Three out of four physicians say they would accept lower pay in exchange for greater autonomy or work-life balance, a preference that has remained remarkably consistent over the past four years, according to a Doximity poll of nearly 1,000 physicians conducted in July 2026.
The share of physicians willing to trade compensation for autonomy or work-life balance has held steady at 71% in 2023, 75% in 2024, 77% in 2025 and 76% in 2026. The preference is significantly stronger among women physicians at 86% compared with 71% of men, which has slightly widened compared to the prior year.
Here’s a breakdown of physicians who have accepted, or would accept, lower compensation for more autonomy or work-life balance:
| 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
| All physicians | 71% | 75% | 77% |
| Women physicians | 80% | 81% | 85% |
| Men physicians | 66% | 72% | 74% |
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