If you have a love for children and have decided that you want a career in medicine, then you might want to seriously think about a pediatrician education. A pediatrician is a qualified doctor who has specialized in the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of disease and illness in children. While it is a challenging career both mentally and physically, the rewards and challenges are stimulating and second to none. A pediatrician will undertake the medical care of children from birth through to adolescence, not only the physical health, but also the mental, social, and emotional well-being of the child.

Pediatrician Salary Information:

A pediatrician with less than 1 years experience after completing their pediatrician education should expect their median annual salary to be approximately $102,853. A pediatrician with between 1 and 4 years working experience will typically earn a median annual salary of approximately $124,000, and as the years of experience rise, so does the salary, with 10-19 years of working experience bringing an estimated median annual salary of around $131,000. For a pediatrician first starting out in the working world, an hourly wage of around $70, when working in a physician’s office, can be expected. Wages will obviously vary depending on the state.

Pediatrician Education Requirements:

Training to become a pediatrician will usually require a pediatrician education consisting of an undergraduate college degree, which will consist of 4 years training. Individuals wanting to become a pediatrician can choose a degree in math, chemistry, or biology for their bachelor’s degree. A Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O) degree or Doctor of Medicine degree (D.M) which will be another 4 years of training is also required. Three years of residency training must also be completed and a license and board certification must be obtained from the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP).

Pediatrician Work Environment:

An individual undertaking a pediatrician education will have obviously thought about their future working conditions. Pediatricians work in all kinds of environments from clinics, offices, hospitals, and even universities. They can expect to work exceedingly long hours and to be on call during evenings and weekends on a regular basis. They will generally work as part of a medical health care team that will comprise of other doctors, therapists, and nurses as well as medical technologists.

While a pediatrician education is definitely a long drawn-out process, it is definitely a worthwhile one to undertake. If the thought of helping sick children with their problems appeals to you, then a career in pediatrics is an ideal one for you. Even though the training is long and taxing, the end result is a lifelong career and not just a job. Good pediatricians are not just “kids doctors,” although that is the general idea. They are very often the person most trusted by a parent in a young child’s life. He or she will be in a position to offer emotional, mental, and physical support to not just the child, but the child’s worried family and this can very often have a considerable impact on the child and the family for many years – if not life.