Healthcare practitioners
Pediatricians, general
Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and injuries in children. May refer patients to specialists for further diagnosis or treatment, as needed.
Median pay
$210,040
Growth to 2035
+2%
little or no change
Openings a year
1,000
Time to qualify*
7 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Pediatricians, general
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Pediatricians, general: 56% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Prescribe or administer treatment, therapy, medication, vaccination, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury in infants and children.
- Examine children regularly to assess their growth and development.
- Treat children who have minor illnesses, acute and chronic health problems, and growth and development concerns.
- Examine patients or order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests to obtain information on medical condition and determine diagnosis.
- Advise patients, parents or guardians, and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, and disease prevention.
- Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients and parents or guardians.
- Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results.
- Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
Also called: Developmental Pediatrician · Emergency Room Pediatrician (ER Pediatrician) · General Pediatrician · Group Practice Pediatrician · Medical Doctor (MD) · Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician · Pediatric Physician · Physician
Outlook and AI
Pediatricians, general held 42,200 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 42,900 by 2035 (+2%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
Demand change - share decreases as the pediatric population shrinks, constraining demand for pediatricians.
Compare with
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- Pediatricians, general vs. General internal medicine physician
- Pediatricians, general vs. Family doctor
- Pediatricians, general vs. Emergency medicine physician
- Pediatricians, general vs. Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Pediatricians, general vs. Neurologist
- Pediatricians, general vs. Psychiatrist
- Pediatricians, general vs. Cardiologist
- Pediatricians, general vs. Nurse practitioner
- Pediatricians, general vs. Physician (other specialties)