Post job

Attending physician vs medical doctor

The differences between attending physicians and medical doctors 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 medical doctor. Additionally, an attending physician has an average salary of $200,702, which is higher than the $181,967 average annual salary of a medical doctor.

The top three skills for an attending physician include patients, primary care and surgery. The most important skills for a medical doctor are patients, patient care, and internal medicine.

Attending physician vs medical doctor overview

Attending PhysicianMedical Doctor
Yearly salary$200,702$181,967
Hourly rate$96.49$87.48
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs53,19560,642
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 33%Doctoral Degree, 56%
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 medical doctor do?

A Medical Doctor, also known as a physician, is a healthcare professional who diagnoses and treats patients from injuries and illnesses. As a Medical Doctor, your day-to-day duties will typically include assessing a patient's symptoms, prescribing and administering treatment to patients, and providing follow-up medical care to patients. You will be responsible for interpreting patients' laboratory results and referring them to other providers when needed. Also, you will need to work closely with other healthcare professionals and promote health education.

Attending physician vs medical doctor salary

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

Attending PhysicianMedical Doctor
Average salary$200,702$181,967
Salary rangeBetween $125,000 And $321,000Between $95,000 And $347,000
Highest paying CityMiami, FLBrownsville, TX
Highest paying stateNew JerseyNew Jersey
Best paying companyCommunity Health SystemsPacific Medical Centers
Best paying industryHealth CareTransportation

Differences between attending physician and medical doctor education

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

Attending PhysicianMedical Doctor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 33%Doctoral Degree, 56%
Most common majorMedicineMedicine
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborDuke University

Attending physician vs medical doctor demographics

Here are the differences between attending physicians' and medical doctors' demographics:

Attending PhysicianMedical Doctor
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 36.5% Female, 63.5%Male, 46.9% Female, 53.1%
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, 5.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 19.0% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between attending physician and medical doctor 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.

Medical doctor example responsibilities.

  • Partner with team to achieve overall well-being patients and contribute to successful department research accreditation.
  • Perform selection and interpretation of labs including EKG readings, diagnostic imaging, blood work, and urinalyses.
  • Batch to clearing house, upload files from insurance, data entry answer phones, collect payments over phone, EMR.
  • Examine patients, order laboratory test and other diagnostic procedures and follow up with acute and chronic diseases
  • Provide overall quality prenatal health care, gynecological services, patient triage, refer patients with complications, provide patient education service
  • Perform and interpret ECG test.
  • Show more

Attending physician vs medical doctor skills

Common attending physician skills
  • Patients, 35%
  • Primary Care, 8%
  • Surgery, 5%
  • Internal Medicine, 5%
  • BLS, 4%
  • Rehabilitation, 3%
Common medical doctor skills
  • Patients, 30%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Internal Medicine, 7%
  • Primary Care, 7%
  • Diagnosis, 4%
  • Medical History, 4%

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs