Thoracic Surgery Work-Life Balance: What Doctors Actually Say

Based on 35 verified physician responses, Thoracic Surgery has a 4.1/10 average career satisfaction rating.97% of Thoracic Surgery physicians say they would choose the specialty again if starting their career over. The average Thoracic Surgery physician works 69 hours per week.

Thoracic Surgery physicians commonly report loving: building meaningful patient relationships, intellectual stimulation and diagnostic challenges, clinical variety, the ability to make a tangible difference in patient outcomes, and procedural diversity. Many also appreciate the collegial environment and opportunities for subspecialization.

Based on SalaryDr data, Thoracic Surgery physicians work an average of 69 hours per week. This varies by practice setting—academic and hospital-employed positions often require more hours than private practice.

The most commonly cited challenges from Thoracic Surgery physicians include: administrative burden and documentation requirements, call schedules impacting personal time, work-life balance pressures (especially early in career), and compensation concerns relative to training length. Some also mention challenging patient populations or high-acuity cases as sources of stress.

97% of Thoracic Surgery physicians surveyed say they would choose Thoracic Surgeryagain if starting their career over. This data is based on 35 verified, anonymous physician responses collected by SalaryDr.