Pediatrician Salary Calculator

⏱ 3-min read · Last updated 2026-09-03

Pediatrician salary is annual compensation for physicians specializing in children's healthcare, ranging from $190,000 (entry-level general pediatrics) to $480,000+ (experienced pediatric cardiologists). Subspecialists earn 30–60% more than general pediatricians, who rank among the lowest-paid US physicians. To calculate your salary estimate, select specialty, setting, and experience below.

↓ Calculate my pediatrician salary

Currency Non-USD amounts use approximate rates — verify before publish.

Specialty Type Subspecialists typically earn 30–60% more than general pediatricians.

Employment Model Private practice owners typically net 5–12% more in take-home pay.

Practice Setting Academic centers pay ~12% below children's hospital rates; private clinics ~5% more.

Years Post-Residency / Fellowship Early-career pediatricians earn 15–20% below the MGMA median for their specialty.

Advanced options

Geographic Region Geographic premiums range from −8% (South) to +15% (rural HPSA) vs. national average.

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Select your specialty and experience, then click Calculate to see your salary estimate.

What Is a Pediatrician Salary Calculator?

A pediatrician salary calculator is a compensation modeling tool that estimates annual physician earnings based on specialty type, employment model, practice setting, experience tier, and geographic region — calibrated to MGMA benchmark data for US pediatric medicine. General pediatricians earned a median base salary near $238,000–$248,000 in 2024, while pediatric subspecialists ranged from $245,000 (endocrinology) to $425,000 (cardiology). [MGMA Physician Compensation Survey, 2024]

Residents choosing between general pediatrics and fellowship, attending physicians evaluating offers, and healthcare HR teams setting budgets rely on this type of benchmarking tool to ground decisions in current market data. General pediatrics consistently ranks among the lowest-compensated physician specialties despite persistent primary-care demand — a structural reality this calculator models transparently. Results represent P25–P75 compensation bands, not guaranteed figures, and should be validated against real offer letters and regional recruiter data.

Core Salary Estimation Formula

Estimated Salary = Base_specialty × F_employment × F_setting × F_experience × F_region

Where Base_specialty = MGMA 2024 modeled median for the selected specialty; each F is a multiplicative adjustment factor. Output is estimated annual base salary in USD.

How to Calculate Pediatrician Salary — Step by Step

Calculating a pediatrician salary estimate requires a specialty baseline from MGMA data, then sequential multiplication of four adjustment factors for employment model, setting, experience, and geography.

Start with the specialty base salary. General pediatrics anchors at $240,000 (MGMA 2024 modeled median). Subspecialty baselines range from $245,000 (endocrinology) to $410,000 (cardiology). This is the foundation before any adjustments.
Apply the employment model factor. Employed by a health system: ×1.00 (baseline). Private pediatric practice owner: ×1.08, reflecting net income advantage after reimbursement for overhead costs.
Apply the practice setting factor. Private outpatient clinic: ×1.05. Children's hospital: ×1.00 (baseline). Academic medical center: ×0.88 — lower base salary offset by research time and loan-forgiveness eligibility.
Apply the experience factor. 0–2 years post-training: ×0.82. Scaling through ×0.92 (3–5 yrs), ×1.00 (6–10 yrs), ×1.08 (11–15 yrs), ×1.13 (16–20 yrs), and ×1.18 for 20+ years.
Apply the regional factor. National average: ×1.00. Rural/HPSA shortage areas: ×1.15. Northeast: ×1.10. South/Southeast: ×0.92.
Compute the result and confidence band. Multiply all factors. Apply ±15% to derive the P25–P75 compensation range for your scenario.

Quick example: general pediatrician, employed, children's hospital, 6–10 years, national average → $240,000 × 1.00 × 1.00 × 1.00 × 1.00 = $240,000 median estimate; P25–P75 band ≈ $204,000–$276,000. [MGMA, 2024; Doximity Physician Compensation Report, 2024]

Pediatrician Salary Formula Reference and Compensation Benchmarks

Pediatrician compensation benchmarks vary significantly by subspecialty, with procedural subspecialties commanding the highest base salaries across all employment models and settings in 2024 MGMA data.

Specialty Base Salary Reference (MGMA 2024 Modeled Medians, USD)

General Pediatrics: $240,000
Pediatric Cardiology: $410,000
Pediatric Oncology / Hematology: $340,000
Pediatric Gastroenterology: $320,000
Pediatric Pulmonology: $270,000
Pediatric Endocrinology: $245,000

All values are modeled estimates calibrated to MGMA 2024. Actual compensation varies by geography, wRVU production, call schedule, and benefits structure. [MGMA, 2024]

Table 1: Adjustment Factors by Input Variable
Variable	Option	Factor
Employment Model	Employed — health system	×1.00
	Private pediatric practice	×1.08
Setting	Private practice / outpatient	×1.05
	Children's hospital	×1.00
	Academic medical center	×0.88
Experience	0–2 years post-training	×0.82
	3–5 years	×0.92
	6–10 years (baseline)	×1.00
	11–15 years	×1.08
	16–20 years	×1.13
	20+ years	×1.18

Table 2: Regional Compensation Adjustment Factors
Region	Factor	Notes
Northeast (NY, MA, CT, NJ)	×1.10	High cost of living; urban demand premium
West Coast (CA, WA, OR)	×1.05	CA supply constraints; moderate premium
Mountain West / PNW	×1.08	Growing shortage; fewer fellowship programs
Midwest	×0.95	Lower COL; competitive supply pipeline
South / Southeast	×0.92	Lower COL; strong residency output
Rural / HPSA shortage	×1.15	Federal shortage premium; NHSC loan repayment eligible

Worked Example with Real Numbers

A pediatric cardiologist employed at a children's hospital in the Northeast, 11–15 years post-fellowship, can estimate base salary step by step using the MGMA-anchored model.

Specialty base (pediatric cardiology, MGMA 2024): $410,000
Employment model (employed health system): × 1.00 → $410,000
Setting (children's hospital): × 1.00 → $410,000
Experience (11–15 years): × 1.08 → $442,800
Region (Northeast): × 1.10 → $487,080
P25–P75 band: ≈ $414,000–$560,000 [MGMA, 2024]

Contrast with a newly trained general pediatrician in private practice, outpatient clinic, South region: $240,000 × 1.08 × 1.05 × 0.82 × 0.92 = ≈ $200,300. This scenario shows the compounding pressure on early-career general pediatricians — below-median experience factor plus geographic discount drives total compensation well below the national general pediatrics median despite the private-practice premium.

RVU-based bonuses, call pay, sign-on packages, CME allowances ($2,000–$5,000/year), and employer retirement contributions routinely add $15,000–$60,000 to total compensation. Always compare offers on a total-compensation basis, not base salary alone. [AMA Physician Practice Benchmark Survey, 2023]

Subspecialty vs. General Pediatrics — The Pay Gap Explained

Pediatric subspecialists consistently out-earn general pediatricians by 30–60%, driven by procedural wRVU generation, longer fellowship training requirements, and lower physician supply relative to patient demand for specialized children's care.

General pediatrics is one of the lowest-compensated physician specialties in the United States — a structural pattern that has persisted despite chronic primary-care shortage warnings. The AAMC's 2024 Physician Workforce Report projects a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, with general pediatrics disproportionately affected. Despite this demand signal, pediatric primary-care compensation has grown more slowly than most procedural subspecialties. [AAMC Physician Workforce Projections, 2024]

Four structural drivers sustain the subspecialty premium: (1) Three additional fellowship years reduce pipeline supply while simultaneously raising the opportunity cost of training. (2) Procedural subspecialties — cardiology, gastroenterology — generate substantially higher annual wRVU counts (7,000–10,000+) versus general pediatrics (4,500–5,500). (3) Children's hospitals pay competitive market rates to recruit rare subspecialists with limited regional alternatives. (4) Research stipends and grant overhead recovery supplement academic subspecialty roles beyond base salary. The premium is widest in cardiology and narrowest in endocrinology, mirroring adult endocrinology's lower procedure volume.

For residents weighing the break-even math: three fellowship years at $65,000–$75,000 stipend represent approximately $510,000–$615,000 in foregone attending salary versus entering general pediatrics immediately. The subspecialty salary premium ($80,000–$170,000/year) typically recovers this gap in 4–7 years post-fellowship. For a side-by-side comparison with a high-earning adult surgical subspecialty, an orthopedic surgeon salary calculator provides a useful reference point on the upper end of physician compensation. [AAP Pediatric Subspecialty Workforce Report, 2023]

5 Expert Tips and 4 Common Mistakes in Pediatrician Compensation

Pediatrician compensation negotiations reward preparation; most physicians leave significant money on the table by accepting the first offer without benchmarking the total compensation package against MGMA percentile data.

Mistake 1: Comparing base salaries without accounting for call burden. A $280,000 offer with 1:3 overnight call is categorically different from $260,000 with no call. Overnight call can add 300–600 hours per year. Always normalize offers to an effective hourly rate and confirm whether call is compensated separately or absorbed into base salary.

Mistake 2: Accepting pure productivity contracts without a guaranteed base floor. wRVU-only models expose early-career pediatricians to income shortfalls during the 12–24 months required to build a full patient panel. Always negotiate a guaranteed minimum base for the ramp-up period regardless of long-term productivity model structure.

Mistake 3: Signing a non-compete without negotiating the geographic radius. Standard pediatric employment contracts include 10–30 mile non-compete clauses lasting 1–2 years post-termination. Without negotiating this term, a contract ending can force costly relocation. Request the narrowest possible radius or a monetary buy-out provision before signing.

Mistake 4: Anchoring compensation expectations to a colleague's offer. Pediatric salaries vary dramatically by state, subspecialty, employment model, and employer type. A peer's offer in another region or specialty is a misleading benchmark. Use MGMA regional and specialty data as the correct comparison standard in every negotiation.

Pediatric practices increasingly deploy team-based care models with nurse practitioners and CRNAs managing lower-acuity visits. Understanding allied health staffing costs helps pediatricians appreciate how their compensation fits into overall practice economics — a nurse practitioner salary calculator and a CRNA salary calculator quantify the staffing cost structure alongside physician compensation.

When to Use This Pediatrician Salary Calculator

This pediatrician salary calculator adds the most value at three career inflection points: residency exit, fellowship completion, and contract renewal — when MGMA benchmark data gives concrete negotiating leverage against an employer's opening offer.

Table 3: Decision Guide — When This Tool Is Most Useful
Career Stage	Primary Use Case	Key Input to Vary
Final year of residency	Compare employed vs. private practice starting offers	Employment model
Fellowship completion	Assess subspecialty salary premium vs. 3 lost training years	Specialty type, experience 0–2
2-year contract renewal	Request market-rate adjustment with benchmark data	Experience tier, region
Geographic relocation	Model salary delta between origin and destination region	Regional factor
Employed → private practice	Estimate net income after overhead transition	Employment model, setting
Academic vs. clinical role	Quantify the academic pay discount before accepting	Setting: academic vs. children's hospital

This tool is not suited for: calculating partnership buy-in valuations in private practice, estimating locum tenens daily rates (which use a separate per-diem RVU model), or projecting lifetime earnings inclusive of investment income. For those scenarios, consult a healthcare-specialized financial planner.

Healthcare professionals evaluating adjacent career paths can also explore a psychologist salary calculator for mental health career benchmarks or a registered nurse salary calculator to understand pediatric nursing team compensation within the same practice environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average pediatrician salary in the United States?

Average pediatrician salary in the US ranges from $238,000–$255,000 annually for general pediatrics, based on 2024 MGMA and Doximity benchmarks; subspecialists earn $270,000–$425,000 depending on specialty. [MGMA, 2024]

Do pediatric subspecialists earn more than general pediatricians?

Pediatric subspecialists typically earn 30–60% more than general pediatricians, with cardiology earning the most and endocrinology the least due to lower procedural volume relative to other subspecialties. [MGMA, 2024]

How much do first-year pediatricians make after residency?

First-year pediatricians (0–2 years post-residency) typically earn $190,000–$210,000 in general pediatrics, reflecting a 15–20% early-career discount versus the MGMA specialty median for their field. [Doximity, 2024]

What is the highest-paying pediatric subspecialty?

Pediatric cardiology is the highest-paying pediatric subspecialty, with median compensation near $410,000–$440,000 nationally due to high procedural wRVU generation and limited subspecialist supply. [MGMA, 2024]

Does academic medicine pay pediatricians less than other settings?

Academic medical centers typically pay pediatricians 10–15% less in base salary than children's hospitals or private practices, offset by research funding, protected academic time, and loan-forgiveness eligibility. [AAMC, 2024]

How does practice setting affect pediatrician compensation?

Practice setting shifts pediatrician pay by up to 17%: private outpatient clinics average ~5% above children's hospital rates, while academic centers average ~12% below — a $30,000–$50,000 annual difference at mid-career. [MGMA, 2024]

What is the difference between employed and private practice pediatrician compensation?

Employed pediatricians receive guaranteed base salary plus benefits; private practice owners net 5–12% more but bear overhead, billing costs, and business risk without employer-sponsored retirement or malpractice coverage. [AMA, 2023]

What benefits should pediatricians include when comparing compensation offers?

Pediatrician total compensation comparisons should include malpractice type (claims-made vs. occurrence), employer retirement match, CME allowance, sign-on bonus, student-loan repayment, call pay structure, and non-compete terms. [AMA, 2023]

Key Terms Explained

Understanding pediatric compensation terminology is essential for accurately comparing job offers, negotiating employment contracts, and interpreting MGMA salary survey data in the context of your own career stage.

MGMA (Medical Group Management Association): The primary benchmarking organization for US physician compensation. MGMA's annual Physician Compensation and Productivity Survey is the industry-standard reference used by health systems, hospital administrators, and physicians when setting and evaluating salary offers, segmented by specialty, setting, and region.
wRVU (Work Relative Value Unit): A Medicare-defined measure of physician work effort per clinical service, reflecting time, technical skill, and complexity. In productivity-based contracts, annual wRVU production × a conversion factor ($42–$55/wRVU for pediatricians in 2024) determines variable compensation above the guaranteed base.
Total Compensation: The full value of a physician employment package: base salary + production bonuses + sign-on payment + employer retirement match + malpractice insurance + CME allowance + health benefits + loan repayment assistance. Comparing offers requires converting all components to annual dollar values before ranking.
Employed Physician Model: A compensation structure in which a hospital or health system directly employs the physician, providing guaranteed salary, benefits, and administrative infrastructure in exchange for reduced autonomy over scheduling, billing rates, and practice management decisions.
HPSA (Health Professional Shortage Area): A federally designated geographic or population-based area with insufficient primary care provider supply. Pediatricians practicing in HPSAs may qualify for NHSC Loan Repayment Programs paying up to $50,000 tax-free over 2 years of service commitment.
RVU Conversion Factor: The dollar amount paid per wRVU in a physician productivity contract. Pediatric conversion factors ranged approximately $42–$55 per wRVU nationally in 2024. A higher conversion factor directly amplifies the income return from productivity improvements.
Pediatric Subspecialty: A medical discipline requiring 3 additional fellowship years beyond a 3-year pediatric residency. Subspecialties include cardiology, endocrinology, oncology/hematology, gastroenterology, and pulmonology — each commanding a salary premium above general pediatrics due to specialized training and lower supply.

Pediatrician Salary Calculator