Occupation · SOC 29-1221
Pediatricians, General
Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and injuries in children. May refer patients to specialists for further diagnosis or treatment, as needed.
Median wage
$210,130
$96,240–$239,200
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
42,960
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
57 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningWritingScienceComplex Problem Solving
Knowledge areas
Medicine and DentistryTherapy and CounselingBiologyPsychologyCustomer and Personal Service
Technology & tools
Medical softwareInformation retrieval or search softwareElectronic mail softwareData base user interface and query softwareCalendar and scheduling software
Representative tasks
Prescribe or administer treatment, therapy, medication, vaccination, and other specialized medical cExamine children regularly to assess their growth and development.Treat children who have minor illnesses, acute and chronic health problems, and growth and developme
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Routine well-child examinations — conduct under attending physician supervision to assess growth, development, and vaccination status in a clinical pediatric setting.Common childhood illnesses — recognize and document presenting signs and symptoms under direct supervision in an outpatient pediatric clinic.Patient medical histories — collect, record, and organize using electronic health record software under guidance in an inpatient or ambulatory care environment.Standard diagnostic tests — order and assist in interpreting results under supervision to support differential diagnosis for pediatric patients.Childhood vaccination protocols — administer and document according to current immunization schedules under attending oversight in a primary care clinic.Diet, hygiene, and activity guidelines — communicate evidence-based preventive health advice to parents and guardians under supervision during well-child visits.Prescribed treatment plans — explain procedures and expected outcomes to patients and families using clear, age-appropriate language under attending direction.Patient monitoring parameters — observe and record vital signs, growth metrics, and condition changes under supervision during inpatient pediatric rounds.Medical reference databases and clinical decision-support software — retrieve and apply current clinical guidelines under attending guidance in a hospital or clinic setting.Professional communication — compose accurate clinical notes and referral correspondence using medical software under supervision in a structured residency environment.
developing
Minor acute illnesses and common chronic pediatric conditions — diagnose and treat with reduced oversight using established clinical protocols in a community-based primary care practice.Growth and developmental milestone assessments — perform routinely and identify deviations warranting further evaluation during scheduled well-child visits in an outpatient setting.Medication dosing and therapeutic regimens — prescribe and adjust independently for weight-appropriate pediatric dosing in a general pediatric clinic.Diagnostic imaging and laboratory findings — interpret and integrate into clinical decision-making with limited consultation in an ambulatory pediatric environment.Preventive health counseling — deliver structured guidance on nutrition, physical activity, and disease prevention to diverse families in a community health center.Chronic disease management plans — monitor patient progress, reevaluate treatment effectiveness, and modify plans as needed during follow-up visits in a primary care setting.Electronic health record systems — maintain complete, accurate, and timely patient documentation including histories, examination findings, and treatment records in a multi-provider practice.Care coordination — collaborate with pediatric specialists, schools, and social services to address multifaceted patient needs in an integrated care environment.Family-centered communication — explain complex test results and diagnoses to parents and guardians using accessible language during office consultations.Clinical scheduling and patient panel management — prioritize and manage patient loads using scheduling software to optimize care delivery in a busy outpatient clinic.
proficient
Complex pediatric presentations — independently evaluate, diagnose, and manage across acute, chronic, and developmental conditions without routine supervision in a tertiary care or specialty-integrated practice.Non-routine diagnostic challenges — apply advanced inductive and deductive reasoning to interpret ambiguous test results and formulate evidence-based diagnoses in a hospital or academic medical center.Comprehensive growth and developmental surveillance — detect subtle developmental concerns, coordinate multidisciplinary evaluations, and direct intervention plans across the full pediatric age spectrum.Polypharmacy and complex therapeutic regimens — prescribe, monitor, and reconcile medications for children with multiple comorbidities in an inpatient or subspecialty clinic environment.Psychosocial determinants of health — assess family dynamics, socioeconomic factors, and behavioral health needs and integrate findings into individualized care plans in a community or urban health setting.Critical appraisal of medical literature — apply active learning strategies to evaluate emerging research and translate findings into updated clinical protocols in a practice or hospital setting.High-stakes family communication — navigate difficult conversations regarding serious diagnoses, prognosis, and end-of-life considerations with empathy and clarity in a pediatric hospital context.Quality improvement initiatives — identify gaps in patient outcomes data, design targeted interventions, and measure results using clinical information systems in a multi-site practice.Medical education of trainees — instruct residents and students in clinical skills, diagnostic reasoning, and professional conduct during supervised patient care experiences.Pandemic and outbreak response — assess community-level disease trends, implement evidence-based prevention strategies, and advise public health partners using epidemiological data.
advanced
Departmental clinical standards and care pathways — develop, implement, and continuously refine evidence-based protocols governing pediatric care delivery across an entire health system or academic medical center.Strategic program development — design and lead comprehensive pediatric health programs addressing population-level needs, resource allocation, and measurable outcomes at an organizational or regional scale.Physician workforce development — mentor, evaluate, and build the clinical and leadership competencies of junior physicians, fellows, and residents within a training program or practice group.Organizational health policy — advise hospital leadership, boards, and government bodies on pediatric care standards, resource priorities, and regulatory compliance affecting institutional practice.Interprofessional team leadership — direct multidisciplinary care teams — including nursing, social work, pharmacy, and subspecialty services — to deliver coordinated, high-quality pediatric care across service lines.Research and scholarship agenda — lead clinical or translational research initiatives, secure funding, and disseminate findings that advance the evidence base for pediatric medicine.Community and public health advocacy — represent institutional and professional perspectives in community forums, media, and legislative settings to influence child health policy and disease prevention efforts.Patient safety and risk governance — oversee adverse event review, root cause analysis, and system-wide safety improvement initiatives that reduce harm and improve outcomes for pediatric populations.Technology and innovation adoption — evaluate, champion, and guide implementation of emerging medical technologies, informatics tools, and telehealth platforms to modernize pediatric care delivery.Cross-institutional collaboration — forge partnerships with academic centers, public health agencies, and community organizations to scale evidence-based pediatric health initiatives beyond a single organization.
Also known as
23 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Baby DoctorDevelopmental PediatricianDevelopmental-Behavioral PediatricianDO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician)DoctorEmergency Room Pediatrician (ER Pediatrician)General PediatricianGroup Practice PediatricianInternal Medicine PediatricianMedical Doctor (MD)Medical Pediatric PhysicianNeonatal DoctorNeonatologistOutpatient PediatricianPediatric Emergency Medicine PhysicianPediatric HospitalistPediatric Hospitalist PhysicianPediatric PhysicianPediatricianPediatrics PhysicianPediatristPhysicianPrimary Care Pediatrician