What are the pros and cons of being a pediatrician?

Question

Zippia Team · Accepted Answer

The pros of being a pediatrician are competitive pay and rewarding work, while the cons are lots of required schooling and stressful conditions. Here is a more detailed look at the pros and cons of being a pediatrician:

Pros:

Competitive Pay. Pediatricians are highly specialized individuals, and they are compensated for this specialization. The national average salary for pediatricians is over $180,000. The more specialized you are, the more money you make, so your potential can be much higher than that average salary.
Rewarding Work. It can be extremely rewarding to help children. You will work to help them stay healthy, and when they are sick you will work to make sure they become healthy again. Many pediatricians find great satisfaction in this.

Cons:

Extensive Schooling Requirements. Pediatricians are medical doctors, so they must receive medical degrees from accredited universities and complete residency before they begin practicing. This is a long, difficult, and often expensive process.
Stressful Working Conditions. Working with children can be rewarding, but it can also be stressful. Children are often not cooperative. You also will come into contact with children with terminal illnesses or severe injuries, which can be extremely difficult emotionally.