Doctors are notoriously high paid professionals, but does this apply to all specialties? Admittedly, any doctor, regardless of his or particular field, will have a higher income than the average salary for a worker from another industry, but this doesn’t mean that salary will suffice to pay off the massive student debt most medical graduates face after finishing medical school. Following, we would like to present you with a list we have compiled of the top 8 worst paying jobs for doctors, based on the statistics issued by Merritt Hawkins and Associates, a medical consulting firm. Let’s take a look. No. 8: Neurology Average annual salary: $280,000 The human nervous system is one of the most complex topics taught in medical school and it goes without saying that those who manage to become neurologists are some of the sharpest knives in the drawer. However, the salary they receive is not particularly appealing, at least when compared to that of other doctors. No. 7: OB/GYN Average annual salary: $268,000 An OB/GYN has a lot of responsibilities to handle: from overseeing pregnant women to delivering babies, as this specialty involves both surgical and medical duties. But even though their role in society is paramount, doctors working in this branch have significantly lower salaries than their counterparts. No. 6: Emergency medicine Average annual salary: $264,000 Emergency medicine is arguably the most nerve-racking and fast-paced specialty in medicine. You always have to be on your toes and have a great reaction time. Despite this, however, doctors working in the ER are not exactly handsomely rewarded for their efforts. No. 5: Endocrinology Average annual salary: $248,000 Endocrinology is a relatively young specialty, compared to other branches in medicine. But even though it entails a lot of studying about nervous and endocrine systems of the body, it’s not exactly one of the best paid jobs a doctor could have. No. 4: Internal medicine Average annual salary: $203,000 Internal medicine is one of the hardest specialties a medical student can opt for, mainly because you have to know everything about every single organ and system in the body. However, specializing on just one branch, such as cardiology or rheumatology can be a more profitable option than opting for internal medicine. No. 3: Psychiatry Average annual salary: $189,000 Dealing with ailments of the mind is no easy task, but psychiatrists tend to be paid a lot less than their counterparts who handle more physical diseases. No. 2: Family practitioners Average annual salary: $189,000 There are several benefits associated with becoming a family practitioner, such as the less long hours, the somewhat lower level of pressure, and the opportunity to create lifelong bonds with your patient. However, family practitioners are not exactly the best paid professionals in health care. No. 1: Pediatrics Average annual salary: $189,000 Although pediatricians have a tough job on their hands, they are the worst paid professionals in medicine. And if you think that $189,000 might be a big paycheck, just consider that a cardiologist, for example, makes well over $500,000. Source
