The Average Salary of a Doctor of Osteopathy
When you go to medical school, you have two degree options. The first is to become a medical doctor, or M.D. The second is to get a Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) degree. In terms of being able to practice and industry restrictions, the two degrees are virtually identical. However, osteopathic doctors focus more on the musculoskeletal system and concentrate on holistic and preventative approaches to care. As doctors, osteopaths consistently earn salaries above $150,000, based on 2009 data.
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Training & Pay
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As the StateUniversity website points out, osteopathic physicians typically earn salaries comparable to those of medical doctors. This is because training is so similar -- both osteopathic doctors and allopathic doctors (M.D.s) go to medical school and complete residency and internship training.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that both types of doctors may use all accepted methods of treatment. It is for this reason that the BLS doesn't distinguish between the two degrees for categorization purposes. It states that the median salary for primary care physicians based on 2008 information is $186,044. For those in specialities, the median is $339,738.
Specialization
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As the BLS indicates, in general, an osteopathic physician may earn more if he opts to specialize. However, the specific specialty an osteopath chooses influences pay. For example, a pediatric osteopath usually makes an average salary of $161,410, based on 2009 BLS data. By comparison, an osteopath who focuses on internal medicine makes $183,990 a year. Osteopaths are found in every specialty, but the BLS states that about half perform in pediatrics, general/family medicine and general internal medicine.
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Experience
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As with other professions, experience usually raises an osteopathic doctor's salary. For example, according to the ongoing Allied Physicians Salary Survey, a starting doctor in internal medicine makes $154,000, in 2009 figures. With three years or more in the industry, pay increases to $176,000. Top earners make $238,000. If an osteopath enters one of the highest paid specialities like spinal surgery or radiology, pay can easily exceed $500,000 and can approach $1 million over the course of his career.
Considerations
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Overall, the physician and healthcare industry is growing -- the BLS projects expansion of 22 percent for the field through 2018. The demand for both allopathic and osteopathic care is increasing as a result of an increasing population, much of which is elderly. Pay is going up as the industry grows, in part because technology is letting osteopaths treat more patients more efficiently.
However, insurance companies always influence pay. The relationship an osteopath has with different insurers influences overall earnings, as not all insurance companies reimburse at the same rate. Additionally, pay varies by sector and location. Self-employed osteopaths often make more, but they have more work expenses to cover. Pay tends to be better in urban locations, although prospects may be better in rural regions.
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References
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