Compensation During Residency

[donkeykong1]

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Around how much are residents compensated for their work [I've seen ballpark estimates from a few years back, just wondering if they have changed]? Does it depend on specialty, hospital institution, state/location, times....?

If it does depend on the institution, and D.O's are usually clustered in community hospital institutions which probably have less funds since they are generally small, does this mean less pay? Again this may all be B.S so please debunk if necessary....

P.S I didn't want to invade on non-pre-med osteo territory hence the post in pre-osteo.

 

[rddoms]

http://opportunities.osteopathic.org/

This website lists all AOA residency programs, including compensation. From what I can see, location and residency year are the biggest factors in determining pay rate. Also, the numbers are on par with those of allopathic academic programs. Hope this helps.

 

[YA7ES]

Most start off 42k-45k first year
Will eventually work their way up to 48k-50k by 4th year
Some specialties make it up to 60k by their 4th year

 

[donkeykong1]

not bad, but as a medical student before residency do you have as much time for a part-time job as say an undergrad like me. i'm talking about maybe 20-25 hrs/wk

 

[dozitgetchahi]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't there some osteopathic residencies that don't involve any compensation at all (i.e., some of the more rurally oriented ones)?

 

[Altruist]

not bad, but as a medical student before residency do you have as much time for a part-time job as say an undergrad like me. i'm talking about maybe 20-25 hrs/wk

I can guarantee you that you won't have time no matter where you go.

Not to say that it hasn't been done--maybe it has--but if you spent that much time at the job, you'd rapidly fall behind in the first 2 years when you're doing the basic science classes. In years 3 and 4, absolutely forget it. Clinical rotations don't leave much time off.

In my old job as a paramedic, I had a coworker who tried to stay on as a flex-time worker when he started medical school. The only requirement to be flex-time was like two 12-hour shifts per 3 months. He lasted one semester and couldn't even do that anymore.

Bottom line, if you had that much time off, you'd be better off studying than working. Everybody is in debt by the end; you just take out loans and get down to studying.

And dozit: I can't claim to know anything about residencies, but a residency that didn't pay at all would get zero applicants, by my estimation. I'd be surprised if such a residency existed.

 

[Altruist]

If it does depend on the institution, and D.O's are usually clustered in community hospital institutions which probably have less funds since they are generally small, does this mean less pay? Again this may all be B.S so please debunk if necessary....

As far as your original question, most (if not all) residency programs are funded at least in part with Medicare dollars. Osteopathic or allopathic therefore makes less of a difference than the teaching hospital offering the residency and where it's located (as funding varies from state to state). If you look at rural residencies, yes, they would probably pay less; but that would be because Medicare payments to rural states tend to be lower than, say, Florida or California.

 

[donkeykong1]

thats some great info, thanks.

 

[boone95]

not bad, but as a medical student before residency do you have as much time for a part-time job as say an undergrad like me. i'm talking about maybe 20-25 hrs/wk

I'm gonna say it depends on the person...

I know of a least 3 people in my class who worked last year and are still working, including myself. It's nice to have the additional income, but you just need to remember that school work comes first. As long as your employer understands that, you have a chance at making it work. But no, it's not quite like undergrad.

Some more classmates worked during summer break, which is much easier, assuming you can get hired and such in a timely manner (before a month of school is over).

 

[FutureSurg]

I've been looking into programs and it starts from 38k (county) to 44k a year and increases slightly each year

 

[donkeykong1]

I'm gonna say it depends on the person...

I know of a least 3 people in my class who worked last year and are still working, including myself. It's nice to have the additional income, but you just need to remember that school work comes first. As long as your employer understands that, you have a chance at making it work. But no, it's not quite like undergrad.

Some more classmates worked during summer break, which is much easier, assuming you can get hired and such in a timely manner (before a month of school is over).

do students usually start paying back their med school loans once they start their residency?

 

[tkim]

And dozit: I can't claim to know anything about residencies, but a residency that didn't pay at all would get zero applicants, by my estimation. I'd be surprised if such a residency existed.

Osteo derm residency in CA. Pays nothing. But when you get out, you're a derm.

 

[donkeykong1]

speaking of residency does anyone have an updated version of the data manual below?

http://www.nrmp.org/data/chartingoutcomes2007.pdf

 

[scpod]

As far as your original question, most (if not all) residency programs are funded at least in part with Medicare dollars. Osteopathic or allopathic therefore makes less of a difference than the teaching hospital offering the residency and where it's located (as funding varies from state to state). If you look at rural residencies, yes, they would probably pay less; but that would be because Medicare payments to rural states tend to be lower than, say, Florida or California.

It's not a rural or urban thing. There are many rural programs that pay rather well. You also have to look at benefits. There are some programs that pay for your health insurance (and that of your spouse and kids), give you lots of time off, pay for your meals and parking, pay for your boards and licensing fees, pay your dues to professional organizations, give you a moving allowance, give you money for conferences, etc... and there are some that give you virtually none of that. That stuff adds up.

As for what Medicare pays hospitals for residents, it ultimately depends on the number of residents and the percentage of patients who are Medicare patients-- not where you live. The formula is rather complex. What the hospitals then pay the residents is up to them.

Some residencies that are quite prestigious pay lower than others because, let's face it, people will appl there anyway just for the name. They don't need to pay more to attract people.

 

[Altruist]

Osteo derm residency in CA. Pays nothing. But when you get out, you're a derm.

That makes sense. Not my cup of tea, but the people who want to do derm really want to do derm so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

And thanks for the corrections, scpod. I didn't realize medicare funding of residencies was based on proportion of medicare patients. Where can I read up on that?

 

[scpod]

....Where can I read up on that?

This is a brief overview. It is by no means comprehensive, but it can give you a start in the right direction.

http://www.amsa.org/pdf/Medicare_GME.pdf

 

[medhoney]

just wondering... is there a difference in salaries between those who are med residents and d.o. residents, and eventually as they become full-pledge docs?

 

[ShyRem]

Not to my knowledge.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't there some osteopathic residencies that don't involve any compensation at all (i.e., some of the more rurally oriented ones)?

Yup ... the only ones I can think of (and I'm 99% sure the only ones that exist) are derm. One in CA, one in AZ, and I think one in FL only pays half salaries. You get to come out a derm and I'm positive they fill every year.

 

[Van Chowder]

Yup ... the only ones I can think of (and I'm 99% sure the only ones that exist) are derm. One in CA, one in AZ, and I think one in FL only pays half salaries. You get to come out a derm and I'm positive they fill every year.

Yea I just noticed that on the link posted above.. That seems like highway robbery, how do they expect the person to live? Go even MORE in debt?!? That is absolutely insane.👎

 

[JaggerPlate]

Yea I just noticed that on the link posted above.. That seems like highway robbery, how do they expect the person to live? Go even MORE in debt?!? That is absolutely insane.👎

-moonlight (if you can)
-I've also heard with the one in CA, the residency directors run a private derm practice next to the hospital and residents can get paid/work there 2/3rd year. I think they find ways to make it work.
(www.coastdermatology.com)
-it's derm ... people would literally cut of a limb (or eat a poop hot dog) to get into it. I think the opportunity costs (for those who want derm) are worth it in the end.

 

[digitlnoize]

Yea I just noticed that on the link posted above.. That seems like highway robbery, how do they expect the person to live? Go even MORE in debt?!? That is absolutely insane.👎

Some people do have spouses who work. We could (and do) live fairly comfortably (ish) on just my wife's salary.

Believe me, if I want derm, I might consider this...I hate research lol...