Do doctors get paid during a medical residency? It’s a common question if you’re working towards a career in healthcare. Thankfully, medical residents are paid, so you’ll earn a salary during your residency. How much you earn, however, will depend on your year, specialty, and location, and the salary may not be high enough to cover your student loans and your living expenses.
Knowing what your options are for managing your student loan payments during residency can make your loans more affordable.
Key Takeaways
- There were approximately 163,000 medical residents in the United States, according to 2025 data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
- On average, medical residents earn $68,166 per year during their residencies, according to the AAMC’s 2025 Survey of Resident/Fellow Stipends and Benefits.
- Medical residents can take advantage of alternative payment plans, forbearance, or refinancing to make their student loans more manageable.
What Happens During a Medical Residency?
If you want to become a doctor, completing medical school is just the start of your training. After you graduate, you’ll embark on the next phase: medical residency.
A medical residency is a period of on-the-job training. During this time, you will work under the supervision of experienced physicians and gain practical experience in your chosen specialty.
Medical residents typically work long hours — often up to 80 hours per week — and are expected to deliver quality patient care. The length of the residency varies based on your specialization but generally ranges from two to five years.
How Does Pay Work for Doctors During Residency?
After graduating from medical school, you may have substantial student loan debt and feel worried about paying your bills. If you’re concerned about covering your living expenses during your residency, there is good news: medical residents are usually paid.
The residency stipend can help pay for your basic essentials. How much you earn depends on your location, the hospital or office you work for, and your specialty; but the average medical residency stipend is about $68,000 per year.
However, the earlier you are in your training, the less you’ll make. According to the AMMC, these are the unweighted annual earnings by residency year:
| Average Medical Resident Salaries by Year | |
| Program Year 1 | $68,166 |
| Program Year 2 | $70,499 |
| Program Year 3 | $73,301 |
| Program Year 4 | $77,593 |
| Program Year 5 | $81,807 |
| Program Year 6 | $84,744 |
| Program Year 7 | $89,187 |
| Program Year 8 | $94,215 |
What Other Benefits Do Medical Residents Receive?
While medical residents are still in training, they are working and usually eligible for employer-sponsored benefits, including:
- Health insurance
- Vision and dental coverage
- Life insurance
- Vacation time and sick time
Some employers even offer financial counseling and time off for personal finance seminars for medical residents.
Managing Student Loan Debt on a Resident’s Pay
At first glance, the average medical resident’s salary of $68,166 can be appealing. The average annual income for all professions was $67,920 as of 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, so you may assume that a medical resident would be financially secure.
Besides have to pay for basics like rent and groceries, medical residents likely have substantial amounts of debt. According to the AAMC’s 2025 report, 70% of medical school graduates have outstanding student loans, with an average balance of $223,130.
With such a large balance, a medical resident’s salary may not cover your living expenses and your student loan payments. If that’s the case, consider the following options:
Enroll in an Alternative Payment Plan
If you have federal student loans, you can enroll in income-driven repayment (IDR) plan. IDR plans consider your discretionary income when calculating your payments, so you could qualify for a much lower payment than you have now.
If you have private student loans, contact your lender to discuss your options. Some lenders will allow you to make reduced payments or defer them entirely while you complete your residency.
Explore State Repayment Assistance
In several states, medical residents can get help from state government agencies to repay their loans. Through state loan repayment assistance programs, the government will give you money to pay off some of your debt. In exchange, you must commit to working in high-need areas for a specific amount of time, such as two years.
For example, physicians in Vermont can receive up to $40,000 per year to repay their student loans if they work in a designated healthcare professional shortage area.
The AAMC maintains a database of repayment assistance programs offered throughout the country.
Consider Student Loan Refinancing
If your payments are too high during your residency, another option is student loan refinancing. With this option, you apply for a loan from a private lender for the amount of your total existing debt. Depending on your credit and income, you may be eligible for a lower rate and different repayment terms, lowering your monthly payment or total repayment amount.
Explore ELFI’s student loan refinance calculator to see how refinancing may impact your finances.
FAQS
How do doctors get paid during residency?
Medical residents are typically paid a salary or stipend from the hospital or clinic where they work.
Do medical students pay loans during residency?
Borrowers are responsible for repaying their student loans during their medical residencies unless they qualify for a forbearance or deferment.
Can medical residents take out student loans for residency or relocation?
Usually, student loans are only for your tuition and other related expenses to cover the total cost of attendance of your program. However, there are other specialty lenders that offer medical residency loans to cover the costs of moving, board exams, and living expenses.
