Physicians and Surgeons

Significant Points

• Many physicians and surgeons work long, irregular hours; over one-third of full-time physicians worked 60 or more hours a week in 2004.
• Formal education and training requirements are among the most demanding of any occupation, but earnings are among the highest.
• Job opportunities should be very good, particularly in rural and low-income areas.
• New physicians are much less likely to enter solo practice and more likely to work as salaried employees of group medical practices, clinics, hospitals, or health networks.

source: OOH; about this section