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Differences in earnings between male and female physicians
1Department of Health Research and Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305-5092, USA.
The New England Journal of Medicine
|April 11, 1996
Summary
Young male and female physicians earn equally when they have similar characteristics. However, pay gaps persist for older physicians and in certain medical specialties, indicating ongoing gender-based disparities in physician compensation.
Area of Science:
- Medical Economics
- Physician Compensation Studies
- Gender Pay Gap Research
Background:
- Historically, male physicians have earned more than female physicians, even when controlling for factors like hours worked and specialty.
- Recent trends in physician earnings disparities based on gender were previously unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate recent changes in the earnings gap between male and female physicians.
- To determine if controlling for physician characteristics equalizes compensation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the 1991 Survey of Young Physicians (physicians aged <45 with 2-9 years of experience).
- Comparison with 1987 Survey of Young Physicians data and 1991 American Medical Association Socioeconomic Monitoring System survey data for physicians with 10+ years of experience.
Main Results:
- In 1990, young male physicians earned 41% more annually than young female physicians.
- After adjusting for specialty, practice setting, and other factors, no significant earnings difference was found between young male and female physicians (ratio 1.00).
- In general/family practice, women earned more than men post-adjustment (ratio 0.87); in internal medicine subspecialties and emergency medicine, men earned more (ratio 1.26).
Conclusions:
- When controlling for similar characteristics, young male and female physicians achieve equal earnings.
- However, gender-based earnings disparities persist among physicians with more experience and within specific medical specialties.