Researching Physician Salaries

Despite the recent slump in the U.S. economy, the health care industry continues to grow. This is good news for anyone interested in a medical career, including doctors. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment outlook for physicians is bright; a 14 percent employment growth rate is projected over the next several years. But what can aspiring doctors expect when it comes to physician salaries? There is a commonly held assumption that a doctor's average salary is very high - the image of doctors as wealthy has been around for decades. The only difference now is that instead of aspiring to marry rich doctors, little girls can aspire to become rich doctors themselves!

It's true that physician salaries are often high - doctors are well compensated for the work they do to heal and protect. However, long hours, stressful conditions, and years of schooling (and, in many cases, student loans) are all part of becoming a doctor. Physician salaries are high precisely because physicians have such stressful, highly-specialized jobs. But, for the average physician, salary is by no means the primary motivator to enter the medical field. That said, physician salary is still a factor, just as it is in any other career choice. The question, "what is the average physician salary" is so broad as to be nearly impossible to answer. Researching physician salary survey data provides answers to more specific questions regarding physician salaries, as well as a detailed look at the various factors affecting physician salaries.

Physician Salary Survey Data

What is the difference in physician salaries by specialty? Is a physician salary affected by hospital setting? How do doctors' salaries in the U.S. compare to doctors' salaries in other countries? These popular questions can all be answered with PayScale's physician salary survey data. The Physician Salary by City chart shows that the average physician salary in Los Angeles is currently higher than physician salaries in many other cities. Looking at Physician Salaries by Specialty, you can see that oncologists and plastic surgeons tend to earn higher physician salaries. Analyzing the Salaries for Sports Medicine Physician report shows that sports medicine physician salaries are comparable to Family Physician Salaries. And research into Physician Salary Surveys by Hospital Setting shows that the hospital setting in which one works can make a big difference in the average physician's salary, with general hospitals offering the highest physician salaries. When viewing Physician Starting Salaries, keep in mind that interns and medical residents may be paid less; physician salary survey data for starting salaries doesn't start until after residency is completed.

Median Doctor's Salary vs. Doctor's Average Salary

PayScale's Dr. Salary can't prescribe medicine, but he can help with your physician salary research. Learn why asking, "what is the median physician salary" is a better question than, "what is a doctors average salary" by reading the Ask Dr. Salary article, "Why is Median Better than Mean for a Typical Salary?"

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