Gender Discrepancies in Neurologist Compensation

Area of Science:

• Medical Economics
• Neurology Workforce Studies

Background:

• Previous research indicates gender-based pay gaps in various medical specialties.
• Neurologist compensation disparities by gender require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate gender-based differences in neurologist compensation.
• To analyze compensation data from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Compensation and Productivity Survey.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of 1,466 neurologists' survey data.
• Calculation of hourly wages based on FTE status and work weeks.
• Multivariable generalized linear models adjusted for demographics, practice characteristics, and subspecialty.

Main Results:

• Women neurologists earned 10.7% less annually than men, with a statistically significant pay gap.
• Men were more prevalent in higher-paying subspecialties.
• Even within high-compensation subspecialties, women's salaries were lower than men's average salaries.

Conclusions:

• This study confirms persistent gender-based compensation disparities in neurology.
• Systemic issues and barriers contribute to these ongoing inequities.
• Further research with probability sampling is recommended to address bias and improve generalizability.