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Pediatrician

$210,130
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Diagnose and treat illnesses in children and guide their health as they grow.

Where you work

Clinics, hospitals, and private practices

The hours

Full-time, some on-call

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$210,130
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~1,200
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+1%
Little change
Working in the U.S.
46,400
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Doctoral / professional degree

Training path: Medical school + residency.

License or certification

Requires a medical degree, a residency, and a state medical license.

What it takes

Child healthDiagnosisCommunicationPatience

The honest take

Cares for children from birth through the teen years, after medical school and a pediatric residency.

Standard Occupational Classification 29-1221. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.