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Best Work-Life Balance Specialties
Medical specialties ranked by work-life balance and hours worked
Physician-Reported Data|Updated November 2026|4,400+ Responses
📋 Key Takeaways
- •#1 Specialty: Interventional Pain Management (40 hrs/week avg)
- •Data Source: Based on 4,400+ approved physician reports on SalaryDr.
- •Minimum Sample: Only specialties with 5+ responses included for statistical reliability.
| Rank | Specialty | Avg Hours/Week | Responses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interventional Pain Management | 40 hrs | 6 | View → |
| 2 | Dermatology | 41 hrs | 95 | View → |
| 3 | Addiction Medicine | 41 hrs | 17 | View → |
| 4 | Allergy/Immunology | 41 hrs | 45 | View → |
| 5 | Geriatrics | 42 hrs | 19 | View → |
| 6 | Endocrinology | 42 hrs | 64 | View → |
| 7 | Preventive Medicine | 42 hrs | 22 | View → |
| 8 | Occupational Medicine | 42 hrs | 28 | View → |
| 9 | Medical Genetics | 42 hrs | 17 | View → |
| 10 | Clinical Informatics | 42 hrs | 12 | View → |
| 11 | Sleep Medicine | 42 hrs | 14 | View → |
| 12 | Psychiatry | 43 hrs | 151 | View → |
| 13 | Emergency Medicine | 43 hrs | 192 | View → |
| 14 | Palliative Care | 43 hrs | 16 | View → |
| 15 | Infectious Disease | 44 hrs | 79 | View → |
| 16 | Rheumatology | 44 hrs | 63 | View → |
| 17 | Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation | 45 hrs | 48 | View → |
| 18 | Pathology | 45 hrs | 68 | View → |
| 19 | Child Neurology | 45 hrs | 23 | View → |
| 20 | Pain Management | 46 hrs | 29 | View → |
| 21 | Sports Medicine | 46 hrs | 15 | View → |
| 22 | Pediatrics | 47 hrs | 309 | View → |
| 23 | Ophthalmology | 47 hrs | 125 | View → |
| 24 | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | 47 hrs | 38 | View → |
| 25 | Family Medicine | 48 hrs | 239 | View → |
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this ranking calculated?
Rankings are based on aggregated data from approved physician reports 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 approved. This page reflects the latest available data as of November 9, 2026.