| Entering into a medical profession is something | | | | whether the physician is employed by a large |
| that most young people think about before they | | | | healthcare institution or a small clinic or has a |
| step into their professional lives. This is a very | | | | private practice or shares a practice with |
| lucrative field, despite the responsibilities, and that | | | | someone else. Most US physicians start out with |
| is the reason why there is such a heavy demand. | | | | larger, more stable healthcare clinics at the start |
| Among these, one of the most important areas is | | | | and then maybe promote themselves into having |
| the physician's job. The salary of a physician is | | | | their own practices. With a private practice, it |
| thought to be quite high-doctors are acceptably | | | | becomes necessary to have a good number of |
| well off people-and that is one of the factors that | | | | patients to get a good salary. |
| drives people into this profession. But, to put a | | | | 4. The other factor is whether the physician has |
| finer point on things, how much is the salary of a | | | | any specialty or not. Salaries are higher for people |
| physician actually? And what factors does this | | | | who are specialized in more complicated fields. |
| depend upon? | | | | One of such fields in oncology, for which the |
| In the US, as in other parts of the world, | | | | salary is the highest in the US today. An oncology |
| physician salaries depend on a host of factors. | | | | specialist will easily make more than $250,000 a |
| The following are some of these factors:- | | | | year. An endocrinologist earns in the vicinity of |
| 1. The salary would depend on the qualifications of | | | | $170,000 a year, while a neurologist makes |
| the physician. Typically, to get any kind of | | | | around $200,000. A pulmonary (respiratory) |
| respectable job, one would need to study for at | | | | specialist earns about $220,000 and a |
| least 4 years in college and 4 years in medical | | | | rheumatologist can draw a salary of about |
| school, followed by some more time to get the | | | | $165,000 annually. Now, compare this with a |
| required medical board eligibility. More time is | | | | general family physician salary which is not more |
| needed if the physician decides to become | | | | than $150,000 a year. |
| specialized in some field. In that case, the person | | | | 5. Since the US is made of different states, each |
| may study for anywhere from 7 to 16 more | | | | with their own rules and regulations concerning the |
| years. However, the higher a person goes with | | | | medical profession as well as other professions, |
| medical qualifications, the better becomes their | | | | the region where the physician practices is also |
| scope for earning higher salaries. | | | | significant. Physicians earn more in developed cities |
| 2. Salaries also depend on the kind of experience | | | | and towns than in the rural areas. |
| that the physician has. When starting out, the | | | | These are some of the more obvious factors on |
| salary could be quite low, but with about 3 years | | | | which a physician's salary depends. All these |
| of experience, this can become almost 50% | | | | figures are based on a 60-hour week, which is |
| more. Within 5 years, most physicians are able to | | | | what most physicians in the US put in. However, |
| double the salaries they obtained as fresh recruits. | | | | working for more or less than that is another |
| 3. The situation of the physician's work also | | | | factor that could influence how much a physician |
| matters. The salary is different depending on | | | | earns from the job. |
