When physicians are looking for their first—or, any—job, they need salary data. But not all compensation data is of equal quality. So, how do you know when to trust the numbers you’re looking at, and when do you dig a little deeper?
“Be very careful if you're just leaning on the ChatGPTs of the world and data that you're finding on Reddit threads,” said Kyle Claussen, CEO and lead attorney for physician contract-negotiation firm Resolve. “You're really doing yourself a disservice by not going out and gathering the right information. Physicians wouldn't make a diagnosis on old information. They shouldn't do that with their career either when the compensation values are this high.”
As you continue the journey to being a young physician, the AMA has guidance and resources on deciding where to practice, negotiating an employment contract, managing work-life balance, and other essential tips about starting in practice.
In this article, residents and fellows will find great information regarding:
- Why salary figures from some popular job websites can be misleading.
- The role that geography and specialty play in determining physician salaries.
- How salary and compensation data is commonly reported and shared.
- How quickly physician salaries can change in response to shifting, specialty-specific supply and demand.
- What you could be missing out on if you don’t get timely, professional legal advice.
