But are they actually making more money per hour or are they just working more hours?

Let's dive into the data and find out dr DePaul medical insiders dot com When discussing which specialties make the most money.

The conversation usually starts and ends with annual salaries, although this is a good place to start.

It overlooks one crucial component the time that it takes to make that salary.

We took the average salary for each specialty in 2021 divided it by the average number of hours worked per week, multiplied by the number of weeks work in a year.

To give us the average hourly wage will also discuss factors like competitiveness, on call responsibilities and length of training to give you a better understanding of the price you pay to earn that high hourly wage.

Number one on our list is plastic surgery, which focuses on the repair, reconstruction, replacement and alteration of soft tissue.

This should come as no surprise as plastic surgery is known for being one of the more lucrative specialties.

It is often in the top 34 highest paid specialties.

Plastic surgeons have an average annual salary of $526,000 and work an average of 52 hours per week, giving us an hourly wage of approximately $202 per hour.

It is important to note that this number includes both reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgeons.

Plastic surgeons working in aesthetics.

Well in general make more than their reconstructive colleagues.

That being said to achieve this compensation, you will first have to match into plastic surgery, which is no easy feat.

It is currently ranked number two on the MSC competitiveness, index, neck and neck with dermatology.

In first, you will have to commit a great deal of time and effort during medical school to be competitive for plastics and even then, there is no guarantee that you will match.

The training to become a plastic surgeon is also longer than most specialties at 6 to 8 years, depending on the pathway you take.

So while many of your peers during medical school are already receiving an attending salary, you will still be completing your training once you begin practicing as a plastic surgeon.

However, the lifestyle is often pretty good.

Plastic surgeons work an average of 52 hours per week, which is less than many of the other surgical specialties.

But middle of the pack when looking at all specialties, most surgeries are also non urgent.

So called typically isn't terrible.

Keep in mind though that if you choose to do microsurgery or handle face trauma, your call obligations can be more taxing.

Number two is orthopedic surgery which focuses on the surgical management of the musculoskeletal system, including the extremities, spine and associated structures.

Orthopedic surgeons have an average annual salary of $511,000 and work an average of 57 hours per week, yielding an average hourly wage of $179 per hour.

Much like plastic surgery.

Orthopedic surgery is consistently in the top three highest paid specialties, right in the mix with plastics and neurosurgery.

Similarly, it is also one of the more competitive specialties to match into.

As your US Emily step one score and one match on bench press, we'll have to exceed 500 which can be a big barrier to entry for prospective applicants.

All jokes aside, it is ranked number four on the MSC competitiveness index, which means more time and effort spent during medical school.

To make yourself a competitive applicant.

Ortho residency is five years, which is standard for most surgical specialties, but longer than many non surgical specialties, longer residency programs do exist which include additional research experience.

Orthopedic surgeons work an average of 57 hours a week, which is in line with many other surgical specialties.

But on the higher end compared to all specialties, on call obligations will vary depending on your choice of subspecialty.

If you choose to sub specialize in trauma, for instance, be prepared for a heavier call schedule.

Number three is dermatology, which focuses on the management of diseases involving the skin, hair and nails.

Dermatologists have an average annual salary of $394,000 per year and working average of 45 hours per week, averaging $175 per hour.

Dermatology is currently ranked number one on the MSC competitiveness index.

As it is known to have a great lifestyle and is the only specialty in the top five that is non surgical.

To become a dermatologist, you will have to complete a one year internship followed by three years of dermatology residency for a total of four years of training after medical school, which puts dermatology in the middle of the pack.

When it comes to length of training, dermatologists work 45 hours per week, which is towards the lower end of all specialties.

Given the outpatient nature, low acuity of medical conditions, limited call and flexible work days, dermatology is known for having a cushy lifestyle relative to other medical specialties.

Number four is cardiology, which focuses on diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

Cardiologists have an average salary of $459,000 per year and work an average of 58 hours a week, yielding an average hourly wage of $158 per hour.

Cardiology is the first specialty on our list that does not have a dedicated residency.

Instead, you must first complete three years of internal medicine residency, followed by three years of cardiology fellowship for a total of six years of training after medical school.

Although it is difficult to compare the competitiveness of cardiology to other specialties on our list due to the fact that it is a fellowship and not a residency, it should be noted that cardiology is one of the most competitive internal medicine fellowships.

To get into cardiologists work an average of 58 hours per week which is towards the higher end when compared to most other non surgical specialties.

This time is split between clinic cath lab performing procedures.

General rounds and research of note.

30 to 40% of emergency admissions are cardiac related.

So there is certainly no shortage of work.

If you're a cardiologist on call responsibilities will vary depending on your sub specialization.

If you choose to sub specialize in interventional cardiology, for instance, you can expect lots of call with long days in the cardiac cath lab.

Number five is Oto rhino larry oncology or ear, nose and throat, which focuses on the surgical management of diseases of the head and neck region, ear, nose and throat.

Doctors or E.

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Have an average salary of $417,000 per year.

And working average of 53 hours per week averaging $157 per hour.

E.

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Is a highly competitive specialty, consistently ranking number five on the MSC competitiveness index right after dermatology, plastic surgery, neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery.

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Residency is five years which is the standard for most surgical specialties but longer than many non surgical specialties.

Longer residency programs do exist which include additional research experience.

E.

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Will work an average of 53 hours per week which is middle of the pack when looking at all specialties work is typically split between surgery and clinic with clinic days generally having regular 9 to 5 hours and so our days being half days or full 12 hour days, depending on complexity of the cases, given the greater proportion of time in the clinic.

Coupled with the fact that E.

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Typically splits face call with plastics and O.

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On call obligations are typically less than other surgical specialties.

This can vary though, depending on the hospital or institution you work for.

Number six is Emergency medicine, which focuses on the treatment of acutely ill patients with urgent healthcare needs.

Emergency medicine physicians have an average salary of $354,000 and working average of 46 hours per week, averaging out to $154 per hour.

In terms of competitiveness.

Emergency medicine is at the lower end of the MSC competitiveness index at number 17.

It is also at the shorter end of residency lengths at just 3 to 4 years of training after medical school emergency medicine physicians will work on average 46 hours per week, which is towards the lower end of all specialties.

They're also unique in that they do shift work, meaning that they clock in and clock out and don't take work home with them.

Which is something you can't say about many medical specialties.

Emergency medicine is not without its downsides though, although many people view shift work as a positive.

It also means that you might end up working irregular hours depending on your shifts.

So a regular circadian rhythm can be hard to come by emergencies.

Don't take days off either.

So it is not uncommon to miss important events or holidays, particularly when training or when you are a freshly minted attending E.

M.

Physicians also experienced some of the highest rates of burnout despite working fewer hours than most other medical specialties, which can be attributed to working on the frontline, consistent high intensity and stress, unpredictability, increasing charting demands and irregular circadian rhythm.

As you can see, even the highest earning specialties are not without their downsides.

This is why money, although important, should not be the only factor when choosing a specialty.

It is much more important to find a specialty that is a good fit and you enjoy doing if you have your eye set on a particular specialty.

But find yourself getting discouraged because it's highly competitive.

Don't fall into the trap.

I've seen many succumb to, I've come across many who wanted to do a different specialty but ultimately decided they weren't competitive enough for the specialty they truly desired.

If you think you're not the smartest and that you're doomed.

Stop right there.

Your ability to crush your M cat us Emily and have dozens of research articles, is less a function of your intelligence and more a function of working smarter at sufficient intensity, having a stellar medical school or residency application.

and crushing the interviews is no different.

Even if you don't consider yourself a natural people person or gifted writer at med School Insiders, our mission is to empower a generation of happier, healthier and more effective future doctors for medical school or residency application.

Help to crushing your cat or us Emily, we've got your back and our results speak for themselves.

We've become the fastest growing company in the space with the highest satisfaction ratings.

See for yourself and learn more at med school Insiders dot com.

Thank you all so much for watching.

If you enjoyed this video, check out the top 10 highest paid doctor specialties or my video going over the best doctor lifestyle specialties.

Much love and I'll see you guys there.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Mm hmm.