1. Compensation Disparities by Gender in Internal Medicine
Brief Research Report
Susan Read, PhD; Renee Butkus, BA; Arlene Weissman, PhD; Darilyn V Moyer, MD; for the American College of Physicians

2. Objective
To describe physician compensation by gender among U.S. American College of Physicians (ACP) internists.

3. Background
Despite progress toward gender diversity in the U.S. physician workforce, disparities in compensation and career advancement persist. Studies document that women earn substantially less than men after adjustment for specialty, hours worked, experience, and practice characteristics.

4. Methods
Cross-sectional survey of panelists from the Internal Medicine Insider Research Panel, which is comprised of ACP non-student U.S. members. Participants were eligible if they were currently practicing physicians. Survey included items on compensation, demographics, and employment characteristics. Compensation determined by the question: “What is your estimated annual income from your professional activities before taxes? (For employees, please include salary, bonus, and profit sharing contributions. For owners, please include earnings after tax-deductible business expenses but before income tax.)”
Panelists are from the nationally representative Internal Medicine Insider Research Panel, which comprise 1% of ACP members who agreed to participate in ACP research surveys and earn points redeemable for gift cards.
The survey was ed to 784 eligible panelists.

5. Sample
56.3% of invited participants responded to the survey.
Comparison of Survey Respondents with ACP U.S. Practicing Physician Members
Characteristic
Survey Respondents
ACP Members
Female
34%
30%
White
58%
63%
Specialty
General internal medicine
Hospital medicine
Subspecialty
55%
17%
28%
54%
12%
Employee
73%
76%

6. Analyses
Most (91%) reported working full-time (≥35 hours/week), so analyses of income include only this group (n = 374). Descriptive statistics (medians and interquartile ranges [25th percentile and 75th percentile]) compared income by gender.
Interquartile ranges are presented instead of averages, as averages could be disproportionately influenced by extreme salaries.

7. Results
Overall, the median annual salary was $250,000 for men and $200,000 for women, indicating a $50,000 differential. In other words, women earned 80 cents for every dollar earned by men.
Women
(n = 120 [32%])
Men
(n = 254 [68%])
Median annual income
(IQR), $
200,000
(168,500 – 247,500)
250,000
(200,000 – 300,000)

8. Results
Gender differences in salary were evident across many demographic and employment indicators.
The following slides highlight salary differentials across:
Specialty
Employment status
Age group
Race
Primary professional setting
Professional activity in which most of time is spent
Married/partnered vs. not married/partnered
Spouse employment status
Parent vs. not a parent

9. Results
Specialty: Women earned less than men in every internal medicine specialty, ranging from a differential of $29,000 for internal medicine specialists, to $45,000 for subspecialists.
Specialty
Women
(n = 120)
Men
(n = 254)
General internal medicine
62%
48%
Median salary
(IQR), $
191,000
(150,000 – 225,000)
220,000
(180,000 – 255,000)
Hospital medicine
19%
23%
(184,000 – 250,000)
258,000
(223,750 – 300,000)
Subspecialty
30%
230,000
(175,000 – 260,000)
275,000
(220,000 – 410,000)

10. Results
Employment Status: The income differential between men and women was higher among physicians who were practice owners than for employees ($72,500 vs. $43,000).
Employment Status
Women
(n = 120)
Men
(n = 254)
Employee
84%
69%
Median salary
(IQR), $
202,000
(175,000 – 242,500)
245,000
(200,000 – 287,500)
Owner
16%
31%
167,500
(118,750 – 210,000)
240,000
(160,000 – 312,500)

11. Results
Age Group: The income gap between men and women was directly related to age: $35,000 for those under age 40, $40,000 for those years, and $52,500 for those 56 years and older.
Age Group
Women
(n = 120)
Men
(n = 254)
≤39 years
26%
22%
Median salary
(IQR), $
200,000
(175,000 – 220,000)
235,000
(200,000 – 280,000)
40-55 years
49%
38%
210,000
(165,000 – 250,000)
250,000
(206,000 – 310,000)
≥56 years
25%
41%
197,500
(166,000 – 250,000)
(190,000 – 309,000)

12. Results
Race: White male physicians earned $47,500 more than white female physicians, and non-white male physicians earned $50,000 more than non-white female physicians .
Race
Women
(n = 120)
Men
(n = 254)
White
63%
62%
Median salary
(IQR), $
200,000
(175,000 – 240,000)
247,500
(200,000 – 309,250)
Other
37%
38%
(160,000 – 250,000)
250,000
(200,000 – 300,000)

13. Results
Primary Professional Setting: The most pronounced discrepancy between men and women occurred in solo practices ($70,000) and the smallest in government settings ($30,000).
Primary Professional Setting
Women
(n = 120)
Men
(n = 254)
Solo practice 6%
14%
Median salary
(IQR), $
130,000
(120,000 – 233,000)
200,000
(125,000 – 250,000)
Group practice
30%
34%
197,500
(152,500 – 247,500)
250,000
(200,000 – 322,500)
Medical school or university-affiliated hospital or clinic
28%
22%
196,000
(173,750 – 242,500)
(200,000 – 329,000)
Community of non-university-affiliated hospital or clinic
21%
19%
220,000
(185,500 – 250,000)
260,000
(240,000 – 320,000)
Federal, state, or local government hospital or clinic 9% 8%
(180,000 – 215,000)
230,000
(200,000 – 250,000)

14. Results
Professional Activity: The income difference by gender was $37,500 for physicians who spend most of their time in face-to-face direct patient care, and $52,500 for those in administration.
Professional activity in which most of time is spent
Women
(n = 120)
Men
(n = 254)
Face-to-face direct patient care
79%
Median salary
(IQR), $
200,000
(166,500 – 240,000)
237,500
(200,000 – 300,000)
Administration
17%
222,500
(191,500 – 297,250)
275,000
(245,000 – 337,500)
Medical teaching 2%
205,000
(180,000 – 205,000)
284,500
(73,333 – 392,250)
Research 1%
175,000
(175,000 – 175,000)
350,000
(195,000 – 372,500)

15. Results
Married/Partnered vs. Not Married/Partnered: The salary for men was $50,000 higher than for women when physicians were married/partnered, and $52,500 higher when physicians were not married/partnered.
Currently Married or Partnered
Women
(n = 120)
Men
(n = 254)
Yes
82%
92%
Median salary
(IQR), $
200,000
(169,500 – 250,000)
250,000
(200,000 – 300,000) No
18% 8%
197,500
(165,750 – 223,250)
(206,250 – 315,000)

16. Results
Spouse Employment Status: Among physicians who are married or partnered, male physicians earned $50,000 more than female physicians when their spouse was employed full-time, but only $20,000 more when their spouse was employed part-time. The only case in which women earned a higher salary is when their spouse was retired (women earned $35,000 more than men).
Spouse Employment Status
Women
(n = 120)
Men
(n = 254)
Full-time
75%
42%
Median salary
(IQR), $
200,000
(160,000 – 227,500)
250,000
(200,000 – 300,000)
Part-time 7%
17%
220,000
(210,000 – 250,000)
240,000
(200,000 – 315,000)
Retired 8% 6%
255,000
(205,000 – 284,500)
(160,000 – 272,000)
Neither employed nor retired
31%
245,000
(190,750 – 318,750)
253,000
(200,000 – 328,750)

17. Results
Parent vs. Not a Parent: The salary difference between men and women was the same regardless of whether the respondent was a parent (men earned $50,000 more than women when physicians were parents or not parents).
Parent
Women
(n = 120)
Men
(n = 254)
Yes
66%
82%
Median salary
(IQR), $
200,000
(165,000 – 250,000)
250,000
(200,000 – 300,000) No
34%
18%
(177,500 – 245,000)
(200,000 – 333,000)

18. Conclusion
Female internists earn less than men whether they are generalists, hospitalists, or subspecialists. Women earn less than men regardless of every other demographic and employment characteristic included in this study, with the exception being when women have a spouse who is retired. This study and others have documented that inequities exist even within groups of physicians with similar professional and employment characteristics.