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CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal logoLink to CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal
. 2003 Mar 18;168(6):755.

New data point to significant gaps in income of male, female MDs

Lynda Buske 1
PMCID: PMC154936  PMID: 12642444

Billing data for physicians who received at least $50 000 in fee-for-service income in 1999/2000 indicate that male physicians continue to earn considerably more than females. The information was compiled by the Canadian Institute for Health Information at CMAJ's request.

On average, male medical specialists billed 43% more for medical services than their female counterparts. The same trend was apparent among family physicians (38%) and surgical specialists (26%).

Male physicians' average gross billings (before expenses and taxes) peaked between the ages of 40 and 49, at $241 088, while female doctors hit their peak earning years while in their 50s, with average annual fee-for-service earnings of $170 236. (To estimate net fee-for-service income, payment data would have to be reduced by 25% to 40% to account for overhead expenses.)

The earning differences separating the sexes were smallest in the youngest age group (< 30 years) and among physicians aged 70–79. In both groups, male physicians received fee-for-service payments that were, on average, 24% higher than those received by females. Average income for men in their 30s and 40s was almost 50% higher than for women in those age groups. For all age groups up to age 70, the income differences between the sexes were greatest among medical specialists and smallest for surgeons.

Overall, average payments revealed a 45% difference between the gross billings of males and females. The CMA's own survey data reveal a statistically significant difference in workload for male and female physicians who rely primarily on fee-for-service income, with males working about 7 hours a week more, excluding on-call activities. Males also tend to spend more time on call than females, regardless of specialty group. — Lynda Buske, Associate Director of Research, CMA

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Articles from CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal are provided here courtesy of Canadian Medical Association

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