With over a million physicians and three million nurses forming its backbone, the U.S. healthcare workforce is a vast and dynamic ecosystem facing unprecedented pressures, from an aging provider population and widespread burnout to looming shortages and a critical push for greater diversity and geographic equity.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, there were 1,047,000 active physicians in the United States, representing a 3.2% increase from 2021.
- Of the 1,047,000 active physicians in 2022, 56.1% were specialists while 43.9% were primary care physicians.
- In 2022, the physician-to-population ratio in the U.S. was 253.4 active physicians per 100,000 population.
- In 2022, there were 3,175,000 registered nurses (RNs) employed in the U.S.
- RN employment grew 6% from 2021 to 2022, adding 175,000 jobs.
- Average RN salary was $81,220 annually in 2022.
- In 2022, pharmacists numbered 330,000 employed in the U.S.
- Pharmacist employment projected to grow 3% by 2032.
- Average pharmacist salary was $132,750 in 2022.
- In 2022, medical secretaries and administrative assistants numbered 589,000.
- Medical transcriptionists totaled 72,000 in 2022.
- Health information technologists grew 8% to 2022.
- Total healthcare employment reached 20.5 million in 2023.
- Healthcare workforce grew 4.2% from 2022-2023.
- Women comprised 78% of healthcare workforce in 2022.
The U.S. healthcare workforce is growing but still faces shortages and burnout issues.
Allied Health Professionals
1In 2022, pharmacists numbered 330,000 employed in the U.S.
Verified2Pharmacist employment projected to grow 3% by 2032.
Verified3Average pharmacist salary was $132,750 in 2022.
Verified4Physical therapists totaled 239,000 in 2022.
Directional5PT employment to grow 15% by 2032, much faster than average.
Single source6Occupational therapists numbered 133,000 in 2022.
Verified7OT projected growth 12% by 2032.
Verified8Speech-language pathologists: 168,000 employed in 2022.
Verified9SLP growth projected at 19% by 2032.
Directional10Respiratory therapists totaled 134,000 in 2022.
Single source11RT employment to grow 13% by 2032.
Verified12Medical laboratory technologists: 255,000 in 2022.
Verified13Lab tech growth 5% projected by 2032.
Verified14Radiologic technologists: 252,000 employed in 2022.
Directional15Rad tech growth 6% by 2032.
Single source16Dental hygienists numbered 208,000 in 2022.
Verified17Dental hygienist growth 7% projected.
Verified18Physician assistants (PAs): 148,000 in 2022.
Verified19PA employment to grow 27% by 2032.
Directional20Dietitians and nutritionists: 73,000 in 2022.
Single source21Dietitian growth 7% by 2032.
Verified22Optometrists totaled 20,000 in 2022.
Verified23EMTs and paramedics: 261,000 employed in 2022.
Verified24EMT growth 7% projected by 2032.
Directional25Medical assistants: 764,000 in 2022.
Single source26Medical assistant growth 14% by 2032.
Verified27Audiologists: 14,000 in 2022.
Verified2875% of PAs female in 2022 workforce.
Verified29Average PA salary $126,010 in 2022.
Directional30Rural allied health shortages affected 20% of counties in 2023.
Single source31Medical records technicians: 226,000 in 2022.
VerifiedAllied Health Professionals Interpretation
While pharmacists stand as the well-compensated, slow-growing sentinels of the pill bottle, a dynamic chorus of therapists, assistants, and technologists—most notably PAs and SLPs—is projected to expand rapidly, hinting at a healthcare system scrambling to treat an aging, rehab-needing population faster than it can fill gaps in underserved rural counties.
Healthcare Support and Administrative Staff
1In 2022, medical secretaries and administrative assistants numbered 589,000.
Verified2Medical transcriptionists totaled 72,000 in 2022.
Verified3Health information technologists grew 8% to 2022.
Verified4Average medical secretary salary $40,330 in 2022.
Directional5Billing and posting clerks in healthcare: 487,000 in 2022.
Single source6Healthcare administrators totaled 576,000 in 2022.
Verified7Medical managers projected growth 28% by 2032.
Verified8Average admin salary $110,680 in 2022.
Verified9Receptionists in healthcare: 1,135,000 in 2022.
Directional10Healthcare support workers total 7 million in 2022.
Single source11Home health aides: 4,155,000 employed in 2022.
Verified12HHA growth projected 22% by 2032.
Verified13Psychiatric aides: 36,000 in 2022.
Verified1460% of healthcare admins had master's degrees in 2022.
Directional15EHR specialists demand up 15% post-2020.
Single source16Administrative costs 25% of U.S. healthcare spending in 2022.
Verified17Healthcare office clerks: 3 million in 2022.
Verified18Compliance officers in healthcare grew 10% to 2022.
Verified1945% female admins over 50 in 2022.
Directional20Rural admin shortages 18% vacancy rate 2023.
Single source21IT support in healthcare: 250,000 roles in 2022.
Verified22Revenue cycle managers average $120,000 salary 2023.
Verified23Patient access reps: 500,000+ in hospitals 2022.
VerifiedHealthcare Support and Administrative Staff Interpretation
While the armies of clinical staff wage war on disease, an even larger and faster-growing legion of clerks, coders, and administrators marches behind them, ensuring that every skirmish is properly documented, billed, and compliant, which explains why a quarter of every healthcare dollar is spent just managing the battlefield.
Overall Demographics, Trends, and Projections
1Total healthcare employment reached 20.5 million in 2023.
Verified2Healthcare workforce grew 4.2% from 2022-2023.
Verified3Women comprised 78% of healthcare workforce in 2022.
Verified4Average age of healthcare workers 44.5 years in 2022.
Directional5Racial minorities 42% of workforce in 2022.
Single source6Projected healthcare job growth 1.8 million by 2032.
Verified7Overall shortage projected 3.2 million workers by 2026.
Verified8Rural workforce 15% of total, serving 20% population 2023.
Verified9Burnout rates 47% across workforce in 2023.
Directional10COVID accelerated retirement by 10% in 2021-2022.
Single source11Immigrants 18% of healthcare workforce in 2022.
Verified12Turnover rates averaged 20% industry-wide 2023.
Verified13Telehealth roles grew 38% since 2020.
Verified14Diversity initiatives: 25% increase in minority hires 2022.
Directional15Wage growth 5.2% in healthcare 2023.
Single source1665+ workers 14% of workforce, highest ever.
Verified17HPSA designations cover 80 million Americans 2023.
Verified18Training programs expanded 15% post-pandemic.
Verified19Mental health workforce gap 30% in 2023.
Directional20Automation projected to displace 10% admin jobs by 2030.
Single source21Gig economy workers 12% of total in 2023.
Verified22Unionization rates 12% in healthcare 2023.
Verified23Pandemic hiring boom added 2 million jobs 2020-2022.
VerifiedOverall Demographics, Trends, and Projections Interpretation
While the healthcare workforce grows larger and more diverse on paper, it is simultaneously aging, burning out, and struggling to close a daunting shortage, meaning we're meticulously building a more inclusive Titanic just as the iceberg of demographic demand comes into view.
Physicians and Surgeons
1In 2022, there were 1,047,000 active physicians in the United States, representing a 3.2% increase from 2021.
Verified2Of the 1,047,000 active physicians in 2022, 56.1% were specialists while 43.9% were primary care physicians.
Verified3In 2022, the physician-to-population ratio in the U.S. was 253.4 active physicians per 100,000 population.
Verified4Female physicians accounted for 38.1% of the active physician workforce in 2022, up from 36.2% in 2019.
Directional5In 2022, 18.9% of active physicians were over the age of 65, indicating potential retirement pressures.
Single source6International medical graduates (IMGs) comprised 25.2% of the active physician workforce in 2022.
Verified7The number of active surgeons in the U.S. reached 152,000 in 2022, with a focus on general surgery at 28,000.
Verified8Pediatricians numbered 62,000 active in 2022, making up 5.9% of the total physician workforce.
Verified9In primary care, family medicine physicians totaled 131,000 in 2022, the largest subgroup.
Directional10Psychiatrists numbered 44,000 active in 2022, reflecting mental health demands.
Single source11Emergency medicine physicians stood at 47,000 in 2022, up 4.1% from prior year.
Verified12Anesthesiologists totaled 44,000 in 2022, critical for surgical procedures.
Verified13Radiologists numbered 45,000 active in 2022, with increasing imaging demands.
Verified14Obstetrician-gynecologists reached 40,000 in 2022, serving women's health needs.
Directional15In 2023, the U.S. had approximately 227,000 orthopedic surgeons and specialists combined.
Single source16Cardiologists numbered 35,000 active in 2022, addressing cardiovascular diseases.
Verified17Neurologists totaled 18,000 in 2022, with shortages in neurological care.
Verified18Dermatologists stood at 13,000 active physicians in 2022.
Verified19Pathologists numbered 15,000 in 2022, essential for diagnostics.
Directional20Urologists totaled 12,000 active in 2022.
Single source21In 2022, 67% of active physicians were in patient care, with 12% in medical teaching.
Verified22Urban areas had 80% of physicians in 2022, rural only 10%.
Verified23Physician burnout affected 62% in 2022 surveys.
Verified24Average physician salary in 2023 was $352,000, varying by specialty.
Directional252024 projections show 86,000 physician shortage by 2036.
Single source26Residency positions filled 92.4% by U.S. MDs in 2023.
Verified27DO physicians grew to 8% of workforce in 2022.
Verified28Hispanic physicians were 6.9% of total in 2022.
Verified29Black physicians comprised 5.0% in 2022.
Directional30Asian physicians made up 17.6% of active workforce in 2022.
Single sourcePhysicians and Surgeons Interpretation
The U.S. healthcare workforce is simultaneously greying, straining, and diversifying, growing just enough for us to nervously watch the physician shortage clock tick down toward 2036.
Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Nurses
1In 2022, there were 3,175,000 registered nurses (RNs) employed in the U.S.
Verified2RN employment grew 6% from 2021 to 2022, adding 175,000 jobs.
Verified3Average RN salary was $81,220 annually in 2022.
Verified487% of RNs were female in 2022 workforce data.
Directional5RNs aged 50+ comprised 40% of workforce in 2022.
Single source6Nurse practitioners (NPs) numbered 355,000 in 2023.
Verified7NPs grew 9.1% from 2022 to 2023.
Verified888.8% of NPs had graduate education in 2023.
Verified9Primary care NPs were 70.2% of total NPs in 2023.
Directional10Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) totaled 657,000 in 2022.
Single source11LPN employment projected to grow 5% by 2032.
Verified12Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) numbered 45,000 in 2023.
Verified13CRNAs provided 50 million anesthetics annually.
Verified14Clinical nurse specialists (CNS) estimated at 90,000 in 2022.
Directional15RN vacancy rates averaged 12% in hospitals in 2023.
Single source16Travel nurses filled 20% of RN positions in 2022.
Verified17BSN-prepared RNs were 56% of workforce in 2022.
Verified18RN turnover rate was 27.2% in 2023.
Verified19Hispanic RNs were 11.4% of workforce in 2022.
Directional20Black RNs comprised 9.1% in 2022.
Single source21Male RNs increased to 13% in 2022.
Verified22Projected RN shortage of 193,100 by 2030.
Verified23Rural RNs had 15% higher vacancy rates than urban in 2023.
Verified24NPs in full practice authority states: 27 states + DC in 2023.
Directional25Average NP salary was $124,680 in 2022.
Single source26RNs in ambulatory settings: 25% of total employment in 2022.
Verified27Hospital RNs: 59% of RN workforce in 2022.
Verified28Home health RNs grew 15% from 2019-2022.
Verified29Nursing assistants totaled 1,418,000 in 2022.
DirectionalRegistered Nurses and Advanced Practice Nurses Interpretation
The American healthcare system is a vast and rapidly expanding engine powered predominantly by women, but one that is aging, hemorrhaging staff at an alarming clip, and increasingly reliant on stopgap measures and advanced practitioners just to keep pace with a looming and geographically uneven crisis.
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