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Job outlook for pediatricians in the United States
Pediatrician job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected pediatrician job growth rate is 7% from 2018-2028.
About 55,400 new jobs for pediatricians are projected over the next decade.
Pediatrician salaries have increased 5% for pediatricians in the last 5 years.
There are over 10,037 pediatricians currently employed in the United States.
There are 4,117 active pediatrician job openings in the US.
The average pediatrician salary is $191,371.
Are pediatrician jobs in demand?
Pediatrician job and salary trends over time
Pediatrician jobs over time
Pediatrician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,037 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 4,013 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 3,810 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 15,619 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 15,893 | 0.00% |
Average pediatrician salary over time
Pediatrician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $191,371 | $92.01 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $186,724 | $89.77 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $183,574 | $88.26 | --1.2% |
| 2022 | $185,823 | $89.34 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $181,884 | $87.44 | --0.8% |
Pediatrician jobs by state
Most common states for pediatricians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 67 | 2% |
| 2 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 22 | 2% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 16 | 2% |
| 4 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 114 | 1% |
| 5 | New York | 19,849,399 | 106 | 1% |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 102 | 1% |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 71 | 1% |
| 8 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 67 | 1% |
| 9 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 64 | 1% |
| 10 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 59 | 1% |
| 11 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 39 | 1% |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 36 | 1% |
| 13 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 27 | 1% |
| 14 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 15 | 1% |
| 15 | Delaware | 961,939 | 10 | 1% |
| 16 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 9 | 1% |
| 17 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 5 | 1% |
| 18 | Vermont | 623,657 | 5 | 1% |
| 19 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 4 | 1% |
| 20 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 14 | 0% |
Most common cities for pediatricians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Dodge | 1 | 4% | $236,413 |
| 2 | Bangor | 1 | 3% | $196,480 |
| 3 | Hinesville | 1 | 3% | $180,898 |
| 4 | Sterling Heights | 2 | 2% | $176,620 |
| 5 | Battle Creek | 1 | 2% | $180,133 |
| 6 | Brandon | 1 | 1% | $161,707 |
| 7 | Fort Myers | 1 | 1% | $159,851 |
| 8 | Jacksonville | 2 | 0% | $164,753 |
| 9 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $184,794 |
| 10 | Austin | 1 | 0% | $185,017 |
| 11 | Chandler | 1 | 0% | $162,621 |
| 12 | Colorado Springs | 1 | 0% | $224,487 |
| 13 | Des Moines | 1 | 0% | $233,860 |
| 14 | Detroit | 1 | 0% | $176,518 |
| 15 | Gilbert | 1 | 0% | $162,656 |
Pediatrician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of pediatrician experts
Campbell University
Colorado Mesa University
Marshall University
The University of Akron
California State University, Chico
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Dalton State College
Washburn University
Albright College
Indiana Wesleyan University
Northeast Ohio Medical University
College of Our Lady of the Elms
Robert Agnello DO, FACOFP
Assistant Professor of Family MedicineCampbell University
Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy
What Pediatrician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Robert Agnello DO, FACOFP: Multiple resources suggest the following could be more prevelant and important in the field of osteopathic medicine in the next 3-5 years.
Lifestyle Medicine: There's a growing interest in lifestyle medicine among osteopathic physicians. This field focuses on the treatment, reversal, and prevention of chronic disease by addressing root causes with evidence-based lifestyle therapeutic interventions.
Technology Integration: As technology continues to advance, it's becoming increasingly important for osteopathic physicians to be able to integrate and leverage these technologies in their practice.
Leadership and Advocacy: Skills in leadership and advocacy are becoming more important as the field grows and evolves. These skills can help osteopathic physicians advocate for themselves, their patients, and their profession.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams is crucial. As health care becomes more integrated, osteopathic physicians will need to collaborate with a wide range of health professionals to provide comprehensive patient care.
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT): OMT is a core skill for osteopathic physicians, and its importance is likely to continue or even increase as patients seek it out.
What will help Pediatricians increase their earning potential?
Robert Agnello DO, FACOFP: Starting a career in osteopathic medicine is an exciting journey! Here are some general pieces of advice that might be helpful:
Continuous Learning: Medicine is a field that is constantly evolving. Stay updated with the latest research, techniques, and advancements in your field. Attend seminars, workshops, and conferences whenever possible.
Patient-Centered Care: Remember, as an osteopathic physician, your approach is to treat the whole person, not just the symptoms. Develop strong patient communication skills and always consider their mental and emotional health along with their physical health.
Networking: Building professional relationships can open up opportunities for collaboration, learning, and growth. Join professional organizations and participate in community service.
Self-Care: The medical profession can be demanding. It's important to take care of your own physical and mental health. Find a balance between work and personal life.
Ethics: Uphold the highest standards of professionalism and ethics. Your reputation is built not only on your osteopathic medical skills but also on your integrity and interaction with patients, colleagues, and the community.
Mentorship: Seek out mentors who can guide you through your career. Their experience and advice can be invaluable.
Remember, every journey begins with a single step. Best of luck with your career in osteopathic medicine!
Youngmin Kim
Assistant Professor of PhysicsColorado Mesa University
Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Pediatricians?
Youngmin Kim: That would depend largely on the students upon how they reacted. Statistics do show that younger students, high schools, freshmen who just came out of online semesters in high school, suffered quality education especially in math and science. A number of students in my classes sort of dropped out when the university platform moved online or hybrid. It would also depend on the quality of lectures their faculties could deliver. At the same time, students with good level of self-motivation did achieve similarly. They would not have a lasting impact. We noticed that the changes tend to polarize the students depending on their willingness and circumstances in health and finance. On another note, the cheating rates did go up significantly-nation wide.
What Pediatrician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
John Colclough: This is a great question, and if I wish I had the answer. I do know this however, performers need to have a skill set that can subsidize their careers. The restaurant/bar industry, more than any other has answered this call. Unfortunately Covid-19 has impacted the restaurant/bar industry more than any other. So challenging on so many levels. What to do? Practical skills that correlate to an individual's unique interests seem like a good place to start. How can the performer utilize known skills to garner a paycheck? Everything from handyman/construction for those who excelled in their technical theatre classes, to personal assistants for those who have a flair for logistics could offer avenues for success if developed. With technology taking more of a central role in the industry, it's possible to enhance those skills during a gap year-this may not help with your monthly bottom line (financially speaking) but would make you better prepared once the year is over. Gap years are a perfect time to hone those skills that need a bit of TLC, for instance: dance classes, voice classes, picking up a second language or a musical instrument-anything that might add another skill set to the resume is worth the time and effort.
What general advice would you give to a Pediatrician?
John Colclough: Be patient and stay informed. Many performers think their career is about the work in the rehearsal hall or in performance-not so, the real work is in the management of your business. Being an authority of WHO, WHAT and WHERE is key. WHO are the players in your market? The directors, actors, casting people, producing organizations, etc...these are who you need to know-your network. WHAT opportunities exist in your market? The theatres, video companies, universities (if you have an MFA you may be able to teach a class or two), Improvisation groups, any opportunity that allows you to grow your brand is worth your attention. And finally, WHERE are the opportunities-knowing your community and having a sense of how each company fits into the fabric of the community. Having a sense of where the company resides both geographically and virtually (web sites) and having a solid knowledge base of details of each company can inform your marketing tactics as well as provide you with specific details unique to each organization. Careers develop over time and keeping expectations realistic over the first year can be challenging. Be practical and methodical in your approach: save money (there's never enough), find a place to live (the best you can afford), find a side hustle (you're going to need money and routine), find out the lay of the land (WHO, WHAT, and WHERE), develop your skill set (take a class and meet colleagues), go to productions, screenings, workshops, document your growth (keep a journal or calendar to track your progress), celebrate your successes and be patient with your stumbles-Hard knocks are the best teachers!
What skills stand out on Pediatrician resumes?
Dr. Stephen Weeks: Generally, employers like to see "hands-on" skills for graduates. So, lab-based classes, internships, volunteer work (e.g., in hospitals or other health care settings), and experience in research labs look great on resumes. Because biology is such a diverse field, I cannot point to specific skills for the entire range of biology. Generally, however, having good writing skills will almost certainly be helpful for any biology career.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Pediatricians to find work opportunities?
Dr. Stephen Weeks: I do not know the answer to this question. Healthcare is the fastest growing job market in biology, and such jobs are located primarily in larger metropolitan areas across the country.
Dr. Eric Ayars
Professor and Chair of PhysicsCalifornia State University, Chico
Department of Physics
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Pediatrician job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Eric Ayars: If I knew the answer to this, I'd be buying stocks instead of answering emails. The one thing I can predict with reasonable certainty is that the job market is likely to reward people who are highly adaptable with a broad range of technical skills and the ability to learn new things rapidly. This is a good reason to study physics, incidentally: even if you don't go on to a career in physics, the rapid-learning and problem-solving skills gained as a physics major are valuable anywhere.
What experience really stands out on Pediatrician resumes?
Philip Chang Ph.D.: Generally, when hiring postdocs in physics, we look at people with the right kind of experience and knowledge to plug into our research programs. So we look for knowledge, skills, and publication record.
Marcela Armenta
Assistant Professor of Medical Laboratory TechnologyDalton State College
Department of Allied Health and Social Work
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Pediatrician job market given the pandemic?
Marcela Armenta: This pandemic has undoubtedly affected the lives of millions of individuals across the globe. Many have lost their jobs, had scheduled hours reduced, or some were even forced to take a cut in their salary. In my opinion, we will see the need for more remote work as it has become in great demand due to this pandemic. We have gone from e-commerce to online education to private healthcare. With the rise of working remotely, one of the most exciting trends that we will see in the job market is the opportunities and movement of skills worldwide. I can already see many companies source diverse talent more efficiently, especially from those that tend to be underrepresented in their area.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Pediatricians in the next 3-5 years?
Marcela Armenta: I genuinely believe molecular diagnostic technology will be more meaningful and prevalent in medical laboratory technology in the next 3-5 years. It has become the standard practice when testing for various genetic diseases and gene mutations, pathogens, DNA-based tissue typing, molecular oncology, and many more. A relatively new procedure added to the molecular testing panel is the microarray essay used to measure gene expression. This type of medical laboratory technology will undoubtedly improve the diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Pediatricians in the next 5 years?
Marcela Armenta: Right now, our profession is in a critical shortage of employees, not just in my surrounding area where I currently reside, but throughout the United States; it has become a nationwide problem. Employment in this field is projected to continue to grow as more and more baby boomers are looking at early retirement and creating more vacancies that are unable to be filled with qualified and skilled laboratory professionals. Our students typically receive job offers in their final semester while doing their clinical internship.
What are the best companies to work for a Pediatrician?
Brian Thomas Ph.D.: A degree in physics can open doors to working at companies in a variety of industries. Research and development teams at aerospace, computer, software, telecommunications, and other technical-focused companies employ people with degrees in physics at all levels. People trained in physics also work in other areas, including journalism, finance, even the entertainment industry. I don't know that I can recommend any specific companies, but generally, any company focused on technical solutions will likely be a good fit.
What experience really stands out on Pediatrician resumes?
Justin Couchman Ph.D.: Even during the pandemic, the main things that stand out on a resume are internships and research experience. That might be online now or under strange new conditions, but still, get it where you can. Make an opportunity for yourself or suggest possible ways of getting involved in video conferences or online research. The methods are changing, but counselors are still working on Zoom and other platforms.
One of the most common interview questions is: "Describe a situation in which you faced great difficulty and how you handled it." Every recent graduate has been faced with great difficulty, and it is good to think about how you can handle it and pull as much good out of the situation as possible. In many ways forming your personal story is more comfortable today because there are many more challenges and many more opportunities to succeed.
Dr. Haydee Encarnacion-Garcia Ph.D.
Associate Professor, MPH Program DirectorIndiana Wesleyan University
School of Health Sciences
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Pediatricians in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Haydee Encarnacion-Garcia Ph.D.: We observe how telemedicine or telehealth has become critical/crucial as a distribution tool of health-related services and information via electronic venues. Telemedicine or telehealth has become a way to exchange data between clinician(s) and patient(s), incredibly popular among the influencers, and extremely important to promote long-distance clinical healthcare and health-related public health education for communities located in remote areas. Telehealth applications most require the need to educate and increase health literacy among certain groups, such as the elderly. Indeed, mobile health and remote patient monitoring applications will turn out to be an essential advance to disseminate public health information and clinical data based on accurate and well-designed surveillance systems.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Pediatricians in the next 5 years?
Dr. Haydee Encarnacion-Garcia Ph.D.: For example, recently, Indiana Wesleyan University established a Master of Science in Nursing/Master in Public Health (MSN/MPH) joint program resulting in a dual degree. This interprofessional collaboration between the IWU School of Nursing and School of Health Sciences will provide an opportunity for bachelor-prepared nurses to gain both advanced skills in nursing education and public health practice. This joint degree program is very timely to the current pandemic crisis and the current healthcare climate needs. According to the Bureau of Healthcare Workforce, estimates a 16% increase in public health jobs over the next ten years. This number is increased by merging nursing and public health combined positions. Nevertheless, we know that the pandemic continues to evolve, and the public health and healthcare practitioners must continue to deliver high-quality care for all patients. Therefore, it is critical during a public health crisis to ensure a well-trained public health workforce prepares to emerge as future leaders in this field.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Pediatricians to find work opportunities?
Julie Aultman Ph.D.: We need this future workforce to be innovative, to make important changes - from environmental and global warming initiatives (bioethicists who have a passion for environmental ethics) to being researchers and advocates for patients and others who might fall victim to the negative impact of the pandemic (clinical ethics, health humanities scholars). The transition to work will be slow, as the revitalization of our national economy, but there will be work.
We need these future minds more than anything right now. But again, mentors are going to be essential for helping these graduates get to that next phase in their lives. I am fully confident my dual-enrolled students (medical or pharmacy students who are also taking the Masters program in Medical Ethics and Humanities) will find work opportunities. For my traditional graduate students who are not in the health professions, there will be roles for these students in medicine and science (e.g., regulatory compliance).
However, I do encourage them to work toward a doctoral program as the MA degree is a non-terminal degree. I have had students receive work prior to the pandemic, and I would suspect similar opportunities post-pandemic, particularly in the sciences where ethics and compliance are so essential.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Pediatricians in the next 3-5 years?
Janet Williams Ph.D.: PCR diagnostics are already critical, but they will become more critical as time goes on, since nearly all disorders or infections might be able to be diagnosed with PCR technology, in a matter of minutes, in the clinic.
Possibly, a little further out, will be genome sequencing to determine health risks for patients. It might even be able to prescribe lifestyle and nutrition best-practices for individuals, based on their genetics.