When children imagine themselves growing up to become doctors, they don't envision the years of hard work they will need to do to prepare themselves. Those who enjoy biology, chemistry and the other kinds of required classes still need to work hard in residency and beyond. Becoming a physician is more of a commitment than many other job paths, but it is worth it. Even with large student loans, doctors make enough to live comfortably and get the satisfaction of helping their patients on a personal level every day they work. There is a surprising amount of variety in the kinds of specialties and practices physicians have to choose from, and with it, stark differences in work conditions. Most potential physicians see this as a positive thing, because what gives personal satisfaction to one person might not work for another. Here are just a few of the considerations you should consider when pursuing a physician job.
Anyone wanting to practice as a medical doctor must first earn a Bachelor's degree in biology or pre-medicine, followed by a four-year MD program, and then a residency. This is the minimum to be allowed to apply for state licensing.
Med school programs usually require at least one sociology class and classes involving writing and / or speech. Communication is one of the most important skills a physician possesses, not just with patients but in an active medical environment. Sociology and psychology are now on the MCAT, the law school admissions test. Physicians need to understand how people's habits and behaviors affect their health.
The range of salaries is surprisingly wide, with some doctors only earning about $60,000 per year and others earning well over $200,000. The median salary is a little under $200,000 for a general internist.
South Dakota and Alabama both pay their physicians around $275,000 annually. Arkansas, New Mexico and North Carolina all pay physicians an average salary of about $266,000 a year.
Oklahoma is at the bottom of the list with an average physician salary of about $145,000. Missouri is next with an average of about $155,000. Other factors to be considered when looking at relatively low salaries are such things as that these states have lower salaries in general, not just for doctors, so the cost of living will probably be adjusted accordingly. Delaware is unusual because, while the average physician salary is low, the general average salary is slightly higher.
Pediatricians, family practitioners and psychiatrists are usually paid the lowest out of all the specialties. Even with that, they average about $189,000 per year. People who choose those specialties are often seeking personal satisfaction from work.
An orthopedic surgeon can make $519,000 per year, and a cardiologist knows the base salary will be $512,000 annually. Surprisingly, the third highest specialty is urology, with a $461,00 yearly paycheck.
Jobs for doctors are opening faster than average, so people wanting to go into medicine can feel assured that the market is good for them. Not only that, physician jobs have more upward mobility than many other jobs, so doctors have a chance to be promoted or get more money.
You can find physician jobs across the country using search tools like MDSearch. Find thousands of jobs in your area and apply for jobs absolutely for free. Physicians are always in demand, so there's always a opportunity for you. Register on the website today to start applying.