The minimum salary of a pediatrician typically refers to a starting salary for a first-year resident physician following medical school, not an attending physician’s wage. During the three-year pediatric residency, salaries are standardized by teaching hospitals and generally range from $60,000 to $75,000 annually. This constitutes the true minimum salary of a pediatrician in training.
For a board-certified pediatrician in independent practice, a reported minimum salary is uncommon. However, several factors can lead to earnings at the lower end of the spectrum:
- Primary Care Setting: General outpatient pediatrics traditionally offers lower compensation compared to sub-specialized or hospital-based roles.
- Geographic Location: Salaries in academic or rural areas may be lower than those in high-demand urban or suburban private practices.
- Employment Structure: Pediatricians employed by government or non-profit community health centers often accept lower pay in exchange for loan repayment programs or mission-driven work.
Therefore, while a definitive single figure for the minimum salary of a pediatrician is elusive, early-career and certain practice settings define the lower bound. It is essential to distinguish between residency stipends and the significantly higher, variable earning potential of a fully trained pediatrician, which rises with experience, specialization, and practice ownership.