Easiest to get into-Most Money

[utlonghorn50]

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I thought this would generate some discussion. I wanted to know which field was the easiest to get into that paid the most money. Is it anesthesia?

 

[gj smoove]

PM&R to pain management

I thought this would generate some discussion. I wanted to know which field was the easiest to get into that paid the most money. Is it anesthesia?

 

[Skip Intro]

Is it anesthesia?

No. Pathology.

You start slow, but after a few years you're making about $400+ on average. There's no call, there's no "pathological emergencies", it's 9 to 5, there's minimal patient contact, and you sit in a lab or office all day. And, it's relatively easy to get. Problem is, it can be extremely tedious and boring if you don't have the righ personality for it. Also, you'll get grilled during interviews (so I've heard) about why you are chosing Pathology as a career.

-Skip

 

[doc05]

nobody's making 400 in path these days.

 

[ether_screen]

🙄

 

[Skip Intro]

nobody's making 400 in path these days.

*Survey includes base salaries, net income or hospital guarantees minus expenses January, 2002 - Present

SPECIALTY, Years 1-2 >3 Max
Allergy/ Immunology $158,000 $221,000 $487,000
Ambulatory $ 80,000 $112,000 $152,000
Anesthesiology: Pediatrics $ 283,000 $311,000 $378,000
Anesthesiology: General $207,000 $275,000 $448,000
Anesthesiology: Pain Management $315,000 $370,000 $651,000
Cardiology: Invasive $258,000 $395,000 $647,000
Cardiology: Interventional $290,000 $468,000 $811,000
Cardiology: Noninvasive $268,000 $403,000 $599,000
Critical Care $187,000 $215,000 $320,000
Dermatology $ 195,000 $308,000 $452,000
Emergency Medicine $192,000 $216,000 $295,000
Endocrinology $171,000 $187,000 $260,000
FP (with OB) $182,000 $204,000 $241,000
FP (w/o OB) $161,000 $135,000 $239,000
FP - Sports Medicine $ 152,000 $208,000 $363,000
FP - Urgent Care $ 128,000 $198,000 $299,000
Gastroenterology $265,000 $349,000 $590,000
Hematology/Oncology $181,348 $245,000 $685,000
Infectious Disease $154,000 $178,000 $271,000
Internal Medicine $154,000 $176,000 $238,000
IM (Hospitalist) $161,000 $172,000 $245,000
Medicine/Pediatrics $139,000 $168,000 $271,000
Medical Oncology $198,000 $257,000 $455,000
Neonatal Medicine $286,000 $310,000 $381,000
Nephrology $191,000 $269,000 $447,000
Neurology $180,000 $228,000 $345,000
Obstetrics/Gynecology $211,000 $261,000 $417,000
Gynecology $159,000 $213,000 $358,000
Maternal/Fetal Medicine $286,000 $322,000 $610,000
Occupational Medicine $139,000 $185,000 $290,000
Ophthalmology $138,000 $314,000 $511,000
Ophthalmology Retina $280,000 $469,000 $716,000
Orthopedic Surgery $256,000 $342,000 $670,000
ORS - Foot & Ankle $228,000 $392,000 $791,000
ORS - Hand & Upper Extremities $288,000 $459,000 $770,000
ORS - Hip & Joint Replacement $330,000 $491,000 $715,000
ORS - Spine Surgery $398,000 $670,000 $1,352,000
ORS - Sports Medicine $266,000 $479,000 $762,000
Otorhinolaryngology $194,000 $311,000 $516,000
Pathology $169,000 $321,000 $610,000
Pediatrics $135,000 $175,000 $271,000
Pediatrics - Cardiology $145,000 $282,000 $607,000
Pediatrics - Critical Care $196,000 $259,000 $398,000
Pediatrics - Hematology/Oncology $182,000 $217,000 $251,000
Pediatrics - Neurology $175,000 $189,000 $362,000
Physiatry $169,000 $244,000 $313,000
Podiatry $128,000 $168,000 $292,000
Psychiatry $149,000 $169,000 $238,000
Psychiatry - Child and Adolescent $158,000 $189,000 $265,000
Pulmonary Medicine + Critical Care $215,000 $288,000 $417,000
Radiation Oncology $241,000 $385,000 $787,000
Radiology $201,000 $354,000 $911,000
Rheumatology $179,000 $229,000 $378,000
Surgery - General $226,000 $291,000 $520,000
Surgery - Cardiovascular $336,000 $515,000 $811,000
Surgery - Neurological $354,000 $541,000 $936,000
Surgery - Plastic $237,000 $412,000 $820,000
Surgery - Vascular $270,000 $329,000 $525,000
Urology $261,000 $358,000 $619,000

http://www.allied-physicians.com/salary_surveys/physician-salaries.htm

The first number is what you can expect to make the first 2 years after your residency, the second number is the average of people that have been in practice for more than 2 years, and the last number is what the highest reported salary was. Remember, this is across the whole 50 states.

The OP asked about what pays the best and is easy to get. And, from the people I've personally talked to, these numbers may be slightly low too.

-Skip

 

[speyeder]

I thought this would generate some discussion. I wanted to know which field was the easiest to get into that paid the most money. Is it anesthesia?

Hmmm...I'm not sure I know what you mean. Can you be a little more blunt? 🙄

 

[Skip Intro]

so family practice w/o OB gets a decrease in salary after your first 2 years out of residency?

Apparently so. But, this may be a result of so many people dropping OB after two years, and/or just an unusually high amount of 1 or 2 year post-training contracts offered to FP/OB grads who then never go on to join a practice, or try to "go it alone", etc. Who knows? This is just a survey, and I'll admit doesn't give a lot of stories behind the numbers. Although, attendings I've spoken with (at least here in the Northeast) who I have asked about this survey have told me that the numbers, across the board, are a little low especially after your first two years out.

-Skip

 

[utlonghorn50]

Hmmm...I'm not sure I know what you mean. Can you be a little more blunt? 🙄

Don't get so worked up. I was just curious what the consensus would be. It is not like I am going into pathology or something because it is easy and pays well. I just thought it would be interesting to see what people's take on the subject was. I thought that was a great post with all the salaries. My vote is anesthesia for the highest paid field that is relatively easy to get into (at least compared to things like rads, ER, plastics, etc). Thanks for all the replies. It would be great if a few more peolple weighed in. And despite the rude and uncalled for post I am replying to, everyone can be rest assured I am not going to add up the votes and go into whichever residency wins (roll eyes). Is that blunt enough speyeder????

 

[ItsGavinC]

so family practice w/o OB gets a decrease in salary after your first 2 years out of residency?

Or, they only received salary responses from 2-3 OBs and they didn't follow the norm.

I wouldn't put much stock into any of those numbers. Typically the only people who respond to those surveys are those who WANT people to know their numbers .

 

[dmdmd]

No. Pathology.

You start slow, but after a few years you're making about $400+ on average. There's no call, there's no "pathological emergencies", it's 9 to 5, there's minimal patient contact, and you sit in a lab or office all day. And, it's relatively easy to get. Problem is, it can be extremely tedious and boring if you don't have the righ personality for it. Also, you'll get grilled during interviews (so I've heard) about why you are chosing Pathology as a career.

-Skip

The job market for pathologists has always been dismal. Only a few earn more than 400. Stop daydreaming. Few pathologists start working at 9...

The gold mine is in Radiology and job opportunities are everywhere.

 

[VentdependenT]

Being an exclusive for hire escort or even an adult dancer at an upscale locale should yeild the most buck for the least amount of effort. I could have drummed up a wicked pun there.

 

[Skip Intro]

The job market for pathologists has always been dismal. Only a few earn more than 400. Stop daydreaming. Few pathologists start working at 9...

The gold mine is in Radiology and job opportunities are everywhere.

Radiology is not easy to get... (which was the point of this thread being started in the first place)

-Skip

 

[Tenesma]

radiology was super easy to get into about 7 years ago....

pathologists hit a ceiling of about 250k... the only way they can make bank is when they own their own labs - in which case the sky is the limit. (this is based on a very close friend who is a path. guy)

 

[dave262]

Podiatry $128,000 $168,000 $292,000

Dude, with the exception of chiropractors, no one else has gotten the shaft from managed care more than podiatry. These numbers cant be right at all.

Average in Houston for these poor saps is about $86,000 I dont know about elsewhere, but I doubt its much.

 

[Cardiovert]

I wouldn't put much stock into any of those numbers. Typically the only people who respond to those surveys are those who WANT people to know their numbers .

Exactly.... don't buy into those numbers. Do a google search on the internet for physician surveys and you'll find wide variances in salary averages, highs, lows for the same specialty sometimes on the order of 100-200k.

 

[exgatr]

Watch out for Rads in the future. It's getting outsourced to overseas. I think it's popularity will drop pretty quickly.

radiology was super easy to get into about 7 years ago....

pathologists hit a ceiling of about 250k... the only way they can make bank is when they own their own labs - in which case the sky is the limit. (this is based on a very close friend who is a path. guy)

 

[Skip Intro]

Watch out for Rads in the future. It's getting outsourced to overseas. I think it's popularity will drop pretty quickly.

Yeah, until the first big lawsuit and they realize that none of these docs hold a U.S. license.

 

[Finally M3]

exgatr; there was only one experiment from what I know of in regards to overseas outsourcing and that was with MGH. However, they ran into a medical-legal problem since the rads over there weren't US certified.

However, there are rumors they are trying to get around that by having the docs come here to get certified, then they will go back to India/wherever where the operating costs are much lower.

From my understanding, this was only supposed to be for PM hours when regular staff was unavailable to do reads.

And I think there will be more than enough images to go around; ever see how many patients are in line for the MRI/CT/US on your typical day at the hospital? Multiply that by the amount of older patients you will see in 10-15 years as the baby-boomers start getting sick. Rads will be getting better, not worse, in the near-term future.

 

[Cardiovert]

exgatr; there was only one experiment from what I know of in regards to overseas outsourcing and that was with MGH. However, they ran into a medical-legal problem since the rads over there weren't US certified.

However, there are rumors they are trying to get around that by having the docs come here to get certified, then they will go back to India/wherever where the operating costs are much lower.

From my understanding, this was only supposed to be for PM hours when regular staff was unavailable to do reads.

And I think there will be more than enough images to go around; ever see how many patients are in line for the MRI/CT/US on your typical day at the hospital? Multiply that by the amount of older patients you will see in 10-15 years as the baby-boomers start getting sick. Rads will be getting better, not worse, in the near-term future.

Not disagreeing with you but this same argument was also pitched by computer/IT workers in the US 5-10 years ago. Nowadays, it is the norm for computer work to be outsourced to India and many of those americans previously in the computer business are no longer.

Having said that, I doubt outsourcing to foreign countries will become a problem in radiology but I do think competition amongst radiologist groups within individual states and across states will be fierce. It's fairly easy to become licensed in multiple states and have access to digital images via fast internet connections etc.....

 

[Sanman]

If I could add my two cents, I don't believe in the hoopla over the exporting of radiology work. A far more likely scenario is using technology to streamline work and reducing the cost per image, therby reducing radiologist salaries and positions to more average levels. Whether this will happen now or in 25 years is anybody's guess.

 

[Cardiovert]

I think most patients, if given the choice, will demand to have ct scan images beamed over to a "world renowned" radiologist at MGH, Hopkins etc... rather than the local, community radiologist who may/may not have such a reputation. I think most hospital administrators, if given the choice, will opt to have ct scan images beamed over to the US teleradiologist group that gives them the best deal. I'm sure both can be accomplished relatively easily. If this does occur, most local hospitals will likely be staffed with mostly interventional radiologists.

I know this topic has been discussed ad nauseum in the radiology forum. It's obviously a very touchy topic for them.

 

[daelroy]

No. Pathology.

You start slow, but after a few years you're making about $400+ on average. There's no call, there's no "pathological emergencies", it's 9 to 5, there's minimal patient contact, and you sit in a lab or office all day. And, it's relatively easy to get. Problem is, it can be extremely tedious and boring if you don't have the righ personality for it. Also, you'll get grilled during interviews (so I've heard) about why you are chosing Pathology as a career.

-Skip

Problem is pathology is semi-competitive. If I had to rank the top 5 easy to acquire/pays the most.

1 Anesthesiology
2 PM&R
3.ER- lots of DO's and IMG's match in this field, 250K; problem is you are capped after this. Unlikely to break 300K whereas Gas and PM&R can earn well over 300k.
4. Internal medicine then subspecialize in rheumotology or nephrology

5.Path

LOL, if you want to know the answer to this, check out any DO match list. Not to put down my kind but if you notice, a high percentage go into anesthesiology, ER and PMR. They are doing that for a reason; they are smart!

 

[InductionAgent]

Problem is pathology is semi-competitive. If I had to rank the top 5 easy to acquire/pays the most.

1 Anesthesiology
2 PM&R
3.ER- lots of DO's and IMG's match in this field, 250K; problem is you are capped after this. Unlikely to break 300K whereas Gas and PM&R can earn well over 300k.
4. Internal medicine then subspecialize in rheumotology or nephrology

5.Path

LOL, if you want to know the answer to this, check out any DO match list. Not to put down my kind but if you notice, a high percentage go into anesthesiology, ER and PMR. They are doing that for a reason; they are smart!

Path is certainly not any more competitive than anesthesiology. There was a higher percentage of unfilled spots in path than in gas, and a higher percentage of IMGs going into path, which is an even better marker of non-competitiveness than DO percentage.

 

[charcot]

I would think neuro would be at the bottom of the competitiveness list...something like 65% are img's, except at the top handful programs. It must be the low pay and paucity of procedures/treatment options.

 

[Finally M3]

Neuro can make a lot...esp. w/ sleep centers or if you do a lot of EEG/EMGs.

The drawback is Neurologists have hella high malpractice rates. Below Neurosurgeons and OBGYNs, but higher than just about everyone else. Weird statistic IMHO. 😛

 

[Pinky]

The drawback is Neurologists have hella high malpractice rates. Below Neurosurgeons and OBGYNs, but higher than just about everyone else. Weird statistic IMHO. 😛

Neurologists are rarely sued compared to many other medical specialties. However, the gravity of neurologic injuries is quite serious. So, when theses cases go to trial, there is a higher average payout per plaintiff verdict against neurologists than against any other specialty.

Some of the issues that I remember commonly bringing many neurologists to court were 1) the teratogenicity of the neuro drugs. 2) not giving tPA to patients who were candidates, 3) failing to diagnose a SAH when a patient came in with headache 4) not documenting that you told an epileptic patient that they shouldn't drive their car who then gets into an MVA, and so forth.

 

[Finally M3]

Neurologists are rarely sued compared to many other medical specialties. However, the gravity of neurologic injuries is quite serious. So, when theses cases go to trial, there is a higher average payout per plaintiff verdict against neurologists than against any other specialty.

Some of the issues that I remember commonly bringing many neurologists to court were 1) the teratogenicity of the neuro drugs. 2) not giving tPA to patients who were candidates, 3) failing to diagnose a SAH when a patient came in with headache 4) not documenting that you told an epileptic patient that they shouldn't drive their car who then gets into an MVA, and so forth.

One of the hospitals I rotated at was trying to get legislation passed in Michigan transferring the duty of certifying a patient was fit to drive post-seizure from the doctor to the Dept. of Transp. Seems they got hit with a huge lawsuit from item #4.

 

[EctopicFetus]

Path is certainly not any more competitive than anesthesiology. There was a higher percentage of unfilled spots in path than in gas, and a higher percentage of IMGs going into path, which is an even better marker of non-competitiveness than DO percentage.

1 Anesthesia (Below avg board scores)
2 PM&R (Please take the boards) 😀
3 IM then Nephro or Rheum (Boring... but easy to get.. a fellowship requires more effort to get) 😴
4 Path You only need 2 good years, then to the basement!
5 ER Above avg board scores for the most part (nationally), good pay, short training, low work hours. 🙂

 

[Jeff1972]

1 Anesthesia (Below avg board scores)
2 PM&R (Please take the boards) 😀
3 IM then Nephro or Rheum (Boring... but easy to get.. a fellowship requires more effort to get) 😴
4 Path You only need 2 good years, then to the basement!
5 ER Above avg board scores for the most part (nationally), good pay, short training, low work hours. 🙂

As a path applicant, I didn't get what you meant by "Path: You only need 2 good years, then to the basement." Could you explain?

 

[sandman1]

1 Anesthesia (Below avg board scores)
2 PM&R (Please take the boards) 😀
3 IM then Nephro or Rheum (Boring... but easy to get.. a fellowship requires more effort to get) 😴
4 Path You only need 2 good years, then to the basement!
5 ER Above avg board scores for the most part (nationally), good pay, short training, low work hours. 🙂

EctopicFetus,

During my intern year, I rotated through the ER and the shift-work was erratic (for attendings and residents alike) as far as changing back and forth from days to nights. The work hours, I felt, were long for the amount of continual stress in a sequestered environment. There were a lot of violent homeless folks with psych conditions, and tons of prostitutes with nasty PID who needed pelvics. I was starting to miss my previous trauma surgery rotation while going through this... and that's BAD!!

All of the ER attendings who were old-timers would hide out from everyone, seemingly due to their burn-out.

Heck, the work schedule threw off my circadian rhythms so bad that on the way home one morning I fell asleep at the wheel, went up a curb, and blew out my front tires! 😴

Are you an ER Doc?

 

[Cardiovert]

ER is not competitive to get into (as it used to be in the 90's heyday---no doubt caused by that foolish show on TV) and the lifestyle of an ER doc has never been good depending how you view it:

PROs: three 12 hour shifts per week and the remaining days off, the pay is decent(but not great compared to other specialties), higher acuity of patients, jack of all trades in terms of knowledge etc..

CONs: 1. high burnout rate secondary to higher stress per hour in those three 12 hour shifts than other specialties and the probability of endless night shifts for the rest of your life 2. Malpractice 3. Master of nothing


Also, I differ in my opinion of IM from that of previous posters. It's certainly easy to get into but definitely not an easy field and not lucrative. Trying to get positions in its potentially lucrative subspecialties is very difficult(Cards, GI, Nephro, Allergy).

PMR is easy to get into and low stress but from what I've heard, the income is highly variable and on average tends not to be as lucrative as the others mentioned above.

Anyway, my 2 cents....