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Pediatrician Salary in the United States

How much does a Pediatrician make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Pediatrician in the United States is $254,200 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $122.

However, a Pediatrician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $305,018
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $239,000 to $280,800
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $225,161
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Pediatrician Salaries

A Pediatrician's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Pediatrician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Pediatrician's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $248,075
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $249,209
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $250,343
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $251,931
  • Expert (over 8 years): $256,185
Levels Salary
Entry Level Pediatrician$248,075
Intermediate Level Pediatrician$249,209
Senior Level Pediatrician$250,343
Specialist Level Pediatrician$251,931
Expert Level Pediatrician$256,185
View as Graph

How Do Pediatrician Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Pediatricians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $281,500.
  • California: $280,400.
  • Massachusetts: $276,700.

Top Paying Cities for Pediatricians

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $320,600
  • San Francisco: $317,100
  • Oakland: $310,500

What Skills Can Increase a Pediatrician's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 4.11% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Acute Care (Mentioned in 3.98% Job Postings): Acute care is a branch of secondary health care where a patient receives active but short-term treatment for a severe injury or episode of illness, an urgent medical condition, or during recovery from surgery. In medical terms, care for acute health conditions is the opposite from chronic care, or longer term care. Acute care services are generally delivered by teams of health care professionals from a range of medical and surgical specialties. Acute care may require a stay in a hospital emergency department, ambulatory surgery center, urgent care centre or other short-term stay facility, along with the assistance of diagnostic services, surgery, or follow-up outpatient care in the community. Hospital-based acute inpatient care typically has the goal of discharging patients as soon as they are deemed healthy and stable. Acute care settings include emergency department, intensive care, coronary care, cardiology, neonatal intensive care, and many general areas where the patient could become acutely unwell and require stabilization and transfer to another higher dependency unit for further treatment.
  • Critical Care (Mentioned in 2.75% Job Postings): Critical care is sometimes referred as intensive care. Intensive care medicine, or critical care medicine, is a branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and management of life-threatening conditions that may require sophisticated life support and intensive monitoring. An intensivist is a physician who specializes in the care of critically ill patients, most often in the intensive care unit (ICU). Intensivists can be internists or internal medicine sub-specialists (most often pulmonologists), anesthesiologists, emergency medicine physicians, pediatricians (including neonatologists), or surgeons who have completed a fellowship in critical care medicine.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 4.11%
Acute Care 3.98%
Critical Care 2.75%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Pediatrician's salary.

  • Emergency Medicine: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Radiology: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Emergency Medicine $266,910
5%
Consulting $264,368
4%
Radiology $264,368
4%
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Pediatrician Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Pediatrician salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $285,785. While startup companies pay approximate $242,653.

Pediatrician Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $242,653
Growth Stage 51~500 $256,384
Established 501~5000 $276,189
Enterprise 5000+ $285,785

Pediatrician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Pediatrician roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Pediatrician positions in Pharmaceuticals or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Pediatrician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Pediatrician

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$355,880$171.040%
Biotechnology$330,460$159.030%

How Education impacts a Pediatrician's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Pediatricians enter the field with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Pediatrician with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $219,685 and $240,713).

Pediatrician Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Pediatrician
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.0%
High School 1.9%
Associates 1.9%
Bachelors 1.9%
Masters 4.2%
Doctorate 91.0%
View as Graph

Pediatrician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Pediatrician's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$239,000
Average $254,200/year
$280,800
$19,917
Average $21,183/month
$23,400
$4,596
Average $4,888/week
$5,400
$115
Average $122/hour
$135
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $280,800 $23,400 $5,400 $135
Average $254,200 $21,183 $4,888 $122
25th Percentile $239,000 $19,917 $4,596 $115

Most common benefits for Pediatrician

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Pediatrician

Here are companies hiring for Pediatrician and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Pediatrician

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Pediatrician?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Pediatrician roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

2. How much are pediatricians paid in the USA?

Pediatricians in the USA earn between $199,300 and $273,400 annually, with a median salary of $228,700. The 25th percentile salary is approximately $199,300, while the 75th percentile reaches around $273,400, indicating a competitive salary range for this profession.

3. How long do pediatricians go to school?

Becoming a general pediatrician typically requires 11 years of education and training, which includes a four-year bachelor's degree, four years of medical school, and three years in residency. Pediatricians earn a salary ranging from $199,300 to $273,400, with a median salary of $228,700.

4. Is do or MD better for pediatrics?

Choosing between a Pediatrician MD or DO for your child's healthcare ultimately depends on your preferences, as both offer comprehensive, high-quality care. It's important to find a provider who aligns with your family's needs. In terms of salary, Pediatricians earn between $199,300 and $273,400, with a median salary of $228,700, reflecting their vital role in children's health.

5. Can a pediatrician become a millionaire?

Yes, pediatricians can become millionaires, particularly if they invest wisely and own their private practices. With a salary range from $199,300 to $273,400, they have the potential to pay off student loans and invest in retirement accounts. Smart financial planning can significantly enhance their wealth over time.

6. What is the highest paying doctor?

Pediatricians earn competitive salaries, with a minimum of $199,300, a mid-range salary of $228,700, and a maximum of $273,400. While they may not be the highest-paid doctors compared to specialties like neurosurgery, their compensation reflects the critical role they play in children's health and development.

7. Why is pediatrician salary so low?

Pediatricians earn a salary range from $199,300 to $273,400, with a median of $228,700. Despite this, pediatrics is often perceived as lower-paid due to high Medicaid enrollment among children, which leads to lower reimbursement rates compared to private insurance or Medicare. This financial structure impacts overall earnings in the field.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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