Physician Net Worth Calculator
Net Worth Tracker
Assets
Liabilities
(sends these numbers to Ask; we don't keep them)
What gets measured gets managed. Tracking this number annually removes emotion from your finances. As long as the trajectory is moving up and to the right, you are successfully building wealth and moving toward financial independence.
What Your Number Means
The Trajectory Matters More Than The Number: As an early-career physician, your net worth will almost certainly be negative. This is completely normal. What matters is the delta—your net worth should be growing positively every single year once you finish residency.
The "Back to Broke" Milestone: Reaching a net worth of $0 is a massive milestone for a physician. It often takes 2-5 years as an attending to dig out of the medical school debt hole.
Physician Case Studies
Dr. Patel (PGY-4)
The Profile: $300k in student loans, $20k in retirement accounts, $5k cash.
The Outcome: Net worth is -$275,000. While this feels discouraging, her retirement accounts grew by $8k this year, meaning her trajectory is positive.
Dr. Evans (Attending, Year 3)
The Profile: $150k remaining loans, $250k home equity, $120k retirement.
The Outcome: Net worth is $220,000. He hit "back to broke" in his first year as an attending and is now rapidly accumulating wealth.
* Note: The physician case studies presented above are illustrative composites created for educational purposes. They do not represent actual clients or guarantee similar results.
Want to dive deeper?
Read our comprehensive guide to understand all the nuances and strategies.
Clinical Context & Calculation Details
How to Use This Calculator
Add up the current value of everything you own (Assets: home, 401k, savings, cars) and subtract everything you owe (Liabilities: mortgage, student loans, credit cards).
The resulting single number is your Net Worth—the ultimate scorecard of your financial health.
Why Doctors Need This
Income is what you earn; Wealth is what you keep. Many doctors earn high incomes but spend it all entirely, resulting in "High Income, Not Rich Yet" (HENRY) status or negative net worth into their 40s.
Tracking this number annually removes emotion from your finances. As long as the trajectory is moving up and to the right, you are successfully building wealth and moving toward financial independence.
The Math Behind It
Net Worth: Total Assets - Total Liabilities.
If you have $300k in student loans and $50k in the bank, your Net Worth is exactly -$250,000. Don't let negative numbers discourage you; they are completely normal for new attendings.
Pearls & Pitfalls
- Pearl: Track your net worth on the exact same day every year (e.g., January 1st) to easily visualize your annual wealth accumulation.
- Pearl: Only count assets that hold value or that you could practically liquidate in a disaster. Don't bother tracking the depreciation of your surgical loupes or furniture.
- Pitfall: Overvaluing your primary residence or cars. Your house value should reflect what you could realistically sell it for after 6% realtor fees, not the Zestimate high-water mark.
Worked Example
The calculator's default line items, for an attending a few years out of training:
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | Home Value $650,000 + Retirement Accounts (401k/403b) $250,000 + Cash / Emergency Fund $40,000 | $940,000 |
| Total liabilities | Mortgage $500,000 + Student Loans $180,000 | $680,000 |
| Net worth | $940,000 − $680,000 | $260,000 |
About $150,000 of the $260,000 is home equity, which is harder to spend or invest than the $290,000 in retirement accounts and cash.
Assumptions & Sources
- Values are what you enter, at today's value. When you are signed in, the calculator starts from the accounts on your dashboard.
- No taxes or selling costs are subtracted. Pre-tax 401(k) and 403(b) balances will owe income tax when withdrawn, and selling a home usually costs several percent of its price.
- Cars, furniture and other things that lose value are better left out or entered at resale value.
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About the Author
Joshua Dunigan, DO | Family Medicine Resident & Founder
I'm a family medicine resident physician in Des Moines, Iowa (class of 2027). I founded MedMoneyGuide to give physicians specialty-specific financial guidance, with sources you can check.