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Pediatrician Salary Income, Job Duties, and Education Requirements

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.

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