Male emergency room physicians make 18 percent more than women in the field, equating to a roughly $12,000 gender salary gap, according to a recent study to be published in a special issue of Academic Emergency Medicine.
For the study, researchers surveyed a total of 7,102 members of the Academy of Administrators in Academic Emergency Medicine and the Association of Academic Chairs in Emergency Medicine in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Researchers received data from 81 emergency departments nationwide. The study found the median salary for men in the profession increased from about $226,000 in 2013 to $252,000 in 2017. The salary increase for men was higher than for women, who typically saw their salary increase from $217,000 to $240,000 during the same period. The median average salary gap in 2017 was about $12,000.
Jennifer Wiler, MD, executive vice chair and associate professor of the department of emergency medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora and lead author of the study, said in a statement that the reasons for the gap are unclear and unexplained. However, the research suggests the medical industry may factor in conscious or unconscious biases or a difference in men and women's initial strategies in recruitment salary negotiations.
The authors recommended healthcare leaders develop deliberate strategies to prevent gender biases with regard to salary, among other solutions.
To access the full study, click here.