Pediatricians, General: Job Description
Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and injuries in children. May refer patients to specialists for further diagnosis or treatment, as needed.
Featured schools near , edit
The Daily Work of Pediatricians, General Do?
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.
What Pediatricians, General Need to Know
Top pediatricians, general rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Pediatricians, General Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- 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
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 3,007,044 pediatricians, general working in the United States today. Employment is projected 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.
How Much Do Pediatricians, General Make in Different U.S. States?
| 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 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for pediatricians, general vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| 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 |
Top Metro Areas
| 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 bulk of pediatricians, general are concentrated in the following sectors:
| 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
The work environment for pediatricians, general reflects 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 career aligns with Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting 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
Students preparing for pediatricians, general typically earn 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
This profile draws on 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).