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.
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What Do 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top pediatricians, general combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Pediatricians, General Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- 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. Employment is projected to decline by -1.8% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Pediatricians, General
| 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 |
Where Pediatricians, General Earn the Most
Earnings for pediatricians, general shift depending on where you work. 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 |
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 |
Top Industries Employing Pediatricians, General
Most 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 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
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)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of 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
Education and Training
This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
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)
Degree Programs
Aspiring pediatricians, general often complete programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
2 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes 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).