Rheumatologists working in the United States generally earn salaries in the range from $73,058 to $205,178 a year including bonuses, which can amount to up to $97,871 a year according to the salary information provided by Payscale. The basic annual salary for rheumatologists is usually in the range between $73.058 to $199,555.
The salary information provided by Salary.com indicates that the 10% best paid rheumatology doctors earn $253,378 a year or more, while the 10% on the lower end of the scale are paid $157,987 or less. Jobstat reports that the top salary recorded for this occupation is $212,247 a year and the lowest, $71,007 a year.
Average salary
The average annual salary for rheumatologists is $220,500 according to the recruitment agency Profiles, $199,440 according to Salary.com, $156,529 according to Jobstat, $161,905 a year according to Payscale, and $186,000 a year according to Medscape’s 2013 Rheumatologist Compensation Report.
Medscape’s salary report reveals that male rheumatology physicians earn 18.2% more than female rheumatologists. The average yearly pay for men is $195,000, while women earn $165,000 a year on average.
Rheumatologists’ annual income depends on geographical location among other factors, and can vary significantly from region to region. The top salaries for this profession are in the Southeast, where rheumatology doctors earn $208,000 a year on average, followed by the West, where the median annual salary for this occupation is $203,000 a year. Physicians based in the Southwest earn around $200,000 annually, those working in the Great Lakes region are paid $195,000 a year on average, and rheumatologists employed in the South Central region earn around $185,000 a year according to Medscape’s salary data.
Rheumatology specialists working in the Mid-Atlantic region earn around $168,000 a year, and those based in the North East are paid around $176,000 annually. The lowest annual salaries for this occupation are in the North Central region, where the median annual wage for rheumatologists is $174,000, and in the North West, where these professionals earn $140,000 a year on average according to Medscape.
Rheumatologists’ yearly salaries depend on the work setting among other factors. Physicians employed by multispecialty group practices have the highest annual pay — $224,000 a year on average – followed by rheumatologists working in single-specialty group practices, who make $206,000 a year on average according to Medscape’s salary report.
Rheumatologists employed by healthcare organizations have an average annual salary of $176,000, those working at hospitals are paid around $201,000 annually, and physicians working in solo practices earn $147,000 a year on average.
Rheumatology doctors working in an academic setting earn around $137,000 annually, those employed by outpatient clinics make $138,000 a year on average, and physicians employed in other settings have a median yearly salary of $170,000 according to Medscape’s survey.
Rheumatologists’ average annual salary can vary dramatically depending on these professionals’ work situation. Rheumatologists who are partners in their organization earn $226,000 a year on average, and those who work as independent contractors earn a median yearly pay of $210,000. Physicians who are employees in their organization are paid $182,000 a year on average, and those who own solo practices earn around $155,000 a year according to Medscape’s salary statistics.
Salary range
The results of Medscape’s 2013 salary survey show that 15% of rheumatology doctors earn $100,000 a year or less, and 3% are paid $400,000 a year or more. The highest percent of rheumatologists (19%) report an annual income in the range from $200,000 to $250,000, and 16% are paid between $250,000 and $300,000 a year.
On the higher end of the scale, 1% of rheumatology physicians earn betwen $350,000 and $400,000 annually, and 10% are paid between $300,000 and $350,000 a year.
On the lower end of the scale, 14% of rheumatology specialists earn between $100,000 and $150,000 a year, 13% are paid between $150,000 and $175,000 annually, and 8% report an annual pay in the range from $175,000 to $200,000 according to Medscape.
Rheumatologist salaries vary depending on a wide range of factors, including professional experience. For example, physicians with 1 to 4 years of experience typically earn salaries in the range from $20,426 to $195,743 a year, while those with 20 or more years of experience are generally paid between $140,000 and $190,000 a year according to Payscale’s salary statistics.
Rheumatology specialists with the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD) generally make between $101,736 and $176,874 a year according to Payscale. Rheumatologists employed by organizations that employ 1 to 9 professionals typically earn between $60,000 and $194,872 a year.
Starting salary
The average starting salary for rheumatology doctors with less than a year of work experience is typically in the range from $162,500 to $199,500 a year according to Payscale’s salary figures.
Rheumatologists in their first year on the job earn an average annual pay of $163,500 according to the salary data provided by the recruitment firm Profiles.
Salary by state
Rheumatology physicians’ annual salaries can vary significantly from state to state. For example, rheumatologists based in New York typically report earning an annual pay in the range from $87,500 to $167,500, while those employed in Texas generally make between $132,500 and $189,500 a year based on Payscale’s salary data.
Hourly wage
Rheumatologists earn $77.84 per hour on average according to the salary information provided by Jobstat. The highest hourly pay recorded for this occupation is $105.54 and the lowest, $35.31.
Benefits
Rheumatologists typically get a wide range of benefits along with their basic annual salary and bonus payments, and their benefits packages can sometimes reflect their yearly income. For example, rheumatology doctors who have 401(k) plans typically earn salaries in the range from $100,000 to $180,000 a year, and those who have 403(b) plans as part of their benefits package are generally paid an annual income in the range from $150,676 to $181,004 according to Payscale’s salary data.
The most popular perks and benefits among rheumatologists are 401(k), 403(b), paid sick leave, paid holidays and vacations, malpractice and liability insurance, flexible schedule, and reimbursement for professional training, certification, education, and tuition.
Other income factors
Rheumatology doctors’ salaries can also vary from industry to industry. For example, physicians working in the health care sector generally report earning salaries in the range from $20,608 to $203,612 a year, and those working at hospitals are usually paid between $71,497 and $177,500 annually according to Payscale’s salary statistics.
Rheumatologist salaries also vary depending on employer type. For instance, doctors employed by private practices and firms generally earn between $101,736 and $186,701 a year, and those working at hospitals are typically paid between $149,160 and $190,000 a year according to Payscale.
Rheumatology doctors’ annual bonuses also depend on a number of factors, including years of experience. Doctors with 1 to 4 years of experience typically earn around $9,759 a year, those with 5 to 9 years of experience get $1,000 on average, and professionals with 20 or more years of experience report getting $50,000 a year on average in bonuses.
Bonuses can also vary depending on employer type. For example, rheumatologists working for private practices and firms typically get around $1,000 a year, while those employed by the federal government report being paid $2,500 a year on average according to Payscale’s data.