From six-figure mortgages to medical school loans they’re still paying off years into their careers, physicians carry a surprisingly heavy financial load, even as most say they feel confident in how they’re managing it, according to Medscape’s 2026 “Physician Wealth and Debt Report.”
How confident are physicians in their financial management?
Nearly two-thirds of physicians feel their family finances are managed well or very well. Only 8% rate their financial management as poor or very poor.
| Rating | Share |
| Very well | 23% |
| Well | 41% |
| Neutral | 29% |
| Poorly | 7% |
| Very poorly | 1% |
What are physicians paying for?
The mortgage on a primary home is the dominant expense, with nearly 6 in 10 physicians carrying one. Beyond that, car loans, credit card debt and student loans round out the most common financial obligations.
| Expense/debt | Share |
| Mortgage – primary residence | 59% |
| Car loan | 30% |
| Credit card debt | 28% |
| College or medical school loans | 22% |
| Medical expenses (self or family) | 18% |
| College tuition for children | 17% |
| Mortgage – second home | 14% |
| Car lease | 13% |
| Childcare | 12% |
| Private school tuition for children | 12% |
| Spouse/partner’s school loans | 9% |
| Business loan | 7% |
| Graduate school tuition for children | 6% |
| Alimony | 2% |
| Other | 4% |
| None of the above | 13% |
Where did physicians lose money in 2025?
Sixty-nine percent of physicians experienced no financial losses in the past year. Among those who did, practice-related issues and bad investments were the most common culprits, each cited by 10%.
| Source of loss | Share |
| Practice issues (business problems, reimbursement changes) | 10% |
| Bad investments or stock market losses | 10% |
| Real estate losses | 5% |
| Job loss (self or spouse/partner) | 5% |
| Legal fees or lawsuit | 3% |
| Divorce | 3% |
| Other | 4% |
| No financial losses in past year | 69% |
How big are physicians’ mortgages
Nearly a third of physicians have no mortgage or have fully paid it off. Among those who do carry a mortgage, balances are spread fairly evenly across ranges, with the largest single group (21%) owing $500,000 or more.
| Mortgage balance | Share |
| $100,000 or less | 16% |
| $100,001 – $200,000 | 7% |
| $200,001 – $300,000 | 10% |
| $300,001 – $400,000 | 9% |
| $400,001 – $500,000 | 8% |
| $500,001 or more | 21% |
| No mortgage / fully paid off | 31% |
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