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Top 10 States for Early-Career Physicians

These 10 states reported physician residency completion totals, physician retention rates, or residency Match fill rates identified in graduate medical education data.

Conexiant

Graduate medical education data identify variation among states in physician residency training volume, physician retention, and residency Match activity.

  1. California — California maintained the nation’s largest residency pipeline, with 26,907 physicians completing residency training from 2015 to 2024, while retaining 75.7% of those physicians in-state, the highest retention rate nationally. In the 2025 Main Residency Match, California offered 4,119 positions and placed 4,102 applicants in residency training programs, with 248 more positions offered than in 2024.

  2. Illinois — Illinois retained 53.3% of physicians who completed residency training in the state from 2015 to 2024, while 6,761 physicians completed in-state residency training during that period. In the 2025 Main Residency Match, Illinois offered 1,816 positions and filled 1,810, with an overall fill rate of 99.7%.

  3. Pennsylvania — Pennsylvania retained 48.5% of physicians who completed residency training in the state from 2015 to 2024, while 17,615 physicians completed residency training during that period. In the 2025 Main Residency Match, Pennsylvania offered 2,663 positions and filled 2,643, with 58 more positions offered than in 2024.

  4. Michigan — Michigan retained 53.1% of physicians who completed residency training in the state from 2015 to 2024, while 13,227 physicians completed residency training during that period. In the 2025 Main Residency Match, Michigan offered 2,024 positions and filled 2,021, with 45 more positions offered than in 2024 and 99.9% of overall positions filled.

  5. Massachusetts — Massachusetts retained 54.6% of physicians who completed residency training in the state from 2015 to 2024, while 12,186 physicians completed residency training during that period. In the 2025 Main Residency Match, Massachusetts offered 1,472 positions and filled 1,469, with an overall fill rate of 99.8%.

  6. Ohio — Ohio retained 51.9% of physicians who completed residency training in the state from 2015 to 2024, while 14,050 physicians completed residency training during that period. In the 2025 Main Residency Match, Ohio offered 1,939 positions and filled 1,930, with 38 more positions offered than in 2024.

  7. Missouri — Missouri retained 50.2% of physicians who completed residency training in the state from 2015 to 2024, while 6,404 physicians completed residency training during that period. In the 2025 Main Residency Match, the state offered 840 positions and filled 832, with 12 more positions offered than in 2024 and a 99% overall fill rate.

  8. Virginia — Virginia retained 49.1% of physicians who completed residency training in the state from 2015 to 2024, while 5,111 physicians completed residency training during that period. In the 2025 Main Residency Match, the state offered 845 positions and filled 839, with 19 more positions offered than in 2024.

  9. Wisconsin — Wisconsin retained 53.9% of physicians who completed residency training in the state from 2015 to 2024, while 4,234 physicians completed residency training during that period. In the 2025 Main Residency Match, the state offered 549 positions and filled 548, with a 99.8% fill rate.

  10. New Jersey — New Jersey retained 50.8% of physicians who completed residency training in the state from 2015 to 2024, while 6,033 physicians completed residency training during that period. In the 2025 Main Residency Match, the state offered 1,435 positions and filled 1,414, with 55 more positions offered than in 2024.

Sources: Association of American Medical Colleges, National Resident Matching Program