Pediatricians are doctors who specialize in working with babies, children, and young adults, usually up to age 21. These doctors perform a variety of duties, including diagnosing and treating common childhood diseases or injuries.
In this article, you’ll learn how to become a pediatrician, the average salary income for a pediatrician, the job duties, and some of the likes and dislikes of this profession.
A Day in the Life of a Pediatrician
Some of the tasks that a pediatrician will perform on a daily basis include the tasks listed below.
Pediatrician Job Duties:
- Perform well-child exams
- Perform annual check-ups or physical
- Diagnose and treat common diseases
- Prescribe medications to treat diseases, rashes, and other maladies
- Perform minor surgical procedures
- Track growth rates and weight for developing babies and children
- Identify behavioral or developmental problems
- Track vaccination schedules and recommend important vaccines
- Collect, record, and maintain patient records
- Perform consults for other physicians
Pediatrician Education Requirements
How do you become a pediatrician? What are the education requirements?
To become a pediatrician, you must first earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. This takes about four years. Next, you may apply to medical school, and you’ll normally have to take the MCAT exam prior to admission. Once you’re accepted into medical school, it will take about four years to complete your medical degree. After that, you must complete a residency program with a focus on pediatrics, which takes about three more years, possibly longer if you wish to specialize further.
You will also have to be licensed with your state. Optionally, you can also become certified through the American Board of Pediatrics after you gain working experience.
Pediatrician Likes and Dislikes:
Most pediatricians are very satisfied with their careers. They feel as if it is a calling, not a job. Nevertheless, there are some advantages and disadvantages for this career. Here are the most common likes and dislikes of working as a pediatrician.
Likes:
- It’s highly satisfying when you can treat a child who is suffering or in pain.
- They love working with children and parents.
- They enjoyable seeing a child develop over time.
- They earn a competitive salary, but most don’t enter the profession based solely on income potential.
Dislikes:
- Witnessing signs of neglect or any type of child abuse.
- Witnessing a child in pain from some chronic or terminal disease.
- Hours can be strenuous (40-60 hours plus).
- Babies do cry or pitch fits, which can be difficult on some days.
Average Salary Income for Pediatricians
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 14 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations.
How much money does a pediatrician earn? As of 2014, the average salary for a pediatrician was $175,400. The average hourly wage was $84.33.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment | Employment RSE | Mean hourly wage | Mean annual wage | Wage RS |
| 31,010 | 3.9 % | $84.33 | $175,400 | 1.3 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
| Hourly Wage | $44.77 | $62.52 | $78.53 | n/a | n/a |
| Annual Wage | $93,120 | $130,050 | $163,350 | n/a | n/a |
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Offices of Physicians | 23,590 | 0.96 | $86.14 | $179,170 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 4,810 | 0.09 | $79.50 | $165,370 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 1,280 | 0.18 | $85.19 | $177,190 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 690 | 0.02 | $49.34 | $102,630 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | 330 | 0.13 | $100.55 | $209,140 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | 330 | 0.13 | $100.55 | $209,140 |
| Employment Services | 70 | n/a | $97.29 | $202,370 |
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 30 | n/a | $91.01 | $189,300 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 30 | n/a | $87.75 | $182,510 |
| Offices of Physicians | 23,590 | 0.96 | $86.14 | $179,170 |
Top paying states for pediatricians:
| State | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Montana | 100 | 0.23 | 1.01 | $113.79 | $236,690 |
| Utah | 250 | 0.19 | 0.85 | $113.66 | $236,410 |
| South Dakota | 30 | 0.08 | 0.35 | $109.23 | $227,200 |
| Mississippi | 90 | 0.08 | 0.36 | $107.89 | $224,410 |
| Nebraska | 230 | 0.24 | 1.05 | $99.75 | $207,480 |
Lowest paying states:
| State: | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage | Annual median wage |
| Puerto Rico | 29.58 | 61,530 | 63,110 |
| District of Columbia | 43.08 | 89,600 | 63,910 |
| West Virginia | 45.20 | 94,010 | 60,310 |
| Pennsylvania | 67.64 | 140,690 | 140,940 |
| Vermont | 68.03 | 141,510 | 136,370 |
| Nevada | 68.61 | 142,710 | 134,960 |
| Arizona | 68.78 | 143,060 | 141,870 |
Average salary for pediatricians for all 50 states:
| State: | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage | Annual median wage |
| Alabama | 88.26 | 183,580 | 163,370 |
| Alaska | 90.87 | 189,010 | 178,560 |
| Arizona | 68.78 | 143,060 | 141,870 |
| Arkansas | 95.15 | 197,900 | n/a |
| California | 87.55 | 182,100 | 169,970 |
| Colorado | 89.70 | 186,570 | 175,650 |
| Connecticut | 82.18 | 170,930 | 161,640 |
| Delaware | 76.37 | 158,850 | 144,530 |
| District of Columbia | 43.08 | 89,600 | 63,910 |
| Florida | 82.61 | 171,840 | 151,350 |
| Georgia | 80.35 | 167,120 | 163,210 |
| Hawaii | 82.59 | 171,800 | 167,960 |
| Idaho | 80.41 | 167,250 | 144,330 |
| Illinois | 68.79 | 143,080 | 142,170 |
| Indiana | 95.84 | 199,340 | 183,030 |
| Iowa | 87.63 | 182,280 | 168,120 |
| Kansas | 72.61 | 151,040 | 137,790 |
| Kentucky | 83.70 | 174,090 | 156,310 |
| Louisiana | 80.86 | 168,200 | 146,480 |
| Maine | 87.44 | 181,880 | 170,880 |
| Maryland | 78.26 | 162,780 | 155,930 |
| Massachusetts | 89.53 | 186,210 | 171,670 |
| Michigan | 88.80 | 184,710 | 176,240 |
| Minnesota | 90.41 | 188,050 | 181,960 |
| Mississippi | 107.89 | 224,410 | n/a |
| Missouri | 85.96 | 178,800 | 181,270 |
| Montana | 113.79 | 236,690 | n/a |
| Nebraska | 99.75 | 207,480 | n/a |
| Nevada | 68.61 | 142,710 | 134,960 |
| New Hampshire | 93.24 | 193,940 | 182,390 |
| New Jersey | 83.40 | 173,480 | 165,860 |
| New Mexico | 89.44 | 186,040 | 174,710 |
| New York | 81.92 | 170,400 | 158,890 |
| North Carolina | 93.67 | 194,830 | 183,270 |
| Ohio | 73.92 | 153,760 | 149,320 |
| Oklahoma | 97.15 | 202,070 | n/a |
| Oregon | 89.06 | 185,240 | 176,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 67.64 | 140,690 | 140,940 |
| Puerto Rico | 29.58 | 61,530 | 63,110 |
| Rhode Island | 85.75 | 178,370 | 155,850 |
| South Carolina | 88.96 | 185,040 | 174,230 |
| South Dakota | 109.23 | 227,200 | n/a |
| Tennessee | 89.88 | 186,950 | 175,900 |
| Texas | 88.70 | 184,490 | 167,930 |
| Utah | 113.66 | 236,410 | n/a |
| Vermont | 68.03 | 141,510 | 136,370 |
| Virginia | 76.38 | 158,860 | 146,990 |
| Washington | 91.47 | 190,270 | 181,100 |
| West Virginia | 45.20 | 94,010 | 60,310 |
| Wisconsin | 95.47 | 198,580 | 184,000 |
| Wyoming | 74.58 | 155,130 | 143,820 |
Other References:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Pediatricians, on the Internet at bls.gov.