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Urologists

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeHigh pressure

What they do

Diagnose, treat, and help prevent benign and malignant medical and surgical disorders of the genitourinary system and the renal glands.

Kinds of work

  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $265,930 Median per year · $127.85/hr Most earn $69,170–$452,360

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Treat urologic disorders using alternatives to traditional surgery such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, laparoscopy, or laser techniques.
  • Prescribe medications to treat patients with erectile dysfunction (ED), infertility, or ejaculation problems.
  • 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.
  • Direct the work of nurses, residents, or other staff to provide patient care.
  • Provide urology consultation to physicians or other health care professionals.
  • Prescribe or administer antibiotics, antiseptics, or compresses to treat infection or injury.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 9,400 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Offices of physicians42.1%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals27.8%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service10.5%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools5.8%
  • Self-employed (their own business)3.3%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Urology is not an entry-level job. It usually takes many years of college, medical school, and specialty training before you can work as a urologist. The typical experience figure for this career is 2 to 4 years of related work, but urology training after medical school often runs longer, so check the timeline with a school counselor or a physician.

  1. Bachelor's degree in a science such as biology or chemistry

    4 years

    You build the science foundation and strong grades that medical schools look for, and you take the entrance exam (MCAT) near the end.

  2. Medical degree (MD or DO) from medical school

    4 years

    You learn anatomy, disease, and patient care, then complete clinical rotations that show you which specialties you enjoy, including surgery and urology.

  3. Urology residency

    2-4 years

    You train in a hospital under experienced urologists, doing surgeries and treating patients with kidney, bladder, prostate, and other urinary or reproductive conditions.

Where it can lead

  1. Urologic Oncologist

    2-3 years after residency, in a fellowship of experience first

    You take extra training focused on cancers of the urinary system and reproductive organs, which adds a specialty and narrows your focus.

  2. Urology Department Chair

    10+ years in practice of experience first

    You lead a hospital or university urology department, managing other doctors, teaching, and planning care, usually after building a strong record as an experienced urologist.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take the hardest science and math classes you can handleBiology, chemistry, physics, and advanced math build the base you will need for a pre-medical college major.
  • Volunteer at a hospital, clinic, or nursing homeHands-on time around patients shows you what caregiving is like and gives you experience to mention on college and medical school applications.
  • Join a science or health clubClubs like science olympiad, HOSA (Future Health Professionals), or a biology club build teamwork and show your interest in medicine.
  • Get a starter job that teaches responsibilityWorking as a cashier, tutor, or food service worker builds reliability and communication skills that matter in any medical role.
  • Talk with your school counselor about pre-med planningA counselor can help you map out high school courses and college options that lead toward medical school.

In college

  • Choose a science major and complete pre-medical coursesMajors like biology or chemistry, plus required courses like organic chemistry and physics, prepare you for medical school applications.
  • Get clinical experience through a campus or hospital jobRoles like medical scribe, emergency department tech, or hospital volunteer show you patient care and look strong on applications.
  • Find a research position with a professorWorking on a lab or clinical research project builds skills in careful thinking and teaches you how medical knowledge is made.
  • Prepare for the MCAT with a study planStarting early with practice tests and a steady study schedule gives you the best shot at a strong score.
  • Join a pre-health or pre-med student groupThese groups often host speakers, shadowing chances, and advice on applying to medical school.

Tips for getting started

  • Shadow a urologist or spend time in a hospital clinic. Seeing the daily work up close is the best way to tell whether this specialty fits you.
  • Keep your grades strong in science and math, since medical schools weigh them heavily, and build a habit of consistent study early.
  • Look into a paid job or volunteer role in healthcare, such as a medical assistant, hospital volunteer, or patient care tech, to learn how clinics work and to strengthen your applications later.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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