Female pediatricians still earn less than their male colleagues

New research finds that male pediatricians are still outearning female pediatricians, who also report taking on more household duties than their spouse or partner. In one study, scientists looked at 2016 earnings data and found that female pediatricians in the U.S. earn roughly 76% of what their male counterparts earn, or $51,000 less per year. When adjusted for their pediatric specialty and family characteristics — including marital status and the number of children — male pediatricians still earned around $8,000 more. Another study surveyed pediatricians about their work-life balance and found that women were more likely than men to report having primary responsibility of many household chores, including cooking and cleaning.

In a related editorial, experts write that as a female-dominated field, pediatrics “can and should be at the forefront of prioritizing the call for equal pay for equal work.”