Pediatrician Career
In an outpatient setting, pediatricians see a variety of patients throughout the day. These include wellness visits with developmental screening, diagnosis and treatment of mild illnesses and injuries, and care for chronic conditions. They may need to refer some patients out to specialists for further testing and treatment. Some practices include evening or weekend shifts and overnight call duties.
In an inpatient setting, pediatricians care for patients who have been hospitalized with an acute illness, an exacerbation of a chronic condition, or an injury. They review and order diagnostic tests and exams to identify and treat conditions, request consultation with specialists, order therapy and treatment, plan for transition or discharge, and meet with families to discuss treatment options and plans. Shifts may include day, overnight, and weekend duties.
Some general pediatricians will develop a clinical practice focused on a specific facet of the specialty, such as sports medicine or weight loss. This may center around a topic of research or area of interest.
Pediatrician Career Snapshot
Pediatricians work in a variety of practices, with many choosing to work in either an outpatient or an inpatient setting. Some pediatricians, especially in rural environments, work in a combination of both outpatient and inpatient settings. Full and part-time positions are available.
Further details on a career as a pediatrician are listed below (statistics from the May 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):
is the average yearly salary according to salary.com
increase in employment between 2014 and 2024.
have a Doctoral degree while 13% have Post-Doctoral training.
Pediatrician Education
Pediatricians complete a bachelor’s degree and four years of medical school. This is followed by three years of residency, training that includes both outpatient and inpatient settings. A master’s degree in public health may be useful to pediatricians interested in practice-based research.
Pediatrician Job Duties
General pediatricians are primary care physicians, providing preventive medical care as well as diagnosis and treatment of acute and routine chronic conditions and injuries in children.
Pediatrician Salaries
General pediatrician salaries currently range from $140,519-$255,885, with a median pay of $185,315 according to Salary.com.
Pediatrician Job Outlook
With the shortage of primary care physicians, projected to increase through 2025, pediatrics is experiencing higher than average projected growth at 10%.
Pediatrician Skills & Traits
| Pediatrician Skill Set: | Required Abilities: | Tools Used by Pediatrician: | Typical Work Activities: |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Active Listening • Critical Thinking • Decision Making • Speaking • Reading Comprehension | • Oral Comprehension • Oral Expression • Inductive Reasoning • Problem Sensitivity • Deductive Reasoning | • Floor grade forceps • Laryngoscopes • Medical oxygen masks • Resuscitation masks • Surgical clamps | • Decision Making • Documenting Information • Getting Information • Caring for Others • Interpreting Meaning for Others |
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