The physician shortage continues to affect patient access, care quality and workforce burnout, according to Doximity’s “2026 Physician Compensation Report.”
The report, based on a survey of physicians alongside workforce projections from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, quantifies how the shortage is showing up in daily practice.
Doximity collected nearly 23,000 physician compensation surveys throughout 2025, with the surveys completed by full-time U.S. physicians who work at least 40 hours per week. The report was published Aug. 25, 2026.
Here are 10 stats on the physician shortage to know from the report:
- The HRSA projects a shortage of 141,160 full-time equivalent physicians by 2038, affecting 30 of the 35 medical specialties it examined.
- More than 80% of physicians said the shortage has already affected their clinical practice.
- More than three-quarters of physicians said the shortage and related systemic pressures have compromised care quality over the past 12 months.
- Longer patient wait times are among the most visible effects of the shortage, as cited by 71% of physicians.
- More than half of physicians reported increased patient frustration or anger tied to the shortage.
- The share of physicians calling the shortage’s impact “severe” has declined for two straight years, falling to 18% this year in this year’s report from 21% in 2025 and 30% in 2024.
- Overwork and burnout linked to the shortage followed the same downward trend, dropping to 52% this year 63% in 2025 and 67% in 2024.
- Nearly half of physicians feel overworked and are considering early retirement.
- Despite the challenges caused by the shortage, 55% of physicians said they would still pursue a career in their same specialty if they could go back.
- Internal medicine, family medicine and psychiatry are the three most in-demand physician specialties.
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