Because compensation packages vary so much across physician specialties, there's bound to be both satisfaction and discontent, and in 2011, the overall satisfaction with pay was down across most physician specialties, according to Medscape's 2012 Physician Compensation Report.
Here are the physician specialties that were most and least satisfied with their compensation in 2011:
Highest compensation satisfaction rates:
• Dermatologists: 71 percent
• Pathologists: 63 percent
• Radiologists: 62 percent
• Emergency physicians: 61 percent
• Anesthesiologists: 59 percent
Lowest compensation satisfaction rates:
• Plastic surgeons: 38 percent
• Endocrinologists: 38 percent
• Urologists: 40 percent
• Rheumatologists: 42 percent
• General surgeons: 43 percent
Here are the physician specialties that were most and least satisfied with their compensation in 2011:
Highest compensation satisfaction rates:
• Dermatologists: 71 percent
• Pathologists: 63 percent
• Radiologists: 62 percent
• Emergency physicians: 61 percent
• Anesthesiologists: 59 percent
Lowest compensation satisfaction rates:
• Plastic surgeons: 38 percent
• Endocrinologists: 38 percent
• Urologists: 40 percent
• Rheumatologists: 42 percent
• General surgeons: 43 percent
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