Physiatrist vs pain management physician

The differences between physiatrists and pain management physicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a physiatrist has an average salary of $305,616, which is higher than the $253,724 average annual salary of a pain management physician.

The top three skills for a physiatrist include patients, rehabilitation and physical medicine. The most important skills for a pain management physician are pain management, patients, and primary care.

Physiatrist vs pain management physician overview

	Physiatrist	Pain Management Physician
Yearly salary	$305,616	$253,724
Hourly rate	$146.93	$121.98
Growth rate	7%	28%
Number of jobs	10,190	109,196
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 24%	Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Average age	48	39
Years of experience	4	-

What does a physiatrist do?

Physiatrists must have a bachelor's degree in physical sciences or a related field, a M.D. or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, and 4 to 7 years' internship and residency training specializing in rehab and physical medicine. This position pays annual salaries of around $58K to $370K. It requires skills in empathy, compassion, emotional resilience, monitoring, and strong initiative to work in challenging environments. Physiatrists diagnose illnesses, design plans for treatment, and prescribe various medicines.

What does a pain management physician do?

Pain management physicians are medical doctors who diagnose and coordinate treatment while providing care for patients who are experiencing pain. By understanding the physiology of pain, these physicians are required to conduct specialized tests to diagnose complex pain conditions as well as prescribe proper medications and therapies to treat them. They must observe their patients for their ability to function and overall quality of life. Pain management physicians must also work with other healthcare professionals such as physical therapists, physiatrists, and nurses to meet all the needs of their patients.

Physiatrist vs pain management physician salary

Physiatrists and pain management physicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Physiatrist	Pain Management Physician
Average salary	$305,616	$253,724
Salary range	Between $147,000 And $635,000	Between $129,000 And $497,000
Highest paying City	Anchorage, AK	Grand Island, NE
Highest paying state	Alaska	Nebraska
Best paying company	Parkridge Health System	HealthPartners
Best paying industry	Health Care	Pharmaceutical

Differences between physiatrist and pain management physician education

There are a few differences between a physiatrist and a pain management physician in terms of educational background:

	Physiatrist	Pain Management Physician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 24%	Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Most common major	Medicine	Nursing
Most common college	Stanford University	Duke University

Physiatrist vs pain management physician demographics

Here are the differences between physiatrists' and pain management physicians' demographics:

	Physiatrist	Pain Management Physician
Average age	48	39
Gender ratio	Male, 53.7% Female, 46.3%	Male, 28.7% Female, 71.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 18.6% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 11.2% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	13%	12%

Differences between physiatrist and pain management physician duties and responsibilities

Physiatrist example responsibilities.

Monitor and manage patient medical records in compliance with HIPPA.
Provide physical medicine and rehabilitation services under the direct supervision of orthopedic surgeons.
Work closely with CNO to improve morale of staff.
Evaluate complex test results to ensure patient diagnosis is comprehensive and accurate.
Work closely with attorneys and physicians in scheduling patients for refer treatment and for depositions.
Work predominantly with patients suffering with arthritis pain, back pain, leg pain, migraines, etc.

Pain management physician example responsibilities.

Work closely with patients to manage their depression and anxiety beginning with initial diagnosis to med-initiation and follow-up care.
Perform prosthetic rehabilitation for amputee patients and participate in workshop on post prosthetic rehabilitation.
Operate EMR (electronic medical record )
Sell OFIRMEV to surgery centers for use in peri-operative protocols as an analgesic therapy.
work hardening rehabilitation in an outpatient clinic setting
Participate in workshop on spinal cord injuries and orthotic rehabilitation.

Physiatrist vs pain management physician skills

Common physiatrist skills

Patients, 35%
Rehabilitation, 34%
Physical Medicine, 19%
Patient Care, 7%
Pain Management, 2%
Diagnosis, 2%

Common pain management physician skills

Pain Management, 26%
Patients, 19%
Primary Care, 7%
Family Practice, 6%
Rehabilitation, 6%
Surgery, 4%

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Physiatrist vs Pain Management Physician

Updated January 8, 2025

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