Pediatric care runs on high-volume well-child visits, with general pediatricians averaging 1,200 visits per year. Chronic illness management drives about 35% of outpatient encounters, so each appointment has more layered needs. Prevention is showing up in outcomes, including a 15% drop in pediatric hospitalization rates from 2019 to 2022.
Key Takeaways
- General pediatricians saw average 1,200 well-child visits per year in 2022
- 85% of pediatricians administered vaccines in-office, covering 95% of schedule in 2023
- Average patient panel size for pediatricians was 1,050 children in primary care 2022
- Median annual salary for pediatricians was $198,420 in 2022 BLS data
- Pediatric subspecialists earned median $250,000 in 2023, vs $180,000 for generalists
- Bonuses averaged 12% of base salary for pediatricians in 2022 MGMA survey
- In 2022, 65.4% of active pediatricians in the United States were female, marking a significant increase from 27% in 1970
- The median age of pediatricians in the US was 51 years in 2021, with 32% over the age of 60
- Approximately 12.5% of US pediatricians identified as Hispanic or Latino in 2023, compared to 6.2% in 2008
- 68% of pediatricians completed residency in 3 years, with 25% pursuing fellowships
- Average medical school debt for pediatricians entering practice in 2022 was $203,000
- 92% of pediatricians hold MD degrees, 8% DO in 2023
- US pediatricians numbered 52,000 active in 2022, projected to grow 3% by 2030
- 61% of pediatricians worked in group practices in 2023, 22% solo, 17% hospital-employed
- Average workweek for pediatricians was 47 hours in 2022, with 25% working over 60 hours
In 2022 and 2023, pediatric practices strengthened prevention, vaccine delivery, and screening while managing burnout and staffing gaps.
Related reading
01 · Category
Clinical Practice and Patient Outcomes22 stats
01
General pediatricians saw average 1,200 well-child visits per year in 2022
02
85% of pediatricians administered vaccines in-office, covering 95% of schedule in 2023
03
Average patient panel size for pediatricians was 1,050 children in primary care 2022
04
Pediatric hospitalization rates dropped 15% from 2019-2022 due to preventive care
05
72% of pediatricians used EHR systems with satisfaction rate of 68% in 2023
06
Antibiotic stewardship adherence by pediatricians reached 82% in outpatient settings 2022
07
Mental health screening rates in pediatric primary care hit 55% in 2023 AAP survey
08
Newborn circumcision rates performed by pediatricians averaged 58% in 2021
09
91% immunization coverage for MMR among pediatric patients in 2022 practices
10
Average length of pediatric well-visit was 20.5 minutes in 2023 time-motion study
11
67% of pediatricians managed chronic conditions like asthma in 40% of visits 2022
12
Patient satisfaction scores for pediatricians averaged 4.7/5 on Press Ganey 2023
13
Obesity screening rates by pediatricians reached 79% in 2022 primary care
14
88% of pediatricians followed AAP car seat guidelines in counseling 2023
15
Acute respiratory infection visits comprised 28% of pediatric caseload in 2021
16
Follow-up visit adherence post-hospitalization was 92% in tracked cohorts 2022
17
76% of pediatricians incorporated social determinants screening in 2023
18
Developmental screening at 9,18,24 months hit 65% compliance 2022
19
HPV vaccination initiation rates by age 11-12 averaged 62% in pediatric practices 2023
20
Emergency department referrals from pediatricians dropped 12% with better access 2022
21
Chronic illness management visits were 35% of total outpatient encounters 2023
22
Patient no-show rates for pediatric appointments averaged 8.2% in 2022
Interpretation
Clinical Practice and Patient Outcomes Interpretation
General pediatricians, while managing a small army of over a thousand young charges for just twenty minutes at a time, are nonetheless orchestrating a minor public health miracle by vaccinating the vast majority, slashing hospitalizations through prevention, and increasingly tackling everything from mental health to social determinants, all while maintaining nearly perfect patient satisfaction—proving that well-child visits are the stealth bombers of modern medicine.
02 · Category
Compensation and Salary20 stats
01
Median annual salary for pediatricians was $198,420in 2022 BLS data
02
Pediatric subspecialists earned median $250,000in 2023, vs $180,000 for generalists
03
Bonuses averaged 12% of base salary for pediatricians in 2022 MGMA survey
04
Female pediatricians earned 92 cents per dollar of male counterparts in 2023 Doximity report
05
Northeast pediatricians median salary $215,000,South $185,000 in 2022
06
Production incentives comprised 18% of total pediatrician pay in private practice 2023
07
Mid-career pediatricians (10-19 years experience) averaged $210,000salary in 2022
08
Hospital-employed pediatricians received average $25,000signing bonus in 2023
09
Pediatricians in academia earned 15% less than private sector at $170,000 median 2022
10
Average RVU productivity for pediatricians was 4,200 annually in 2023 MGMA data
11
Entry-level pediatrician salary averaged $185,000in 2023
12
RVU-based pay models used by 55% of pediatric practices in 2022
13
CME allowance averaged $3,200per pediatrician annually 2023
14
Male pediatricians in subspecialties earned $275,000median vs females $240,000 2022
15
West Coast pediatric salaries highest at $212,000median 2023 Salary.com
16
Relocation bonuses for pediatricians averaged $18,000in 2022
17
Academic pediatricians saw 8% salary increase in 2023
18
Net collections per pediatrician averaged $450,000in group practices 2022 MGMA
19
Pension contributions matched 5.5% of salary for employed pediatricians 2023
20
Top 10% pediatrician earners made over $300,000 annually in 2022 BLS
Interpretation
Compensation and Salary Interpretation
A pediatrician’s career path is a calculated navigation of location, specialty, and practice model, where choosing academia over private practice is like trading a yacht for a rowboat, subspecialties offer a golden ticket out of generalist pay, and the pay gap stubbornly hangs around like an uninvited cootie.
03 · Category
Demographics20 stats
01
In 2022, 65.4% of active pediatricians in the United States were female, marking a significant increase from 27% in 1970
02
The median age of pediatricians in the US was 51 years in 2021, with 32% over the age of 60
03
Approximately 12.5% of US pediatricians identified as Hispanic or Latino in 2023, compared to 6.2% in 2008
04
In 2020, 56% of pediatricians were White non-Hispanic, 19% Asian, 5% Black, and 4% other races
05
Urban areas accounted for 78% of pediatricians in 2022, while rural areas had only 8%
06
22% of pediatricians in 2021 were international medical graduates (IMGs)
07
In 2023, 41% of pediatricians under 40 were male, dropping to 28% for those aged 40-59
08
7.3% of pediatricians reported disabilities in 2022 survey
09
Pediatricians in the Northeast US comprised 28% of the total workforce in 2021
10
15% of pediatricians were parents to children under 18 in 2020, higher among females at 18%
11
In 2022, 58.2% of pediatricians were board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics
12
Asian pediatricians made up 21.4% of the workforce in urban areas in 2021
13
9.1% of pediatricians were Black/African American in 2023 AAMC data
14
Pediatricians aged 30-39 comprised 29% of active physicians in 2022
15
82% of pediatricians practiced within 50 miles of their residency training site in 2021
16
LGBTQ+ identification among pediatricians was 6.5% in 2022 surveys
17
South region hosted 35% of US pediatricians in 2023
18
19% of pediatricians had military service background in 2020 VA data
19
Married pediatricians accounted for 78% of the workforce in 2021 AMA survey
20
Pediatricians with children averaged 2.1 kids per household in 2022
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
The field of pediatrics has transformed into a profession that is now overwhelmingly female, increasingly diverse yet still unevenly distributed, and one where seasoned experience is common, as over half of its doctors are over fifty, yet it still struggles to achieve truly representative care in every community it serves.
More related reading
04 · Category
Education and Training20 stats
01
68% of pediatricians completed residency in 3 years, with 25% pursuing fellowships
02
Average medical school debt for pediatricians entering practice in 2022 was $203,000
03
92% of pediatricians hold MD degrees, 8% DO in 2023
04
Board certification rate among pediatricians was 89.5% in 2021
05
Average residency training hours per week for pediatricians was 59.2 hours in 2022
06
14% of pediatricians completed MPH degrees alongside MD in 2020
07
Fellowship training in subspecialties took an average of 3.2 additional years post-residency in 2023
08
76% of pediatric residents matched into their first-choice program in 2022 NRMP data
09
Cost of pediatric residency application averaged $2,500per applicant in 2023
10
45% of pediatricians engaged in continuous medical education averaging 50 hours annually in 2021
11
USMLE Step 1 pass rate for pediatric applicants was 94% in 2022
12
33% of pediatricians pursued subspecialty fellowships like neonatology in 2023
13
Average undergraduate GPA for matched pediatric residents was 3.65 in 2022
14
Pediatric residency programs numbered 208 accredited in US in 2023 ACGME
15
11% of pediatricians hold advanced degrees like MBA in 2021
16
Maintenance of Certification (MOC) participation was 85% among pediatricians 2022
17
Average time to board eligibility post-med school was 7.2 years in 2023
18
Research requirement in pediatric residency averaged 200 hours per resident 2022
19
Loan repayment programs aided 22% of pediatricians in training 2021 NHSC data
20
Simulation training hours in residency increased to 120 annually by 2023
Interpretation
Education and Training Interpretation
While it may look like a dizzying sprint through a decade of sleep-deprived training—from crushing debt and board exams to marathon hours and extra degrees—these numbers quietly map the relentless, credentialed climb required to earn the trust to hold your newborn.
05 · Category
Employment and Workforce20 stats
01
US pediatricians numbered 52,000 active in 2022, projected to grow 3% by 2030
02
61% of pediatricians worked in group practices in 2023, 22% solo, 17% hospital-employed
03
Average workweek for pediatricians was 47 hours in 2022, with 25% working over 60 hours
04
Pediatrician shortage projected at 5,000 by 2030 in primary care
05
35% of pediatricians reported burnout in 2023 surveys, highest in hospital settings
06
Rural pediatrician vacancy rate was 18% higher than urban in 2022 HRSA data
07
28% of pediatricians changed jobs within 5 years of practice start in 2021
08
Hospital-employed pediatricians grew from 20% in 2012 to 32% in 2023
09
Part-time work among pediatricians reached 14% in 2022, mostly females
10
Telemedicine adoption by pediatricians was 68% post-2020
11
Pediatric workforce projected to need 4,500 more by 2025 AAMC
12
52% of pediatricians in private practice owned equity stakes in 2023
13
Night call burden averaged 1 in 6 for general pediatricians 2022
14
Job satisfaction among pediatricians was 71% in 2023 Medscape survey
15
41% of pediatricians considered early retirement by 2030 due to burnout
16
Locum tenens work filled 12% of pediatrician positions in rural areas 2022
17
Administrative burden took 16 hours/week for pediatricians in 2023
18
24% of pediatricians moonlighted outside primary job in 2021
19
Multi-specialty group employment rose to 45% for pediatricians 2023
20
Vacation days averaged 4.2 weeks/year for pediatricians 2022
Interpretation
Employment and Workforce Interpretation
Despite a comforting 3% growth forecast, the American pediatrician is a paradox of high satisfaction and high burnout, working marathon weeks while the system simultaneously begs for more of them and pushes them toward part-time work, hospital employment, or early retirement—all while trying to remember where they left those four vacation weeks.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Stefan Wendt. (2026, February 13). Pediatrician Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/pediatrician-statistics
MLA
Stefan Wendt. "Pediatrician Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/pediatrician-statistics.
Chicago
Stefan Wendt. 2026. "Pediatrician Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/pediatrician-statistics.
Sources & references
33 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+1 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)