Gastroenterologist Salary Range
A gastroenterologist is a physician who diagnoses and treats problems of the digestive system. Gastroenterologists typically meet with patients in a preliminary consultation, often at the referral of a primary care physician, before scheduling tests and exams to identify the problem. These physicians specialize in digestive diseases, from acid reflux and ulcers to cancer. Approximately 5 percent of all physicians specialize in gastroenterology, according to Healthcare-TrainingCenter.com.
Other People Are Reading
-
Education and Certification
-
Becoming any type of physician requires extensive post-high school education. In addition to four years of undergraduate work, a prospective gastroenterologist must complete four years of medical school plus an additional three to eight years of internship and residency with a focus on gastroenterological experience. The candidate must then pass general as well as specialized board certification exams to become a licensed gastroenterologist.
Occupational Outlook
-
The job outlook for nearly all medical professions is excellent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The outlook for gastroenterologists is particularly favorable, primarily due to a large percentage of the population entering their senior years and becoming more susceptible to diseases of the digestive system. The BLS projects 22 percent occupational growth for physicians and surgeons in the decade spanning 2008 to 2018. Demand for medical specialists is highest in rural and low-income areas.
-
Salary Factors
-
As with most professions, a gastroenterologist's salary depends on several factors. Geographical location is one determining factor. For example, gastroenterologists working in Iowa report an average salary of about $185,000, while those in New York report $230,000. Years of experience strongly influence salary; gastroenterologists with less than three years of experience can make about $265,000, compared with about $350,000 for those with three or more years of experience. Specialized physicians who operate private practices tend to make more than those working in an institutional setting.
Salary Range
-
Because gastroenterology is a specialized field, salaries are higher than average when compared with those of physicians as a whole. While primary care physicians averaged about $186,000 per year in 2008, specialty physicians averaged nearly $340,000, according to the BLS. The national average for gastroenterologists ranges from about $200,000 for the lower 10th percentile to about $500,000 for the upper 90th percentile. Most gastroenterologists fall within an annual salary range of $170,000 to $300,000. Salary may also be supplemented by bonuses ranging from $5,000 to $50,000, according to the salary survey website PayScale.
-
References
- Photo Credit physicians desk image by Keith Frith from Fotolia.com
