
The United States has over 6,000 hospitals, with more than 6.6 million hospital employees as of September 2019. There is a national ratio of 50 people per hospital employee. While the number of hospital residents in the US is unclear, the average age of medical residents is 40+ years, with 52.8% being female. The most common degree for medical residents is a doctoral degree, with 35% of medical residents earning that degree.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of hospitals in the US | 6,093 (2025) to 6,129 (2023) |
| Number of hospital employees in the US | 6.6 million (2019) |
| Average age of hospital residents | 40+ years (53%) |
| Average tenure of hospital residents | 1-2 years |
| Most common degree for hospital residents | Doctoral degree (35%) |
| Most common industries for hospital residents | Healthcare, education, and manufacturing |
| Most common ethnicity among hospital residents | White (45.9%) |
| Percentage of female hospital residents | 52.8% |
| Percentage of hospital residents identifying as Black or African American | 22.7% |
| Percentage of hospital residents identifying as Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin | 16.5% |
| Percentage of hospital residents with Spanish as a foreign language | 39.1%% |
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What You'll Learn

There are over 6,000 hospitals in the US
There are over 6,000 hospitals in the United States, according to the American Hospital Association. The exact number varies across sources, with some stating there are 6,093 hospitals, while others claim the number is 6,129. These hospitals provide essential services to millions of people across the country.
The number of hospitals in the US has grown significantly since the opening of the first public hospital, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue (formerly Bellevue Hospital Center), in 1736. The large number of hospitals in the country today can be attributed to several factors, including growing populations, competition, industry consolidation, and service specialization.
The US has a mix of different types of hospitals, including non-profit, government-owned, and for-profit hospitals. More than half of the hospitals in the US are non-profit organizations, with around 20% being government-owned or operated, and approximately 18% being for-profit. Additionally, there are various specialty hospitals, such as academic medical centers, children's hospitals, and rehabilitation hospitals.
The size of hospitals in the US varies significantly. While some hospitals have thousands of beds, such as the Parkland Health & Hospital System in Dallas, Texas, which has 1,495 staffed beds, others have a much smaller capacity. For example, the Mineral Community Hospital in Superior, Montana, has only 4 staffed beds.
The distribution of hospitals also varies across states, with some states having a higher ratio of hospitals to people. New Jersey, for instance, had the highest ratio in 2019, with 49,073 people per hospital. Other states with high ratios included New York, Oregon, and Rhode Island.
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52.8% of medical residents are female
Women now account for 49.1% of all medical residents in the US, according to a 2025 AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) report. This figure has risen from 48.3% in 2022-2023. The number of female medical residents in the US has been steadily increasing, with more women than men enrolling in US medical schools. This is a positive trend, according to the AAMC, as the US faces a projected physician shortage of up to 122,000 by 2032.
Women are the majority in several medical specialties, including family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and psychiatry. In OBGYN, 57% of residents are women, and in internal medicine/pediatrics, 52.8% are female. Other specialties with high female representation include dermatology (48.9%), family medicine (40%), and psychiatry (39.1%).
In contrast, orthopedic surgery is the most male-dominated specialty, with 94.7% of residents being men. Other specialties with high male representation include plastic surgery (84.8%), neurosurgery (83.3%), diagnostic radiology (78.6%), and ophthalmology (72.4%).
The AAMC report also highlights that the number of medical students in the US increased by about 5,000 during the 2023-2024 academic year. This growth in medical student numbers is a positive sign, as it helps to address the projected physician shortage. However, the report also emphasizes the need for more federally funded residency training positions to meet the healthcare needs of America's growing and aging population.
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The average age of residents is 40+
According to Zippia, the average age of medical residents in the US is 40+, representing 53% of the medical resident population. This is surprising, given that the mean age of a surgical PGY-1 resident in the 2020-2021 academic year was 29.4 years old. It is possible that the average age of 40+ is influenced by medical residents who started their residencies later in life, after working in another field.
The average medical resident salary is $58,409 for white medical residents, while Asian medical residents have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Medical residents with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $60,845 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, residents earn a median annual income of $59,823 compared to $58,873 for those with an Associate degree. The unemployment rate for medical residents has varied over the years, and the average resident stays at their job for 1-2 years.
The most common foreign language among medical residents is Spanish, at 39.1%, followed by French and Arabic, both at 13.0%. Medical residents earn the most in Maine, where the average medical resident salary is $65,889.
There are over 6,000 hospitals in the United States, with more than half being non-profit organisations. Around 20% are government-owned or operated, and for-profit hospitals make up approximately 18%. The remaining hospitals include academic medical centres and specialty hospitals.
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Residents work across industries like healthcare, education
Residents of the United States benefit from a vast network of hospitals and healthcare providers. In 2023, there were 6,129 hospitals in the country, with more than 50% of these being non-profit organisations. Around 20% of hospitals are government-owned or operated, and the remaining fall under categories such as academic medical centres and specialty hospitals. The number of hospitals varies across states, with New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Rhode Island having the highest number of hospitals per capita.
Healthcare is a rapidly growing industry, with overall employment in healthcare occupations projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2023 to 2033. About 1.9 million openings are projected each year, with an average annual wage of $83,090 for healthcare practitioners and technicians, and $37,180 for healthcare support occupations. The demand for healthcare managers is also increasing, with a median annual wage of $117,960 in May 2024. These managers are responsible for organising, overseeing, and integrating electronic health records across healthcare industries.
The United States had approximately 6.6 million hospital employees in September 2019, with a national ratio of 50 people per hospital employee. This ratio varies across states, with Puerto Rico, Utah, Nevada, and California having the highest ratios. Hospitals provide a wide range of services, from treating the seriously ill and injured to caring for new mothers and their babies, and performing surgeries.
In addition to hospitals, residents across the United States also rely on other healthcare providers, such as community health centres, urgent care clinics, and specialty healthcare providers. These providers often work in collaboration with hospitals to ensure that residents have access to the care they need, regardless of their location or circumstances. Together, hospitals and other healthcare providers form an essential safety net that supports the health and well-being of communities across the nation.
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Residents' most common ethnicity is White (45.9%)
The United States is home to over 6,000 hospitals, with more than half of these being non-profit organisations. The country has a vast healthcare system, with approximately 763 medical residents, according to Zippia's database.
Medical residents are an integral part of this healthcare system, and their demographics are worth examining. The most common ethnicity among medical residents in the US is White, accounting for 45.9% of all residents. This proportion of White medical residents translates to about 350 individuals, based on the data provided by Zippia.
This ethnic composition of medical residents reflects the broader ethnic makeup of the United States. According to the US Census Bureau, White Americans are the majority in almost every region and state, with the exception of a few states like Hawaii, California, and Texas. In the 2020 Census, over 235 million people identified as White alone or in combination with another race group, such as Black or African American.
It is worth noting that the definition of "White" in the US Census has been a subject of debate. Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) populations, for example, were previously classified as "White" but have since been reclassified as a separate ethnic category. Despite this, the number of White residents in the US, including those of English, German, and Irish descent, remains substantial, and their representation among medical residents aligns with this demographic trend.
In addition to ethnicity, other demographic factors come into play. The average age of medical residents is over 40 years old, and more than half (53%) fall within this age group. The majority of medical residents (52.8%) are female, and the most common degree among them is a doctoral degree (35%).
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Frequently asked questions
There are around 6.6 million hospital employees in the US, but an exact figure for the number of residents is unclear.
The average age of US hospital residents is 40+ years old, representing 53% of the resident population.
The most common degree for US hospital residents is a doctoral degree, with 35% of residents holding this qualification.
The average length of stay for US hospital residents in their jobs is 1-2 years.











































