NY Medical Resident Exit Survey Shows Strong Job Market for New Physicians
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For New York physicians navigating a demanding healthcare landscape, understanding the state’s physician workforce trends is essential to planning for patient needs, practice stability, and the future of care delivery. The 2024 New York Resident Exit Survey offers an in-depth look at how newly trained physicians are entering the workforce, revealing both encouraging progress and challenges that continue to affect everyday practice.
This year’s data shows a strong job market for new physicians, with particularly high demand in anesthesiology, hematology/oncology, adult psychiatry, gastroenterology, dermatology, and endocrinology. These trends reflect what many New York physicians experience firsthand: rising patient need, growing care complexity, and staffing shortages across multiple settings.
Importantly, in-state physician retention has reached 52%, the highest level in ten years. Many physicians cite family proximity and improved job opportunities as key reasons for staying in New York. At the same time, nearly half of new graduates still leave the state, often due to salary differences, the cost of living, or the lack of positions in certain specialties. For practicing physicians already facing access pressures, these patterns continue to shape appointment availability, referral pathways, and continuity of care.
The report also highlights ongoing geographic and equity challenges. Only 4% of new physicians plan to practice in rural areas, and just 16% expect to work in federal HPSAs, despite significant patient need. Meanwhile, the percentage of physicians identifying as underrepresented in medicine remains at 15%, unchanged for a decade and far below the state population. Such gaps have direct implications for access, cultural competence, and long-term workforce stability.
Gender-based disparities persist as well. Between 2022–2024, new female physicians reported an average expected starting income $62,350, lower than that of male physicians, a difference present in 20 of 25 specialties. This inequity reinforces the financial pressures already felt by many New York physicians, who are navigating high practice costs and administrative burdens.
MSSNY continues to advocate for policies that strengthen workforce diversity, expand support for underserved communities, and ensure fair compensation and opportunity for all physicians. Together, we can build a stronger, more equitable healthcare system for every New York patient and every New York physician.
2024 New York Residency Training Outcomes: Exploring the Results of the New York Resident Exit Survey (Center for Health Workforce Studies, 8/25).
