Earnings in academia?

[Santiago]

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hi,

I am curious about the earnings of attendings in Radiology.
What is the average pay?
What are their other sources of income?
Does the pay vary from University to Community Hospitals or its more or less the same everywhere?
Also if the the pay discrepancy is really so bad between private jobs and in academia,why do people do it?Are there other trade off's?

 

[Santiago]

Bump

 

[Whisker Barrel Cortex]

I don't know what the average is, but our staff make anywhere from 180K to 300K depedending on seniority and production. I've heard that our hospital pays well compared to some.

The trade offs with academia are the following:
1. No in house call at most programs. Resident takes call. No need to hire nighthawks.
2. Academic time. Although this is decreasing due to volume of work, our program still offers staff 1.5 - 3 days of academic time per week depending on department and research funding. This is when they can do:
3. Research. Some of our staff even run an animal lab.
4. Being around residents / teaching. I think some people enjoy teaching and are drawn to academics. Even if this is not the primary reason, I think it keeps the staff radiologists fresh to be around residents.
5. Subspecialty focus. You don't have to do other subspecialties. If you did a neuro fellowship, you won't be doing barium studies (which you would do at most private practices. The down side is that it can be daunting to go to PP after spending a substantial amount of time focused on one field.

Those are the benefits I can think of. The main drawback is the income. Once you reach 200k, I think the rest is all extra anyway (coming from a resident making 44K).

 

[samsoccer7]

Great post Whisker.

 

[Santiago]

Thanks WBC.
I second samsoccer.

 

[RADRULES]

Well, let me add that you will take a SUBSTANTIAL income and vacation hit in academia versus private. Also, unless you join one of the top academic centers, you will work hard, at times comparable to private practice.

I was once a budding academic radiologist, but frankly, research can be a real pain in the butt sometimes.... academic community out there is adverse to change, not to mention institutional committees etc. You have to go some place where the department and the institution really supports the young staff and supports research.

That being said, the academic evironment is very stimulating, and being around residents and young people keeps your work fresh and interesting.

In the end, the trade-offs were too large and am headed for the private world.