by our College Data Analytics TeamResidency Programs (CIP 60) is a field of study, but no U.S. college reported residency programs graduates to IPEDS in the latest year. Graduates earn a median $229,117 one year after completing and $173,506 after four years.
A degree in Residency Programs explores Health Professions Residency/fellowship Programs. Programs That Prepare Dentists (Dds, Dmd), Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists (Pharmd), Physician Assistants, And Veterinarians (Dvm) For Certification As Practitioners Of Recognized Specialties In Their Respective Professions. These Programs Are Approved And Accredited By Designated Professional Associations. Residency Or Fellowship Programs That Also Result In The Completion Of An Academic Degree (E.g., Ms, Phd), Should Be Reported Under The Appropriate Cip Code, Rather Than In A Residency Code Located In Series 60. These Cip Codes Are Not Valid For Ipeds Reporting.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
O*NET rates Reading Comprehension the most important skill for jobs related to residency programs, at 4.1 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are Medicine and Dentistry, Biology and English Language. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Problem Sensitivity and Inductive Reasoning.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to residency programs, at 42.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 42.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 40.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.9% |
| First professional degree | 5.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.2% |
| Some college courses | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
10 occupations are related to Residency Programs, with an average median salary of $103,910; the strongest outlook belongs to Anesthesiologist Assistants, at 15.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Emergency Medicine Nurse Practitioner, Urgent Care NP (Urgent Care Nurse Practitioner), Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner and Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP).
The occupation related to residency programs with the most projected jobs is Veterinarians, at 3,199,646.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Veterinarians | 3,199,646 | 13.9% |
| Dentists, General | 2,950,097 | 1.1% |
| Physician Assistants | 2,607,247 | 6.7% |
| Orthodontists | 2,252,613 | 5.8% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 2,031,912 | 3.3% |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons | 1,956,280 | 13.9% |
| Prosthodontists | 1,802,810 | -3.4% |
| Pharmacists | 1,131,161 | 14.2% |
Residency Programs graduates earn a median $229,117 one year after completing their program, $173,506 after four years and $280,492 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $229,117 |
| 4 years | $173,506 |
| 5 years | $280,492 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to residency programs is Dentists, General, with a median salary of $157,602.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Dentists, General | $157,602 |
| Nurse Practitioners | $147,651 |
| Prosthodontists | $144,273 |
| Anesthesiologist Assistants | $116,229 |
| Orthodontists | $108,772 |
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | $100,743 |
| Pharmacists | $93,686 |
| Physician Assistants | $77,320 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.