Healthcare Practitioners
Urologists
Also called: Acute Care Physician, MD (Medical Doctor), Owner, Physician
US median pay
$265,930
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+3.4%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
9,400
367,400 employed
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
Diagnose, treat, and help prevent benign and malignant medical and surgical disorders of the genitourinary system and the renal glands.
What they do day to day
- Diagnose or treat diseases or disorders of genitourinary organs and tracts including erectile dysfunction (ED), infertility, incontinence, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, urethral stones, or premature ejaculation.
- Examine patients using equipment, such as radiograph (x-ray) machines or fluoroscopes, to determine the nature and extent of disorder or injury.
- Order and interpret the results of diagnostic tests, such as prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening, to detect prostate cancer.
- Document or review patients' histories.
- Prescribe or administer antibiotics, antiseptics, or compresses to treat infection or injury.
- Treat urologic disorders using alternatives to traditional surgery such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, laparoscopy, or laser techniques.
- Provide urology consultation to physicians or other health care professionals.
- Treat lower urinary tract dysfunctions using equipment such as diathermy machines, catheters, cystoscopes, or radium emanation tubes.
- Direct the work of nurses, residents, or other staff to provide patient care.
- Perform abdominal, pelvic, or retroperitoneal surgeries.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Judgment and Decision Making4.2/5
- Complex Problem Solving4.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.9/5
- Time Management3.6/5
- Systems Analysis3.5/5
- Service Orientation3.4/5
- Coordination3.4/5
- Systems Evaluation3.2/5
Knowledge
- Medicine and Dentistry5.0/5
- Biology4.8/5
- English Language4.3/5
- Education and Training4.0/5
- Therapy and Counseling3.9/5
- Administration and Management3.9/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Doctoral or professional degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Post-doctoral training64%
- Doctoral degree33%
Who this job suits
Mostly Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.