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Best Work-Life Balance Specialties
Medical specialties ranked by work-life balance and hours worked
Verified Physician Data|Updated January 2026|1,000+ Responses
📋 Key Takeaways
- •#1 Specialty: Orthodontist (32 hrs/week avg)
- •Data Source: Based on 1,000 verified physician responses to SalaryDr.
- •Minimum Sample: Only specialties with 5+ responses included for statistical reliability.
| Rank | Specialty | Avg Hours/Week | Responses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orthodontist | 32 hrs | 8 | View → |
| 2 | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | 35 hrs | 6 | View → |
| 3 | Emergency Medicine | 37 hrs | 53 | View → |
| 4 | General Dentist | 38 hrs | 49 | View → |
| 5 | Radiation Oncology | 39 hrs | 6 | View → |
| 6 | Dermatology | 39 hrs | 17 | View → |
| 7 | Endocrinology | 41 hrs | 19 | View → |
| 8 | Psychiatry | 41 hrs | 15 | View → |
| 9 | Addiction Medicine | 41 hrs | 5 | View → |
| 10 | Allergy & Immunology | 41 hrs | 7 | View → |
| 11 | Medical Genetics | 42 hrs | 6 | View → |
| 12 | Family Medicine | 43 hrs | 42 | View → |
| 13 | Ophthalmology | 43 hrs | 34 | View → |
| 14 | Rheumatology | 43 hrs | 9 | View → |
| 15 | Infectious Disease | 44 hrs | 18 | View → |
| 16 | Hematology/Oncology | 45 hrs | 17 | View → |
| 17 | Radiology | 45 hrs | 16 | View → |
| 18 | Pediatrics | 46 hrs | 125 | View → |
| 19 | Neurology | 46 hrs | 15 | View → |
| 20 | Pathology | 46 hrs | 9 | View → |
| 21 | Oncology | 46 hrs | 5 | View → |
| 22 | Internal Medicine | 47 hrs | 33 | View → |
| 23 | Pain Management | 47 hrs | 5 | View → |
| 24 | Gastroenterology | 49 hrs | 27 | View → |
| 25 | Neonatology | 49 hrs | 9 | View → |
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this ranking calculated?
Rankings are based on aggregated data from verified physician responses submitted to SalaryDr. We only include specialties with at least 5 responses to ensure statistical reliability. Hours reflect self-reported average weekly hours including clinical and administrative time.
How often is this data updated?
Our database is continuously updated as new physician responses are submitted and verified. This page reflects the latest available data as of January 20, 2026.