It Still Pays to be a Physician

Americas physicians -- particularly specialists --are earning better-than-average pay increases in addition to comfortable salaries again this year, according to Modern Healthcares 10th annual Physician Compensation Survey, a compendium of surveys and studies from 10 associations, consulting firms and staffing companies.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) July 23, 2003 -- Americas physicians -- particularly specialists -- are earning better-than-average pay increases in addition to comfortable salaries again this year, according to Modern Healthcares 10th annual Physician Compensation Survey, a compendium of surveys and studies from 10 associations, consulting firms and staffing companies.

In a carry-over of a trend that stretches back several years, specialists continue to take home annual salaries more than double those of internists, pediatricians and family practitioners.

According to numbers cited by the Medical Group Management Association, one participant in our survey, average salaries for radiologists reached as high as $386,214, anesthesiologists $334,121 and urologists $334,019. While specialists are at the top of the list, internists dropped toward the other end of the salary scale, ranging from a low of $150,000 to a high of $179,000. The lowest annual average salary listed is $131,688 for psychiatrists.

Against the backdrop of higher malpractice premiums and constricted payments from public and private health insurers, our analysis of the various surveys and studies shows that physicians continue to do well economically," said David Burda, editor of Modern Healthcare.

The physician salary survey presents average cash compensation by specialty as reported by each organization. The size of samples, the kinds of practices and the methodology varied among the surveying organizations. For information on each surveying firm, or to view the complete results of Modern Healthcares 10th annual Physician Compensation Survey visit www.modernhealthcare.com.

Modern Healthcare is the industry's only healthcare business news weekly, providing healthcare executives the most reliable, up-to-date and comprehensive business news and information. In addition to print, readers access our news online at modernhealthcare.com and via our daily e-newsletter, the Daily Dose. With this three-tiered approach to news, our award-winning staff of editors and reporters delivers information that enables healthcare leaders to take constructive action and improve performance.