Post job

Attending physician vs hospitalist

The differences between attending physicians and hospitalists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an attending physician and a hospitalist. Additionally, a hospitalist has an average salary of $214,817, which is higher than the $200,702 average annual salary of an attending physician.

The top three skills for an attending physician include patients, primary care and surgery. The most important skills for a hospitalist are patients, EMR, and acls.

Attending physician vs hospitalist overview

Attending PhysicianHospitalist
Yearly salary$200,702$214,817
Hourly rate$96.49$103.28
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs53,19529,544
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 33%Doctoral Degree, 31%
Average age4848
Years of experience44

What does an attending physician do?

An Attending Physician typically supervises fellows, residents, medical students, and other practitioners. They are responsible for supervising each patient every day, reviewing treatment plans with residents, and supervising patient management documents.

What does a hospitalist do?

A hospitalist, also known as a physician, is primarily responsible for diagnosing and treating patients' ailments or injuries, providing optimal care and service. They assess a patient's condition by running tests, interviews, and examinations, providing consultations, prescribing or administering medicines, coordinating with other health experts, and following up on patients' cases. A hospitalist may also study and update a patient's medical records, discuss conditions to patients and families, and implement the medical health and safety policies and regulations within the hospital.

Attending physician vs hospitalist salary

Attending physicians and hospitalists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Attending PhysicianHospitalist
Average salary$200,702$214,817
Salary rangeBetween $125,000 And $321,000Between $140,000 And $329,000
Highest paying CityMiami, FLEau Claire, WI
Highest paying stateNew JerseyAlaska
Best paying companyCommunity Health SystemsTrinity Health
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between attending physician and hospitalist education

There are a few differences between an attending physician and a hospitalist in terms of educational background:

Attending PhysicianHospitalist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 33%Doctoral Degree, 31%
Most common majorMedicineMedicine
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborDuke University

Attending physician vs hospitalist demographics

Here are the differences between attending physicians' and hospitalists' demographics:

Attending PhysicianHospitalist
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 36.5% Female, 63.5%Male, 44.5% Female, 55.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 19.1% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 18.1% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage13%10%

Differences between attending physician and hospitalist duties and responsibilities

Attending physician example responsibilities.

  • Manage neurological cancer research protocols: collected/organize data, assure compliance with protocol guidelines, manage study database and enroll patients.
  • Prepare patients for ultrasound guide injections and aspirations which includes draping patients, prepping medications and preparing sterile instruments.
  • Manage neurological cancer research protocols: collected/organize data, assure compliance with protocol guidelines, manage study database and enroll patients.
  • Monitor and manage patient medical records in compliance with HIPPA.

Hospitalist example responsibilities.

  • Manage acute and chronic illnesses including cardiac, respiratory, GI, infectious and skin issues.
  • Provide acute care to infants, children and adolescents admit to the hospital, nursery and emergency room.
  • Work with full EMR system.
  • Calculate medications and TPN dosages.
  • Review and process NICU TPN orders
  • Place all nocturnal arterial lines for ICU.
  • Show more

Attending physician vs hospitalist skills

Common attending physician skills
  • Patients, 35%
  • Primary Care, 8%
  • Surgery, 5%
  • Internal Medicine, 5%
  • BLS, 4%
  • Rehabilitation, 3%
Common hospitalist skills
  • Patients, 44%
  • EMR, 13%
  • Acls, 6%
  • Epic, 6%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%
  • Critical Care, 4%

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs