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Lactation consultant vs pediatrician

The differences between lactation consultants and pediatricians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a lactation consultant, becoming a pediatrician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a pediatrician has an average salary of $191,371, which is higher than the $73,158 average annual salary of a lactation consultant.

The top three skills for a lactation consultant include patients, IBCLC and patient care. The most important skills for a pediatrician are patients, primary care, and ADHD.

Lactation consultant vs pediatrician overview

Lactation ConsultantPediatrician
Yearly salary$73,158$191,371
Hourly rate$35.17$92.01
Growth rate6%7%
Number of jobs5,8094,117
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Doctoral Degree, 34%
Average age4448
Years of experience24

What does a lactation consultant do?

Lactation consultants are responsible for assisting new mothers in caring for their newborn babies. Their job includes helping mothers in their breastfeeding sessions and giving pre- and post-natal education to help them recover from giving birth. Before the actual process of giving birth, lactation consultants also provide seminars for couples who want to have a baby to prepare for pregnancy. They provide education to prepare clients physically, socially, and emotionally for the lactation period or the process of breastfeeding.

What does a pediatrician do?

A Pediatrician diagnoses and treats childrens injuries and diseases. They examine patients and maintain records such as medical history, reports, and examination results.

Lactation consultant vs pediatrician salary

Lactation consultants and pediatricians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Lactation ConsultantPediatrician
Average salary$73,158$191,371
Salary rangeBetween $53,000 And $99,000Between $124,000 And $293,000
Highest paying CityPalo Alto, CAGrand Forks, ND
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNorth Dakota
Best paying companyChildren's Hospital of MichiganYuma Regional Medical Center
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between lactation consultant and pediatrician education

There are a few differences between a lactation consultant and a pediatrician in terms of educational background:

Lactation ConsultantPediatrician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Doctoral Degree, 34%
Most common majorNursingMedicine
Most common collegeDuke UniversityUniversity of Virginia

Lactation consultant vs pediatrician demographics

Here are the differences between lactation consultants' and pediatricians' demographics:

Lactation ConsultantPediatrician
Average age4448
Gender ratioMale, 3.7% Female, 96.3%Male, 27.2% Female, 72.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 9.1% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 18.1% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage9%10%

Differences between lactation consultant and pediatrician duties and responsibilities

Lactation consultant example responsibilities.

  • Manage communications with referral source, medical providers, injure worker and other parties involve in the rehabilitation process.
  • Provide clinical lactation support, community breastfeeding education, and CPR instruction
  • Work in outpatient breastfeeding center as IBCLC with occasional floating to inpatient lactation consulting.
  • Provide guidance to birth mothers on proper positions and latch techniques to minimize potential complications.
  • Implement and oversee a maternity services clinic focusing on prenatal education, lactation services, and breastfeeding.
  • Perform nutrition assessment for participants by providing participants with information on healthy eating, nursing assistance, and healthy lifestyle choices.
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Pediatrician example responsibilities.

  • Provide exceptional continuity of care and patient satisfaction by managing patients in both outpatient and inpatient pediatric settings.
  • Work as pediatrician in Al-Ain medical district - PHC - M.O.H of the UAE
  • care with splinting, suturing ,
  • Administer vaccines to babies and kids.
  • Coordinate CME activities for the medical staff.
  • Identify medical rehabilitation needs (hearing aids, low vision aids).
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Lactation consultant vs pediatrician skills

Common lactation consultant skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • IBCLC, 17%
  • Patient Care, 13%
  • International Board, 8%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Mother-Baby, 4%
Common pediatrician skills
  • Patients, 30%
  • Primary Care, 16%
  • ADHD, 9%
  • Neonatology, 5%
  • Internal Medicine, 5%
  • Epic, 4%

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