White male physicians earn considerably more than black male physicians, according to a recent study that analyzed annual income data of more than 58,200 physicians.
The study, published by BMJ, found that white male physicians earn nearly 35% more than black male physicians, even after accounting for factors such as hours worked, medical specialty and experience.
The researchers looked at annual income data compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey from 2000 to 2013 and data from 2000 to 2008 by the Center for Studying Health System Change and found that white male physicians earned $253,042 compared with $188,230 for black male physicians. Data from both surveys accounted for 58,272 physicians.
The report also found a smaller gap among white and black female physicians. Adjusted median annual income for white female physicians was $163,234, whereas for black female physicians income was $152,784.
The researchers found that female physicians earned significantly less than their male colleagues although hours worked, specialty and experience were similar. In March 2015 U.S. Census Bureau data, one out of every three physicians and surgeons was a woman. However, she earned only 69 cents for every dollar her male colleagues earned.
In a joint statement, the researchers said in a news release that “efforts to eliminate these disparities might need to look beyond medical school admissions and training to the broader workplace.”
