Infectious Disease Specialist Salary

Infectious disease specialists employed in the United States generally earn salaries in the range from $88,437 to $252,570 a year including bonuses according to the salary information reported by Payscale.

The basic annual salary for infectious disease physicians is typically in the range between $87,700 and $223,240, and the yearly bonuses can amount to up to $29,799 based on Payscale’s data. Based on the salary figures reported by ValueMD.com, with significant work experience in the field, infectious disease doctors can earn up to $271,000 a year.

Average salary



The average salary for infectious disease doctors working in the United States is $225,000 a year according to the recruitment firm Profiles, $178,000 a year according to the salary data provided by ValueMD.com, $185,440 a year according to Payscale, $170,024 according to Jobstat, $194,994 a year according to Salary.com, and $170,000 a year according to Medscape’s 2013 Infectious Disease Physician Compensation Report. Jobstat reports that the highest annual pay recorded for this occupation is $253,582 and the lowest, $109,262.

Based on the salary data reported by Salary.com, 10% of infectious disease doctors earn $260,568 or more annually, and the 10% of specialists on the lower end of the pay scale are paid an annual income of up to $148,200. 25% of these professionals earn up to $170,500 a year, and 75% make $229,318 a year or less.

Including bonus earnings, the median salary for these professionals is $204,420 a year according to Salary.com, with 10% of infectious disease doctors earning $267,174 a year or more, and the 10% on the lower end of the scale reporting an annual pay of up to $149,750. Medscape’s 2013 salary report reveals that men earn 3% more than women: male infectious disease doctors earn $173,000 a year or average, and female specialists make around $167,000 a year.


infecious disease doctor salary

Image: U.S. Navy

Infectious disease physicians’ salaries can vary dramatically depending on geographical location, and the median salary for the occupation is different from region to region. The best paid physicians are those based in the Northwest, where the average annual salary for this occupation is $300,000, followed by specialists working in the Mid-Atlantic region, where the median pay for infectious disease doctors is $205,000 a year.

Specialists employed in the North Central region earn around $180,000 a year, those based in the Great Lakes region are paid $171,000 a year on average, and physicians working in the Southeast make $169,000 a year on average. Professionals employed in the Southwest are paid a median yearly income of $168,000, those working in the West earn around $156,000 a year, and physicians based in the North East earn a median annual pay of $148,000. The lowest salaries for this occupation are in the South Central region, where the average yearly salary is $137,000 according to Medscape’s salary report.

Infectious disease specialists’ annual salary also depends on the work setting. The best paid specialists are those employed in solo practices, where the median pay for this occupation is $225,000 a year. Doctors working in multispecialty group practices make $223,000 a year on average, those employed in single-specialty group practices are paid around $188,000 annually, and professionals working at hospitals earn a median annual salary of $170,000 based on the results of Medscape’s 2013 salary survey.



Infectious disease specialists employed in an academic setting earn $151,000 a year on average, those employed by healthcare organizations are paid around $134,000 annually, and physicians working at outpatient clinics are paid $132,000 a year on average. Infectious disease doctors employed in other settings earn an average salary of $205,000 a year according to Medscape.

Work situation is another factor that can significantly affect an infectious disease specialist’s annual salary. Doctors who own solo practices earn around $259,000 a year, while those who are partners in their organization make $186,000 a year on average. Specialists who work as independent contractors earn around $175,000 annually, and those who are employees in their organization make $162,000 a year on average according to Medscape’s salary report.

Starting salary

The median starting salary for infectious disease specialists in their first year on the job is $158,000 a year according to the salary data reported by the recruitment agency Profiles.

Based on the salary figures provided by ValueMD.com, the average annual pay for infectious disease doctors in their first years of practice is $154,000.

Salary range

Infectious disease specialists’ annual pay can vary depending on a number of factors, including work experience. Doctors with 1 to 4 years of experience generally earn between $60,000 and $205,479 a year, and those with 5 to 9 years of experience are usually paid an annual income in the range from $87,262 to $234,175. Infectious disease physicians with 10 to 19 years of work experience under their belt generally earn salaries in the range from $177,020 to $203,473 a year, and professionals with 20 or more years of experience make between $147,395 and $203,473 a year according to Payscale’s salary figures.

Infectious disease physicians with a certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) typically report earning an annual pay in the range between $56,766 and $227,987 according to Payscale.

In terms of industry, infectious disease specialists working in the health care sector generally earn between $70,000 and $219,886 annually, and those employed at hospitals are typically paid between $132,257 and $219,192 a year according to Payscale’s data. Professionals working at general hospitals typically make between $91,231 and $212,060 a year.

Medscape’s Infectious Disease Physician Compensation Report: 2013 reveals that 16% of these professionals earn $100,000 a year or less, and 4% make $350,000 a year or more. The highest percentage of infectious disease doctors (38%) report an annual income in the range from $150,000 to $200,000 a year.

On the higher end of the pay scale, 13% of infectious disease specialists earn between $300,000 and $350,000 annually, 10% are paid between $250,000 and $300,000 a year, and 13% report earning an annual pay in the range from $200,000 to $250,000.

On the lower end of the scale, 7% of infectious disease physicians earn between $100,000 and $125,000 a year, and 9% are paid an annual income in the range from $125,000 to $150,000 according to Medscape’s salary survey.

Salary by state

Infectious disease specialists’ salaries can also vary considerably from state to state. For example, doctors based in California typically report earning an annual pay in the range from $113,003 to $203,473, those based in New York generally earn salaries in the range between $117,916 and $178,039 a year, and professionals working in Maryland are usually paid between $115,000 and $300,000 a year according to the salary data provided by Payscale.

Hourly wage

The average hourly rate for infectious disease specialists is $84.55 according to Jobstat’s salary data. The highest hourly wage recorded for this occupation is $126.10 and the lowest, $54.33 per hour.

Benefits

Infectious disease specialists typically get a wide range of benefits and perks along with their basic annual salary and yearly bonus earnings. These professionals’ benefits can sometimes reflect their income.

Infectious disease physicians who have 401(k) plans typically earn an annual pay in the range from $90,000 to $221,824 a year, those who have malpractice and liability insurance are generally paid between $51,521 and $220,815 annually, and professionals who have paid vacations and holidays report salaries in the range from $116,573 to $221,923 a year according to the salary information provided by Payscale.

Doctors who have life and disability insurance as part of their benefits package usually earn an income of $50,335 to $223,832 a year, and those who have paid sick leave typically make between $115,000 and $200,000 a year. Professionals who get cell phones earn salaries in the range from $137,569 to $201,495 a year, and those who have 403(b) plans among their benefits generally report earning an annual income in the range from $107,000 to $203,440 based on Payscale’s salary data.

The value of these professionals’ benefits packages typically exceeds $60,000 annually according to the salary statistics provided by Salary.com. The benefits usually include disability insurance, healthcare, social security, time off, pension, and 401(k) or 403(b) plans.

Other income factors

The salaries of infectious disease doctors also depend on the size of the company or organization that employs them. For example, physicians working for organizations that employ between 1 and 9 people generally report earning an annual pay in the range from $140,000 to $203,473, while professionals working for organizations with 600 to 1,999 employees are typically paid between $100,000 and $187,500 annually according to Payscale’s salary data.

In terms of employer type, infectious disease doctors working at hospitals generally earn between $88,769 and $221,803 a year, those employed by private practices and firms report an annual income in the range from $157,222 and $196,527, and professionals employed by universities and colleges typically make between $73,000 and $182,500 a year according to Payscale.