Marriage, Children, and Sex-Based Differences in Physician Hours and Income
Lucy Skinner1, Max Yates2,3, David I Auerbach3
1Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire.
JAMA Health Forum
|March 24, 2023
Summary
The lifetime earnings gap between male and female physicians widens with age and children, driven by fewer hours worked by women. Addressing these work-hour disparities is key to reducing physician pay gaps.
Area of Science:
- Health Economics
- Medical Workforce Studies
- Sociology of Medicine
Background:
- Persistent sex disparities in physician earnings and work hours necessitate a deeper understanding of contributing factors.
- Family structure's influence on career trajectories and compensation in medicine remains an area requiring further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how family status and age intersect with sex-based differences in earnings and hours worked among physicians.
- To quantify the lifetime economic impact of sex-based gaps in physician compensation and work hours.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of US physicians aged 25-64 using American Community Survey data (2005-2019).
- Examined annual earned income, weekly work hours, and hourly earnings, stratified by sex, age, and family status.
- Calculated sex-based gaps and adjusted for demographic factors and survey year.
Main Results:
- Female physicians, relative to males, were more likely to be single and less likely to have children.
- Lifetime earnings gaps (age 25-64) were substantial, reaching approximately $3.1 million for physicians with children.
- The male-female gap in hours worked increased significantly with family responsibilities, while hourly earnings gaps remained relatively constant.
Conclusions:
- Family structure, particularly marriage and parenthood, is linked to a larger earnings penalty for female physicians, primarily due to reduced work hours.
- Policies aimed at supporting women in maintaining work hours could help close the physician earnings gap and expand the workforce.
- Understanding these life-cycle dynamics is crucial for developing effective strategies to promote gender equity in medicine.
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