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
- 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.
- Physical therapists totaled 239,000 in 2022.
- PT employment to grow 15% by 2032, much faster than average.
- Occupational therapists numbered 133,000 in 2022.
- OT projected growth 12% by 2032.
- Speech-language pathologists: 168,000 employed in 2022.
- SLP growth projected at 19% by 2032.
- Respiratory therapists totaled 134,000 in 2022.
- RT employment to grow 13% by 2032.
- Medical laboratory technologists: 255,000 in 2022.
- Lab tech growth 5% projected by 2032.
- Radiologic technologists: 252,000 employed in 2022.
- Rad tech growth 6% by 2032.
- Dental hygienists numbered 208,000 in 2022.
- Dental hygienist growth 7% projected.
- Physician assistants (PAs): 148,000 in 2022.
- PA employment to grow 27% by 2032.
- Dietitians and nutritionists: 73,000 in 2022.
- Dietitian growth 7% by 2032.
- Optometrists totaled 20,000 in 2022.
- EMTs and paramedics: 261,000 employed in 2022.
- EMT growth 7% projected by 2032.
- Medical assistants: 764,000 in 2022.
- Medical assistant growth 14% by 2032.
- Audiologists: 14,000 in 2022.
- 75% of PAs female in 2022 workforce.
- Average PA salary $126,010 in 2022.
- Rural allied health shortages affected 20% of counties in 2023.
- Medical records technicians: 226,000 in 2022.
Allied 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
- In 2022, medical secretaries and administrative assistants numbered 589,000.
- Medical transcriptionists totaled 72,000 in 2022.
- Health information technologists grew 8% to 2022.
- Average medical secretary salary $40,330 in 2022.
- Billing and posting clerks in healthcare: 487,000 in 2022.
- Healthcare administrators totaled 576,000 in 2022.
- Medical managers projected growth 28% by 2032.
- Average admin salary $110,680 in 2022.
- Receptionists in healthcare: 1,135,000 in 2022.
- Healthcare support workers total 7 million in 2022.
- Home health aides: 4,155,000 employed in 2022.
- HHA growth projected 22% by 2032.
- Psychiatric aides: 36,000 in 2022.
- 60% of healthcare admins had master's degrees in 2022.
- EHR specialists demand up 15% post-2020.
- Administrative costs 25% of U.S. healthcare spending in 2022.
- Healthcare office clerks: 3 million in 2022.
- Compliance officers in healthcare grew 10% to 2022.
- 45% female admins over 50 in 2022.
- Rural admin shortages 18% vacancy rate 2023.
- IT support in healthcare: 250,000 roles in 2022.
- Revenue cycle managers average $120,000 salary 2023.
- Patient access reps: 500,000+ in hospitals 2022.
Healthcare 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
- 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.
- Average age of healthcare workers 44.5 years in 2022.
- Racial minorities 42% of workforce in 2022.
- Projected healthcare job growth 1.8 million by 2032.
- Overall shortage projected 3.2 million workers by 2026.
- Rural workforce 15% of total, serving 20% population 2023.
- Burnout rates 47% across workforce in 2023.
- COVID accelerated retirement by 10% in 2021-2022.
- Immigrants 18% of healthcare workforce in 2022.
- Turnover rates averaged 20% industry-wide 2023.
- Telehealth roles grew 38% since 2020.
- Diversity initiatives: 25% increase in minority hires 2022.
- Wage growth 5.2% in healthcare 2023.
- 65+ workers 14% of workforce, highest ever.
- HPSA designations cover 80 million Americans 2023.
- Training programs expanded 15% post-pandemic.
- Mental health workforce gap 30% in 2023.
- Automation projected to displace 10% admin jobs by 2030.
- Gig economy workers 12% of total in 2023.
- Unionization rates 12% in healthcare 2023.
- Pandemic hiring boom added 2 million jobs 2020-2022.
Overall 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
- 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.
- Female physicians accounted for 38.1% of the active physician workforce in 2022, up from 36.2% in 2019.
- In 2022, 18.9% of active physicians were over the age of 65, indicating potential retirement pressures.
- International medical graduates (IMGs) comprised 25.2% of the active physician workforce in 2022.
- The number of active surgeons in the U.S. reached 152,000 in 2022, with a focus on general surgery at 28,000.
- Pediatricians numbered 62,000 active in 2022, making up 5.9% of the total physician workforce.
- In primary care, family medicine physicians totaled 131,000 in 2022, the largest subgroup.
- Psychiatrists numbered 44,000 active in 2022, reflecting mental health demands.
- Emergency medicine physicians stood at 47,000 in 2022, up 4.1% from prior year.
- Anesthesiologists totaled 44,000 in 2022, critical for surgical procedures.
- Radiologists numbered 45,000 active in 2022, with increasing imaging demands.
- Obstetrician-gynecologists reached 40,000 in 2022, serving women's health needs.
- In 2023, the U.S. had approximately 227,000 orthopedic surgeons and specialists combined.
- Cardiologists numbered 35,000 active in 2022, addressing cardiovascular diseases.
- Neurologists totaled 18,000 in 2022, with shortages in neurological care.
- Dermatologists stood at 13,000 active physicians in 2022.
- Pathologists numbered 15,000 in 2022, essential for diagnostics.
- Urologists totaled 12,000 active in 2022.
- In 2022, 67% of active physicians were in patient care, with 12% in medical teaching.
- Urban areas had 80% of physicians in 2022, rural only 10%.
- Physician burnout affected 62% in 2022 surveys.
- Average physician salary in 2023 was $352,000, varying by specialty.
- 2024 projections show 86,000 physician shortage by 2036.
- Residency positions filled 92.4% by U.S. MDs in 2023.
- DO physicians grew to 8% of workforce in 2022.
- Hispanic physicians were 6.9% of total in 2022.
- Black physicians comprised 5.0% in 2022.
- Asian physicians made up 17.6% of active workforce in 2022.
Physicians 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
- 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.
- 87% of RNs were female in 2022 workforce data.
- RNs aged 50+ comprised 40% of workforce in 2022.
- Nurse practitioners (NPs) numbered 355,000 in 2023.
- NPs grew 9.1% from 2022 to 2023.
- 88.8% of NPs had graduate education in 2023.
- Primary care NPs were 70.2% of total NPs in 2023.
- Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) totaled 657,000 in 2022.
- LPN employment projected to grow 5% by 2032.
- Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) numbered 45,000 in 2023.
- CRNAs provided 50 million anesthetics annually.
- Clinical nurse specialists (CNS) estimated at 90,000 in 2022.
- RN vacancy rates averaged 12% in hospitals in 2023.
- Travel nurses filled 20% of RN positions in 2022.
- BSN-prepared RNs were 56% of workforce in 2022.
- RN turnover rate was 27.2% in 2023.
- Hispanic RNs were 11.4% of workforce in 2022.
- Black RNs comprised 9.1% in 2022.
- Male RNs increased to 13% in 2022.
- Projected RN shortage of 193,100 by 2030.
- Rural RNs had 15% higher vacancy rates than urban in 2023.
- NPs in full practice authority states: 27 states + DC in 2023.
- Average NP salary was $124,680 in 2022.
- RNs in ambulatory settings: 25% of total employment in 2022.
- Hospital RNs: 59% of RN workforce in 2022.
- Home health RNs grew 15% from 2019-2022.
- Nursing assistants totaled 1,418,000 in 2022.
Registered 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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