Pediatrician Salary
Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Pediatricians, General
The median pediatrician salary in the United States is $210,040 per year ($100.98/hour). Salaries range from $91,470 at the entry level to $338,500+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 39,390 pediatrician jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 0.8% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary Distribution
Job Growth (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
Education Required
Training Needed
Pediatrician Career Guide
Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for pediatricians.
Pediatricians diagnose + treat children (birth-18) β well-child visits, immunizations, acute illness, chronic disease, adolescent care. Career splits: general pediatrics (private practice + academic), pediatric sub-specialists (cardiology, endocrinology, oncology, etc. β 2-3 year fellowship required, higher pay), academic pediatrics + research, hospital-based (hospitalist), urgent care + emergency. Path: 4 yrs med school + 3-year pediatrics residency + optional 2-3 year fellowship. Compensation: general pediatrics $195-280k (lower than adult primary care); sub-specialties $250-500k+; hospitalist $220-320k; academic + research variable.
Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For
How to Become a Pediatrician
- 1Bachelor's + strong MCAT + medical schoolStandard path.
- 2Pediatric Residency (3 years)PGY-1-3. Broad pediatric training.
- 3Optional Fellowship (2-3 years β Cardiology, Endocrinology, Hem/Onc, NICU, PICU, Neurology, GI, ID, etc.)Sub-specialty commands premium.
- 4Board certification (ABP)Required.
- 5State license + DEAStandard.
- 6First practice: private practice, hospital-employed, academicGrowing hospital-employed model.
Career Progression
- β’Training + board prep
- β’Sub-specialty training
- β’Independent practice + panel building
- β’Established practice + leadership
- β’Practice ownership + leadership
Interview Questions & Answers
5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 9 total plus resume bullets for every level.
Q1. Walk me through your approach to a vaccine-hesitant family.case
Q2. How do you handle a fussy toddler exam?situational
Q3. Tell me about a difficult diagnosis.behavioral
Q4. Why our practice?culture
Q5. How do you handle adolescent confidentiality?situational
Resume Template β Attending Pediatrician (0-5 yrs)
Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.
- βΈBoard-certified Pediatrician. Panel of 1,800 patients + 4,800 outpatient visits in 2024.
- βΈVaccine completion rate 96% (vs practice average 88%) through improved reminder system.
- βΈTop-decile patient satisfaction scores + zero complaints.
- βΈPrecept residents on outpatient pediatrics rotation.
What Gets You Rejected
- βWeak communication with children or families.
- βPoor understanding of vaccine schedules or developmental milestones.
- βBad-mouthing families or peers.
- βDiscomfort with adolescent care.
- βMissing key certifications.
Salary Negotiation Levers
- βBase + wRVU productivity.
- βSign-on $30-100k.
- βLoan repayment $100-250k over 3-5 years.
- βPSLF eligibility (nonprofit + FQHC).
- βSub-specialty differential.
- βCME budget $8-15k/year.
- βMalpractice tail coverage.
- βPartnership track.
Pediatrician Resume Review β $29
Personalized resume review from someone who has hired pediatricians. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.
- β Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
- β Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
- β Missing skills / keywords flagged
- β Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
- β 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it
Pediatrician Career Kit β $19
- β All 9 interview questions with expert answers
- β 10 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
- β Interview format intel for 5 top employers
- β 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
- β Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
- β 30β60β90 day plan for your first role
- β Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
- β Detailed salary negotiation script
- β Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
- β Downloadable PDF for offline access
- β Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.
Sample reviews β real customer reviews will appear here as they come in.
βThe interview question bank saved me. I got the exact question about 'walking through a DCF' at my Goldman Sachs superday, verbatim.β
β Anonymous, Financial Analyst
βCopy-paste negotiation emails are worth the price alone. I used the 'accepting with counter' template and got an extra $8k signing bonus.β
β Anonymous, Software Developer
βThe 30-60-90 day plan for a new grad RN was better than the orientation my hospital gave. Wish I'd bought this in nursing school.β
β Anonymous, Registered Nurse
Pediatrician Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
Top Paying States
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $502,720 | +139.3% |
| Idaho | $297,680 | +41.7% |
| New Hampshire | $273,410 | +30.2% |
| Montana | $273,260 | +30.1% |
| Wisconsin | $269,790 | +28.4% |
| Alaska | $267,390 | +27.3% |
| Iowa | $262,440 | +24.9% |
| South Dakota | $257,610 | +22.6% |
| Maine | $245,920 | +17.1% |
| Oklahoma | $236,780 | +12.7% |
Pediatrician Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $395,040 | +88.1% |
| Vallejo, CA | $357,320 | +70.1% |
| York-Hanover, PA | $344,960 | +64.2% |
| St. Cloud, MN | $298,830 | +42.3% |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $290,420 | +38.3% |
| Fresno, CA | $289,290 | +37.7% |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $287,040 | +36.7% |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $276,470 | +31.6% |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $271,410 | +29.2% |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $271,190 | +29.1% |