Profession · Full profile

Pediatrician

Pediatricians diagnose illnesses, track development, and care for infants, children, and teens.

Average salary

$210,040

Salary range

$91,470 – $338,500

Training time

—

Job market

Slower than average

5/10

Work-life balance

Fair

5/10

Pediatricians provide medical care for infants, children, and teenagers. They perform well-child checkups, monitor physical growth, give vaccines, and treat common infections or injuries. They also manage long-term conditions like asthma, allergies, diabetes, and ADHD. Working in clinics, hospitals, and community health centers, these doctors counsel parents on behavior, nutrition, and safety. Most work full time, moving between exam rooms during daytime office hours while sharing weekend shifts and after-hours call coverage.

A workday

A day in the life

What does a workday really look like?

A standard weekday schedule conducting well-child visits, sick appointments, and family consultations in a pediatric group practice.

8:00 AM
Morning chart review and lab results
Review incoming laboratory results, specialist consultation reports, and the daily appointment schedule.
8:30 AM
Well-child checkups
Examine infants and toddlers, assess growth and development milestones, and administer scheduled vaccines.
10:45 AM
Acute sick visits
Evaluate children presenting with common infections, earaches, fever, and minor injuries.
12:15 PM
Lunch and documentation
Update electronic health records and respond to urgent messages from parents.
1:00 PM
Chronic condition appointments
Manage care plans for patients diagnosed with asthma, allergies, ADHD, and diabetes.
3:00 PM
Developmental and behavioral consultations
Counsel parents on nutrition, sleep habits, safety, and school behavior concerns.
4:30 PM
Prescription management and phone calls
Calculate medication doses by patient weight and phone parents regarding lab test findings.

Task breakdown

A hospital-based day covering inpatient care, newborn nursery rounds, and emergency department consults.

7:00 AM
Hospital sign-out
Receive clinical updates from the overnight physician regarding admitted pediatric patients.
7:45 AM
Newborn nursery rounds
Perform physical examinations on newborn infants and counsel parents on infant feeding and care.
10:00 AM
Inpatient bedside rounds
Examine hospitalized children, check progress on acute illnesses, and adjust inpatient medications.
12:30 PM
Care team meeting
Meet with nursing staff and specialists to plan patient discharges and subspecialty referrals.
1:30 PM
Urgent consultations
Assess pediatric patients admitted through urgent care or the emergency department.
3:30 PM
Discharge summaries and orders
Complete medical documentation, order outpatient lab tests, and send discharge instructions.
5:00 PM
After-hours sign-out and call transition
Hand off active inpatients to the evening hospitalist and log into after-hours triage call.

Salary data

What do you really earn?

Salary by experience, sector and region.

Minimum

$91,470

Average

$210,040

Maximum

$338,500

Salary by region

Region	Min	Avg.	Max
National	$91,470	$210,040	$338,500
California	$102,600	$214,140	$372,460
New York	$82,320	$212,150	$357,440
Texas	$77,570	$173,360	$366,790
Massachusetts	$125,170	$221,170	$324,950
Ohio	$163,780	$217,970	$296,660

Typical benefits

Health and malpractice insurance

Comprehensive medical coverage alongside employer-paid malpractice liability protection.

Retirement plans

Access to workplace savings plans to prepare for long-term retirement security.

Continuing medical education allowance

Financial support to attend educational conferences and fulfill ongoing licensing requirements.

Loan repayment programs

Assistance programs to reduce student debt in exchange for work in underserved areas.

Pathways

Education pathways

Which paths lead to this profession?

Bachelor's degree

4 years full time

Bachelor's degree with premed courses

Students complete foundational science coursework to prepare for medical training. Medical schools expect biology, chemistry, physics, and math courses. Most applicants take the MCAT before finishing their degree.

Costs: About $11,950 a year in average published tuition and fees at a public four-year college for in-state students, and $45,000 at a private nonprofit four-year college
Entry requirements: High school diploma
High school subjects: Biology, chemistry, physics and math

Doctoral degree

4 years full time

Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)

Medical school provides comprehensive instruction in medical theory and patient care. The last two years are spent in clinical rotations in hospitals and clinics, where students gain hands-on medical experience.

Entry requirements: Bachelor's degree and MCAT score
High school subjects: Medical sciences, clinical diagnosis, and pediatrics

Other

3 years

Pediatric residency

Residency provides supervised medical practice focusing entirely on pediatric care. Residents are paid a salary while they train. Subspecialties such as pediatric cardiology need a fellowship after residency.

Entry requirements: MD or DO degree
High school subjects: Pediatric inpatient care, outpatient clinics, and neonatology

Profile

Skills & personality

Is this a good fit for you?

Hard skills

Child physical examinationExamining infants, children, and teenagers to evaluate physical health, vital signs, and growth.
Diagnosis and treatment of childhood illnessIdentifying and managing common pediatric infections, injuries, and complex conditions.
Vaccine administrationGiving routine childhood immunizations and advising parents on recommended vaccination schedules.
Developmental screeningTracking motor, social, and cognitive developmental milestones across childhood stages.
Prescribing medication by weight and ageCalculating precise pharmaceutical dosages adapted to a young patient's physical growth.
Electronic health recordsDocumenting clinical encounters, ordering laboratory work, and reviewing test results in medical systems.

Soft skills

Communication with children and parentsExplaining medical conditions and safety advice clearly to young patients and their guardians.
EmpathyUnderstanding the emotional concerns of sick children and reassuring stressed family members.
PatienceRemaining calm and attentive when examining hesitant, uncooperative, or frightened children.
Decision makingSelecting proper diagnostic tests, medication regimens, and subspecialty referrals promptly.

Is this a good fit for you?

✓
CompassionateCares deeply for the physical and emotional comfort of young patients and their families.
✓
ObservantNotices subtle physical symptoms and developmental changes during routine pediatric visits.
✓
Calm under pressureMaintains clear focus when handling sudden childhood injuries or severe acute illnesses.
✓
AdaptableAdjusts communication approaches easily when talking to toddlers, teenagers, or anxious parents.
✓
Detail-orientedEnsures precise measurement calculations for medication dosing and immunizations.

Market

Job market & outlook

What does the market look like?

Openings per year

1,000

Trend

Stable

Growth

+1.5%

AI impact

3/10

AI helps with charting, patient messages and reading some tests, while examining children and talking with families stays with the doctor.

Regional demand

Massachusetts

Extensive healthcare facilities and academic medical centers drive strong demand.

10/10

New York

Hospitals and community health centers present strong demand for pediatric physicians.

9/10

Ohio

Regional medical systems and outpatient practices seek general pediatricians.

8/10

California

Demand remains steady across urban clinic networks and regional children's hospitals.

7/10

Texas

Opportunities exist across group practices and pediatric care centers.

4/10

Growth

Career paths

Where can this profession take you?

Vertical growth

Pediatric resident
0-3 years
Trains under attending physicians in clinics and hospitals while earning a residency salary.
Attending pediatrician
3-8 years
Practices independently, diagnosing childhood illnesses and managing routine well-child visits.
Partner in a pediatric practice
5+ years
Takes on business ownership and operational responsibilities within an established clinic.
Medical director or department chief
10+ years
Supervises pediatric medical staff, oversees clinical protocols, and manages department operations.

Horizontal move

Pediatric subspecialist after a fellowship
Focuses on specialized fields such as pediatric cardiology following dedicated fellowship training.
Medical school faculty member
Teaches medical students and residents while conducting clinical work in an academic setting.
View Professor

Good to know

Practical info

Working hours: Most pediatricians work full time, and many work long weeks once calls and paperwork are included.
Remote work: Some follow-up visits can be done by telehealth, but most care requires seeing the child in person.
Physical requirements: The work is done in clinics and hospitals, standing and moving between exam rooms, with exposure to infectious illnesses.
Typical employers: Pediatric group practices, hospitals and children's hospitals, multispecialty physician groups, community health centers, academic medical centers, and urgent care centers.
Professional associations: American Academy of Pediatrics.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What does a pediatrician do on a typical day?

A pediatrician conducts well-child checkups, evaluates developmental growth, and treats common childhood illnesses or injuries. They administer routine vaccines and counsel parents regarding child nutrition, safety, and behavior. Office physicians spend time documenting care in electronic health records, reviewing lab test results, and managing long-term conditions like asthma and diabetes.

What degree do you need to become a pediatrician?

You need a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree followed by residency training. Preparation begins with a four-year bachelor's degree with premed courses, followed by four years of medical school. Graduates then complete a three-year pediatric residency, during which residents receive a salary while treating patients under supervision.

What licenses and certifications are required to practice?

A state medical license is required in all states, along with passing scores on the USMLE or COMLEX licensing exams. In addition, board certification from the American Board of Pediatrics is expected by most employers. Doctors must fulfill these credentials before practicing independently in clinics, children's hospitals, or urgent care centers.

Can pediatricians work remotely through telehealth?

Some follow-up visits can be done by telehealth, but most pediatric care requires seeing the child in person. In-person visits are necessary to examine ears and throats, listen to heart sounds, track physical growth, and administer vaccines. Remote care remains limited to select follow-up checks and brief parent consultations.

What are the typical working hours for a pediatrician?

Most pediatricians work full time, and many work long weeks once calls and paperwork are included. Office pediatricians work mostly daytime hours with some evenings and weekends, taking after-hours calls from parents. Hospital pediatricians may work nights caring for acutely ill children and managing emergency room admissions.

Who typically employs pediatricians in the United States?

Pediatricians work for pediatric group practices, hospitals, children's hospitals, and multispecialty physician groups. They also find positions at community health centers, academic medical centers, and urgent care centers. Some physicians choose to advance into partnership within independent group clinics or take administrative leadership roles.

How does artificial intelligence impact pediatric medicine?

AI helps with charting, patient messages, and reading some tests within pediatric workflows. However, direct medical care remains human-centered. Examining children, observing behavioral cues, and talking with families stays with the doctor, ensuring that clinical judgment and personal interaction continue to guide young patient treatment.

Explore further

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In depth

All about pediatrician

The background, context and details.

Clinical responsibilities and patient visits

Pediatricians diagnose childhood illnesses and monitor growth. They evaluate physical development during routine checkups. Children grow fast. Routine visits center on giving vaccines and treating childhood injuries while counseling parents on sleep, nutrition, safety, and behavior. Doctors manage chronic conditions such as asthma, allergies, diabetes and ADHD. When young patients present complex health problems, pediatricians order lab tests and refer children to specialists. Most care requires personal contact. Telehealth works well for certain follow-up visits, but evaluating physical symptoms requires observing and examining young patients directly inside an exam room during clinic appointments.

Training and credentialing requirements

Becoming a doctor demands years of preparation. Candidates complete several education stages:

Earn a bachelor's degree with courses in biology, chemistry, physics and math.
Achieve competitive scores on the MCAT.
Graduate from medical school with a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree.
Finish a pediatric residency lasting 3 years.

Students complete clinical rotations in hospitals and clinics during medical school. Residents receive a salary while training. Physicians must obtain a state medical license after passing the USMLE or COMLEX licensing exams. Most employers also expect board certification from the American Board of Pediatrics.

Work settings and day-to-day schedules

Pediatricians practice in pediatric group practices, children's hospitals, multispecialty physician groups, community health centers, academic medical centers, or urgent care centers. Clinic work is physically active. Doctors move constantly between exam rooms while managing ongoing exposure to infectious illnesses during peak sick seasons. Office pediatricians work mostly daytime hours with some evenings and weekends, and they take after-hours calls to address urgent concerns from worried parents at home. Hospital pediatricians often work nights. Most doctors work full time, and many put in long weeks once after-hours calls and electronic charting tasks are included alongside daily patient care.

Advancement opportunities

Residency graduates start as attending pediatricians. With professional experience, doctors can become a partner in a pediatric practice or step into leadership as a medical director or department chief. Clinicians interested in teaching future doctors join university faculties as medical school faculty members. Doctors who want to focus on complex conditions can pursue a fellowship to become a pediatric subspecialist in areas like pediatric cardiology. Contact a local clinic to shadow an attending pediatrician and observe daily patient rounds firsthand.