Medscape’s 2022 Physician Compensation Report reveals that although female physicians’ salaries rose by more than 8%, their compensation still lags considerably behind their male colleagues.
The report includes survey responses from more than 13,000 physicians, with 29 specialties among them. According to the new report, as it stands today, the wage gap between male and female physicians is 32.3%, favoring men—a figure that Michael Belkin, divisional vice president at physician search firm Merritt Hawkins, refers to as “a head scratcher.”
“Overall, it’s something of a head scratcher to me on why there is such a disparity in the marketplace for a female physician,” Belkin said. “You hate to see it.”
Based on the most recent data contained in the report, specialists continued to out earn primary care physicians, among both males and females, as did self-employed physicians.
Among specialties, the wage gap decreased from 33% in 2021 to 31% in 2022, with male physician specialists earning an average of $402,000 annually compared to their female specialist colleagues, who earn an average of $307,000 per year. Female specialists also receive bonuses that are approximately 92% lower than those given to their male colleagues.
In terms of hours worked, men worked just under three hours per week more than their female counterparts, at 38.3 versus 35.4.
When asked if they were compensated fairly, 52% of female physicians answered “no,” compared to 41% of male physicians who felt unfairly compensated. For radiologists as a whole, 62% reported feeling good about their salary.
Despite the wide pay gap, the majority of female physicians—specialists or otherwise—said they would choose to pursue a career in medicine again if given the choice. This number was especially high for female radiologists, with 91% indicating that not only would they pursue a medical career again, but that they would again follow the career path that leads to radiology.
To view the detailed compensation report, click here.