Advantages & Disadvantages of Pediatrician Jobs
Having a career as a pediatrician can be extremely gratifying, as it is an important job that helps save and improve the health of children. Most pediatricians care for children from birth until 18 years old.
Although pediatricians have enviable salaries, help others and have close interaction with children, they travel a difficult road to success and sometimes deal with hardships on a regular basis.
Salary
According to the 2009 statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average pediatrician salary in the United States was $163,630 a year.
Most pediatricians are employed at surgical hospitals, outpatient care centers and educational facilities; however, many have their own practice. Pediatrician salaries are in the top fifth percentile of salaries in the United States.
Work Schedule
Increasingly, pediatricians are having more control over their work schedules than physicians or any other type of doctor. If a pediatrician is fortunate enough to be self-employed, then that makes it especially easy to customize a work schedule — not to mention little to no commute time or costs and more time to spend with family.
Education
In order to become a pediatrician, you must complete four years of college, four years of medical school, one year of an unpaid internship and two years of pediatric residency. Although the price for an education varies depending on the institution, medical schools are typically the most expensive type of education.
According to the American Association of Medical Colleges, in 2006 to 2007, the average medical student paid between $66,000 and $139,000 on educational expenses.
Patients Who Are Terminally Ill
Being a pediatrician is generally rewarding, but it can be difficult when a patient is ill with little or no chance for recovery. Pediatricians now and again should convey news to guardians that their kids have terminal sicknesses, or extraordinary maladies that can be difficult to adapt to.
Some pediatricians have cared for their little patients since the time the children were born, which makes delivering bad news especially difficult.
