Top 5 Medical Specialties for Job Happiness
When exploring career options in medical school or residency, you should keep in mind that your physician job will affect all aspects of your life. A 2020 Medscape Survey was conducted to discover how specialties stack up when it comes to career happiness.

Top 5 Specialties* for Physician Happiness
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Dermatology
At a 41% happiness rating, dermatology tops the list. To become a dermatology physician, you will need to complete a preliminary/transitional year and a three-year residency. There are fellowship options like dermatopathology, pediatric dermatology, and procedural dermatology to consider. According to Salary.com1, the average dermatologist salary is $347,700. -
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology has a happiness rating of 39%. Ophthalmology requires an internship year and three years of residency training in ophthalmology. There are also fellowship options to consider, like glaucoma, medical retina/uveitis, and ophthalmic oncology. The average ophthalmologist salary2 is $296, 500. -
Plastic Surgery
Plastic Surgery follows closely behind at a 38% happiness rating. To become a plastic surgeon, you will need to complete a surgery residency and a plastic surgery residency. You can also consider subspecialties like craniomaxillofacial surgery, hand surgery, and cosmetic surgery. The average plastic surgeon's salary3 is $395,153. - Orthopedics
Orthopedics comes next at 34%. There are two options for orthopedics: 1. orthopedic surgery and 2. orthopedic - non-surgical. To become an orthopedic surgeon, you must complete an orthopedic residency. For non-surgical orthopedics, you will be working with sports medicine. There are fellowship options available for both! The average orthopedic surgeon's salary4 is $489,369. - Surgery, General
Closing out the top 5, Surgery, General has a 33% happiness rating. You will need to complete a general surgery residency. There are multiple fellowship options to subspecialize in like: cardiac & cardiothoracic surgery, surgery of the hand, and colon & rectal surgery, to name a few. The average general surgeon makes5 $393, 350.
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References:
* https://www.medscape.com/slideshow/2020-lifestyle-endocrinologist-6012494#2
1 https://www.medscape.com/slideshow/2020-lifestyle-endocrinologist-6012494#2
2 https://www.salary.com/research/salary/alternate/ophthalmologist-salary
3. https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/surgeon-plastic-reconstructive-salary
4. https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/surgeon-orthopedic-salary
5. https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/surgeon-salary
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