

What jobs make $1000000?

5 High-Paying Jobs In Finance
  • Chief Financial Officer. ...
  • Private Banker—Managing Director. ...
  • Hedge Fund Portfolio Manager. ...
  • Private Equity—Managing Director. ...
  • Investment Banker—Managing Director.

What degree do most millionaires have?

The 6 college majors that make the most millionaires
  • #6: Law/Pre-Law. Photo: Maskot (Getty Images) ...
  • #5: Computer Science. Photo: Cravetiger (Getty Images) ...
  • #4: Mathematics. Photo: Hill Street Studios (Getty Images) ...
  • #3: Politics. Photo: Anna Moneymaker (Getty Images) ...
  • #2: Economics/Finance. Photo: Michael M. ...
  • #1: Engineering.