Pediatricians, General: Career Overview
Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and injuries in children. May refer patients to specialists for further diagnosis or treatment, as needed.
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The Daily Work of Pediatricians, General Perform?
Typical responsibilities of pediatricians, general cover:
- Prescribe or administer treatment, therapy, medication, vaccination, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury in infants and children.
- Examine children regularly to assess their growth and development.
- Treat children who have minor illnesses, acute and chronic health problems, and growth and development concerns.
- Examine patients or order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests to obtain information on medical condition and determine diagnosis.
- Advise patients, parents or guardians, and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, and disease prevention.
- Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients and parents or guardians.
- Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results.
- Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful pediatricians, general combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Pediatricians, General Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Baby Doctor
- DO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician)
- Developmental Pediatrician
- Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician
- Doctor
- Emergency Room Pediatrician (ER Pediatrician)
- General Pediatrician
- Group Practice Pediatrician
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 3,007,044 pediatricians, general working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -1.8% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Pediatricians, General Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $69,310 |
| Hourly median | $33.32 |
| 10th percentile | $43,535 |
| 25th percentile | $56,422 |
| 75th percentile | $82,197 |
| 90th percentile | $95,084 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $237,950 |
| Kentucky | $237,740 |
| Mississippi | $236,860 |
| Arizona | $227,410 |
| Oklahoma | $226,150 |
| North Dakota | $225,250 |
| Maine | $224,200 |
| South Dakota | $217,990 |
| Pennsylvania | $217,810 |
| Connecticut | $215,730 |
| Missouri | $215,040 |
| Massachusetts | $213,230 |
| Minnesota | $212,380 |
| Delaware | $211,340 |
| Rhode Island | $210,230 |
| Ohio | $210,130 |
| Washington | $209,780 |
| Hawaii | $208,620 |
| Maryland | $208,160 |
| Illinois | $207,740 |
| Colorado | $205,310 |
| Indiana | $202,420 |
| Alabama | $202,330 |
| South Carolina | $201,990 |
| North Carolina | $201,400 |
| Florida | $195,100 |
| Kansas | $194,810 |
| Utah | $194,160 |
| Virginia | $189,070 |
| Texas | $187,590 |
| Nebraska | $186,680 |
| Vermont | $184,450 |
| Michigan | $182,040 |
| Oregon | $181,990 |
| West Virginia | $181,410 |
| Tennessee | $176,150 |
| New Jersey | $171,380 |
| Virgin Islands | $170,430 |
| Georgia | $162,290 |
| New York | $155,570 |
| District of Columbia | $147,060 |
| Puerto Rico | $94,810 |
| Arkansas | $74,890 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for pediatricians, general vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $204,685 | 11.7% | 2.66 |
| Southwest | $201,120 | 9.4% | 0.78 |
| Great Lakes | $194,743 | 15.2% | 1.37 |
| Plains States | $185,125 | 4.8% | 0.96 |
| Southeast | $184,694 | 14.9% | 0.73 |
| Middle Atlantic | $174,895 | 21.5% | 1.72 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $170,430 | 0.1% | 3.47 |
| Rocky Mountains | $167,517 | 1.8% | 0.70 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Pediatricians, General
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | WI | $239,080 | 80 |
| Albuquerque, NM | NM | $237,950 | 160 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | KY | $237,740 | 110 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | MO | $228,950 | 50 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | OK | $227,760 | |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $227,680 | 350 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | AZ | $227,410 | 780 |
| Springfield, MA | MA | $227,170 | 90 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of pediatricians, general work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 41,640 | $210,130 |
| Educational Services | 1,160 | $83,230 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 50 | $95,970 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 40 | $237,200 |
Pediatricians, General work in the following industries:
Software Pediatricians, General Use
- Medical software: eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Medical software: Epic Systems (hot technology)
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for pediatricians, general tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Exposed to Disease or Infections
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How to Become Pediatricians, General
This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Physician Assistants (Supplemental)
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (Supplemental)
- Clinical Nurse Specialists (Supplemental)
- Nurse Midwives (Supplemental)
- Nurse Practitioners (Primary-Long)
- Cardiologists (Primary-Long)
- Dermatologists (Supplemental)
- Emergency Medicine Physicians (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Future pediatricians, general commonly pursue programs in:
26 programs across 5 majors
- Combined Medical Residency/Fellowship Programs
- Otolaryngology Residency/Fellowship Programs
- Pediatrics Residency/Fellowship Programs
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency/Fellowship Programs
- Radiology Residency/Fellowship Programs
Health Professions and Related Programs
2 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-1221.00 (Pediatricians, General).