Compensation increased for infectious disease specialists in 2017 when compared to 2015 data, according to findings published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.
The researchers surveyed about 7,000 infectious disease physicians in May and June 2017 and received over 2,500 responses.
Full-time infectious disease physicians in private practices reported higher incomes, with a median annual salary of $260,000, than respondents who work at hospitals/clinics or academic medical centers (median salaries of $237,500 and $181,500, respectively).
The highest median salary ($300,000) was among physicians who said they were solo practitioners or owners.
Additionally, the researchers found female infectious disease specialists receive significantly less (about 20 percent) compensation than their male peers.
"For recruitment and retention in the field of infectious diseases, clarity about financial incentives is of increasing importance," the researchers concluded. "We hope the findings of this report will be used to implement strategies that will result in attracting the best and brightest to our field and assist in employment choice and negotiations."