Is Pediatrics a Good Career in 2026?
Providing medical care for infants, children, and adolescents through age 21.
Based on BLS employment data and national physician surveys
SalaryDr Career Intelligence
Based on BLS employment data and national physician surveys
* Limited data — score may shift as more physicians contribute
Score Breakdown
Demand score powered by BLS Employment Projections (2024-2034): 0.8% projected growth (little or no change)
What the scores mean
Median $240K is the lowest among major specialties -- subspecialty fellowship is the only path above $350K.
The highest purpose-driven satisfaction in medicine, though financial frustration creates a persistent undercurrent.
BLS projects 3% growth, with stronger demand for subspecialists in children's hospitals and academic centers.
Around 70% would choose again -- those who wouldn't overwhelmingly cite compensation as the reason.
Outpatient pediatrics offers excellent hours; hospitalist and NICU schedules are significantly more demanding.
Three-year residency keeps costs low, but $240K median makes the per-dollar ROI the weakest in medicine without PSLF.
Pediatrics is the lowest-paid major specialty (median $240K), but pediatric subspecialists in fields like cardiology or critical care earn $350K-$500K -- subspecialty fellowship is the financial inflection point.
Pediatricians report the highest purpose-driven satisfaction in medicine: treating children generates emotional fulfillment that partially offsets the salary gap, but "partially" is doing heavy lifting in that sentence.
The financial math of general pediatrics only works with PSLF -- a pediatrician with $300K in loans at a qualifying nonprofit effectively earns $80K-$100K more per year through forgiveness over a 10-year horizon.
Pediatrics Compensation & Earnings
Best States for Pediatricians (After Tax)
Pediatric subspecialists in states with only one children's hospital command premium compensation -- scarcity creates leverage.
| State | BLS Median | After-Tax Income | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $354,060 | $339,189 | Limited(70 jobs) |
| Alaska | $284,210 | $284,210 | Limited(40 jobs) |
| California | $283,620 | $257,527 | Very High(6,960 jobs) |
| New Hampshire | $256,260 | $256,260 | Low(200 jobs) |
| Iowa | $257,430 | $247,648 | Low(210 jobs) |
Estimate Your Take-Home
Based on median Pediatrics salary of $210K/yr
Select a state to see your estimated take-home pay
Take-Home Pay by State
How much a Pediatrics physician actually keeps after federal, state, and FICA taxes
Highest Take-Home States
Lowest Take-Home States
Tax impact: A Pediatrics physician keeps $175,031 more per year in Louisiana vs. Arkansas — a 83.3% difference on gross income of $210,130.
Assumes single filer, standard deduction, W-2 employment. State rates from Tax Foundation 2025. Gross salaries from BLS OEWS May 2024. FICA includes Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600) and Medicare (1.45% + 0.9% above $200K). Actual take-home varies with deductions, filing status, and local taxes.
Career Lifestyle
Job Market & Future Outlook
Job Market Outlook
BLS Employment Projections (2024-2034) for Pediatrics
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034. Includes wage/salary and self-employed physicians.
AI & Automation Impact
Caring for children requires empathy, physical examination skills, and parent communication that AI cannot replicate.
How Hard Is It to Match Into Pediatrics?
Pediatrics is relatively accessible with a 99.7% match rate for U.S. MD seniors. There were 0.46 applicants per position (1,442 applicants for 3,139 spots). Matched applicants had significantly higher Step 2 CK scores (247 vs 233).
Match Rate by Step 2 CK Score
What Differentiates Matched Applicants
| Metric | Matched | Unmatched |
|---|---|---|
| Step 2 CK | 247 | 233 |
| Research Experiences | 2.6 | 0.5 |
| Publications | 6 | 22 |
| AOA Members | 13% | 0% |
| Programs Ranked | 15 | 2 |
Data from Charting Outcomes in the Match, National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), 2024. U.S. MD seniors. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Pediatrics: where the financial math only works with a plan
General pediatrics is the specialty that most directly forces a trade-off between income and meaning. Pediatricians consistently rank highest in "my work matters" surveys and lowest in compensation satisfaction. The $240K median is not just below adult medicine peers -- it creates genuine financial stress for physicians carrying $250K-$400K in educational debt, particularly in high-cost-of-living areas where the salary-to-housing ratio is punishing.
Subspecialty fellowship transforms the financial equation. Pediatric cardiology, neonatology, critical care, and gastroenterology all push compensation above $350K, with some surgical pediatric subspecialties (pediatric surgery, pediatric orthopedics) reaching $500K+. But the training pipeline is extended: three years of residency plus three years of fellowship means six years of post-medical-school training for a salary that adult subspecialists achieve with less total investment.
For medical students drawn to pediatrics, the career planning conversation must include financial strategy from day one. PSLF-eligible employment (academic medical centers, nonprofit hospitals) is the most reliable path to manageable debt. Rural practice premiums add $60K-$100K to base salary. And subspecialty fellowship, while extending training, opens compensation tiers that make the career financially sustainable without lifestyle sacrifice.
Training & Getting Started
6 years of post-medical-school training, with subspecialty fellowship options
Subspecialty Fellowships
Physicians Also Consider
Explore Pediatrics
Take the Next Step in Your Pediatrics Career
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Powered by SalaryDr Career Intelligence
Career Score methodology: salarydr.com/methodology
According to SalaryDr Career Intelligence data (as of March 2026), the Physician Career Score for Pediatrics is 44/100. Median total compensation is $210,130. The BLS reports 46,400 practicing Pediatricians nationally with 0.8% projected growth (2024-2034).