Pediatrician Salary by State 2026: General Peds and Subspecialty Pay
Ava Health Team||7 min read
General pediatrics remains one of the lower-paid physician specialties, but subspecialty fellowships (neonatology, cardiology, hematology/oncology, critical care) command meaningful premiums. Median general pediatrician base salary reached $252,000 in 2026.
Subspecialty Benchmarks (2026)
| Subspecialty | Median Base | Top Quartile |
|---|---|---|
| General Pediatrics | $252,000 | $310,000 |
| Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (NICU) | $365,000 | $445,000 |
| Pediatric Cardiology | $385,000 | $475,000 |
| Pediatric Hematology/Oncology | $330,000 | $405,000 |
| Pediatric Critical Care (PICU) | $370,000 | $455,000 |
| Pediatric Emergency Medicine | $345,000 | $420,000 |
| Pediatric Infectious Disease | $275,000 | $345,000 |
| Pediatric Endocrinology | $275,000 | $345,000 |
| Pediatric Gastroenterology | $325,000 | $405,000 |
| Developmental-Behavioral Peds | $270,000 | $335,000 |
| Academic General Pediatrics | $215,000 | $270,000 |
Top 10 Highest-Paying States for Pediatrics (2026)
| Rank | State | Median Base |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $295,000+ |
| 2 | Nebraska | $288,000+ |
| 3 | Indiana | $285,000+ |
| 4 | Iowa | $282,000+ |
| 5 | Missouri | $278,000+ |
| 6 | Ohio | $275,000+ |
| 7 | Oklahoma | $272,000+ |
| 8 | Kentucky | $270,000+ |
| 9 | Florida | $268,000+ |
| 10 | Texas | $265,000+ |
Private Practice vs Employment
- Hospital-employed general peds: $240K-$290K base + productivity
- Private practice partner: $340K-$450K mature
- Academic pediatrics: $210K-$275K + teaching/research time
- Concierge pediatrics: $400K-$650K depending on panel size
- Retail clinic (CVS MinuteClinic, etc.) — NP-led with peds MD backup: $275K-$325K
What Pediatricians Negotiate in 2026
- Patient cap per day (22-26 is sustainable)
- Call frequency (nursery/newborn coverage)
- Well-child visit length (15 vs 20 vs 30 minutes)
- EHR/documentation time allocation
- After-hours triage duty
- Vaccine margin (meaningful revenue contributor)
- Behavioral health support on-site
Ava Health places pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists nationwide. Contact us for current openings.