The median annual salary for pediatricians is $198,420, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There are many different paths a doctor can take when it comes to choosing their medical specialty. Doctors who enjoy helping children feel their best and live healthy lives will likely find a lot of fulfillment in their jobs.
To learn more about how much a pediatrician makes a year, keep reading.
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What Are Pediatricians?
A pediatrician is a type of doctor who provides medical care to children ranging from infancy to adolescence. They specialize in diagnosing and treating injuries, developmental issues, and illnesses children commonly experience. From routine exams to issuing vaccines to providing medicine to sick children, pediatricians can help.
The path to becoming a pediatrician can be a long and expensive one. Typically, that means college, medical school, a residency, and possibly a fellowship. Medical school can easily cost $250,000 in tuition. It’s wise to consider this investment when pursuing a career as a pediatrician. Many doctors have a high amount of medical school debt when starting out.
Also, keep in mind that being a pediatrician involves interacting with children and their families all day. This may not therefore be the best job for introverts.
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How Much Do Starting Pediatricians Make a Year?
While pediatricians can eventually earn very competitive salaries, like any job, they tend to earn less when they are entry-level. The lowest 10% of earners in this role make just $75,670, which is significantly lower than the median annual salary for all physicians of $198,420.
What is the Average Salary for a Pediatrician?
On average, a pediatrician can make a salary that is considerably higher than the American average for all jobs. Where a pediatrician chooses to work can greatly impact how much a pediatrician earns. This is a quick glance at the annual mean wage for a variety of workplaces where a pediatrician may be employed:
• Offices of physicians: $203,690
• General medical and surgical hospitals: $180,790
• Outpatient care centers: $232,420
• Colleges, universities, and professional schools: $84,810
• Specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals: $201,100.
Another factor that also affects pediatrician earning potential is the state the doctor works in. This table below highlights how average pediatrician salaries vary by state, with typical pay arranged from highest to lowest by location.
In addition, it shares how much a pediatrician’s hourly pay vs, salary is.
What is the Average Pediatrician Salary by State for 2023
| State | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $222,171 | $18,514 | $4,272 | $106.81 |
| Alaska | $221,079 | $18,423 | $4,251 | $106.29 |
| North Dakota | $221,044 | $18,420 | $4,250 | $106.27 |
| Massachusetts | $218,405 | $18,200 | $4,200 | $105.00 |
| Hawaii | $216,375 | $18,031 | $4,161 | $104.03 |
| Washington | $211,404 | $17,617 | $4,065 | $101.64 |
| Nevada | $209,030 | $17,419 | $4,019 | $100.50 |
| South Dakota | $208,910 | $17,409 | $4,017 | $100.44 |
| Colorado | $206,290 | $17,190 | $3,967 | $99.18 |
| Rhode Island | $205,782 | $17,148 | $3,957 | $98.93 |
| New York | $196,083 | $16,340 | $3,770 | $94.27 |
| Delaware | $193,921 | $16,160 | $3,729 | $93.23 |
| Vermont | $191,477 | $15,956 | $3,682 | $92.06 |
| Virginia | $191,115 | $15,926 | $3,675 | $91.88 |
| Illinois | $191,057 | $15,921 | $3,674 | $91.85 |
| Maryland | $187,806 | $15,650 | $3,611 | $90.29 |
| Nebraska | $183,797 | $15,316 | $3,534 | $88.36 |
| Missouri | $182,659 | $15,221 | $3,512 | $87.82 |
| California | $182,152 | $15,179 | $3,502 | $87.57 |
| South Carolina | $181,082 | $15,090 | $3,482 | $87.06 |
| Pennsylvania | $179,627 | $14,968 | $3,454 | $86.36 |
| New Jersey | $179,258 | $14,938 | $3,447 | $86.18 |
| Oklahoma | $177,994 | $14,832 | $3,422 | $85.57 |
| Maine | $177,900 | $14,825 | $3,421 | $85.53 |
| Wisconsin | $177,526 | $14,793 | $3,413 | $85.35 |
| North Carolina | $177,345 | $14,778 | $3,410 | $85.26 |
| New Hampshire | $174,681 | $14,556 | $3,359 | $83.98 |
| Idaho | $174,250 | $14,520 | $3,350 | $83.77 |
| Texas | $173,077 | $14,423 | $3,328 | $83.21 |
| Kentucky | $172,518 | $14,376 | $3,317 | $82.94 |
| Wyoming | $171,910 | $14,325 | $3,305 | $82.65 |
| Minnesota | $171,467 | $14,288 | $3,297 | $82.44 |
| Michigan | $170,777 | $14,231 | $3,284 | $82.10 |
| New Mexico | $170,501 | $14,208 | $3,278 | $81.97 |
| Indiana | $169,638 | $14,136 | $3,262 | $81.56 |
| Ohio | $166,670 | $13,889 | $3,205 | $80.13 |
| Arizona | $166,130 | $13,844 | $3,194 | $79.87 |
| Connecticut | $165,286 | $13,773 | $3,178 | $79.46 |
| Mississippi | $164,126 | $13,677 | $3,156 | $78.91 |
| Iowa | $163,921 | $13,660 | $3,152 | $78.81 |
| Montana | $163,627 | $13,635 | $3,146 | $78.67 |
| Arkansas | $163,030 | $13,585 | $3,135 | $78.38 |
| Alabama | $161,584 | $13,465 | $3,107 | $77.68 |
| Utah | $159,236 | $13,269 | $3,062 | $76.56 |
| Tennessee | $159,121 | $13,260 | $3,060 | $76.50 |
| Kansas | $154,538 | $12,878 | $2,971 | $74.30 |
| Georgia | $150,529 | $12,544 | $2,894 | $72.37 |
| Louisiana | $149,706 | $12,475 | $2,878 | $71.97 |
| West Virginia | $138,728 | $11,560 | $2,667 | $66.70 |
| Florida | $133,219 | $11,101 | $2,561 | $64.05 |
Source: ZipRecruiter
Pediatrician Job Considerations for Pay & Benefits
Alongside earning a $100,000 salary or more, most pediatricians also receive superior employee benefits. If a pediatrician runs their own practice, they will need to supply themselves and their employees with these benefits.
Those who are employed by employers like hospitals or medical groups can expect to gain access to benefits like paid time off, health insurance, and retirement accounts. They may also have unique benefits like continuing education allowances and malpractice insurance coverage.
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Pros and Cons of Pediatrician Salary
The main advantage associated with competitive pay for pediatricians is that they are quite high. With a median salary of $198,420, pediatricians are greatly rewarded for their hard work.
However, they must pursue many years of higher education to earn that salary. Many young doctors struggle under the weight of their student loan payments. So, while this salary may seem high at first glance, much of it can go towards student loan debt initially.
It’s also worthwhile to consider work-life balance. Being a pediatrician and improving the health of children can be a very rewarding career, but it can also involve long, tiring hours and being on call for patients on nights and weekends. Medical problems and emergencies crop up all the time, so this is a factor to acknowledge.
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The Takeaway
Pediatricians can earn very high pay while making a big difference in the lives of their patients and their families. They do have to commit to many years of schooling and education to become a pediatrician, but once they do, they can earn a great living.
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FAQ
Can you make 100k a year as a pediatrician?
Most pediatricians make $100,000 a year or more, especially after gaining a few years of work experience. The median annual salary for a pediatrician is $198,420.
Do people like being a pediatrician?
Pursuing a career in pediatric medicine is a major commitment and those who are passionate about this field and patient care are likely to really enjoy their work. However, this role requires many hours of patient interaction a day, so even if someone finds the work fascinating, it won’t be a good fit for them if they are antisocial.
Is it hard to get hired as a pediatrician?
The main challenge in getting hired as a pediatrician surrounds not having the right credentials. Potential pediatricians must pursue medical school and any required medical licenses in order to find a job in this field, which is no easy feat.
Photo credit: iStock/alvarez
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