If you are curious about salaries...

[24thGrade]

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So a fairly common topic/question that tends to pop up is, "How much will I make with an MD-PhD?"

The answer everyone gets (correctly) is that you get paid for what you do. More clinical... more money. If you really want some numbers though, I found a way that might help- it does have some flaws though.

This may apply to other states/schools as well, but in Texas, all employ salaries are easily accessible online. Just type their name in the search bar on the right.

A simple search on google along the lines of "ut southwestern md-phd assistant professor" (or variations of this) will yield plenty of names and if you go through their faculty directory you'll find plenty more. A search through UT Houston and/or MD Anderson faculty would probably be helpful as well.

Big caveats I can think of off the top of my head:
1. not everyone who is faculty is going to be on a salary. Odds are many faculty are on "soft salaries" meaning that their income is mostly/entirely dependent on grants they receive (although that money is funneled through the state, it may not necessarily be part of their "salary" on here, but might be).
2. unless you read their profiles (and even if you do) you will not have a good idea of what their division of work is like (clinical vs bench)
3. Don't forget this is Texas, and the cost of living is low compared to many parts in the nation.

I know it is by no means perfect or too useful, but it is still interesting to browse around.

 

[Fencer]

Big additional caveats:

VA salaries are not included.
Bonuses are not included.​

Now, if you want national data for Academia (i.e.: Medical Schools), I posted several months ago salary data for Neurology. Another resource is the career connection of AAMC.

Some generalizations:
MD/PhD Bench researchers in clinical departments typically are around the 25% (percentile in salary) while they are at the Assistant and/or Associate Professor rank, but once productivity is established, they tend to gravitate to 75% (difficult to find).
If you get to be Chair or Chief, salaries can easily get into 150% of Professors. In general, private practice pays 30-100% more but you can make a very nice living while doing what you love. Chair salary = Established Private practice.
As usual, surgical and procedural specialties make more than primary care and medical specialties.

 

[Neuronix]

A recent thread with my thoughts. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=840606

See for example post #32 in that thread that uses some of the Texas data.

 

[Fencer]

Regarding post #32, my friends there tell me that salary from other hospitals (i.e.: Christus Santa Rosa, where pediatrics is mostly based) is not included. I know for fact that the VA salary is not included.

AAMC data (2010-11) for base salary for Pediatric Heme/Oncology faculty (All Medical Schools)
Title ------------------------ Median ($ in K)
Instructor -------------------- 88 K
Assistant Professor ---- 140 K
Associate Professor --- 175 K
Professor ------------------- 222 K
Chief -------------------------- 220 K

 

[Neuronix]

Thanks for the data. I wish that information was public.

For the newbies out there, keep in mind some generalities: bigger name institution = lower salary. More "desirable" location (big coastal cities primarily) = lower salary. More research time (unless you have big grants) = lower salary. This accounts for much of the salary distributions out there. I know guys at state programs in the midwest who are "faculty", do essentially zero research, moonlight on the side, work a high number of hours per week, and thus even in low paying specialties take home insane amounts of cash. It's all about what you want in life...

 

[mercaptovizadeh]

Thanks for the data. I wish that information was public.

For the newbies out there, keep in mind some generalities: bigger name institution = lower salary. More "desirable" location (big coastal cities primarily) = lower salary. More research time (unless you have big grants) = lower salary. This accounts for much of the salary distributions out there. I know guys at state programs in the midwest who are "faculty", do essentially zero research, moonlight on the side, work a high number of hours per week, and thus even in low paying specialties take home insane amounts of cash. It's all about what you want in life...

There are many misconceptions in this career track. When I first started applying to MD/PhD programs, I had the impression that you had to have a PhD to be a professor at a medical school. Career advisors are usually not very well informed, either.

I was just talking to an orthopedic surgery resident friend of mine about salaries and she said the difference between academic and private in her chosen field (hopes to do a joint fellowship) is huge, i.e. $400,000 starting (private) vs. $200,000 starting (academic).

 

[Fencer]

Your friend was not precise enough. There is a 25-30% difference to private practice.

Orthopedic Surgery
Title------------------ Median
Instructor ----------- 256 K
Assistant Prof ---- 364 K
Associate Prof --- 477 K
Professor ---------- 463 K
Chief ---------------- 489 K
Chair ---------------- 649 K

However, here is the mis-perception... No matter where you are, you have to earn your salary. If you end up with a high salary, you will be doing many elective procedures (hips, knees, etc) with high reimbursement. If you opt for a lesser salary (i.e.: 25 percentile), you are going to have a day (or 2) per week to work on your research on biomaterials or whatever. There are no freebies... The question is whether that will fulfill your passion for science.

We need great practitioners in all specialties... I have been operated twice on my knees!

 

[Neuronix]

More data for various surgeons here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=880078