MGMA finds compensation slowed for academic docs

Apr 9, 2006

In general, U.S. physicians working in academia didn't take home fatter paychecks in the last half-decade, but academic radiologists did see a slight uptick in their salaries, according to a new survey.

The report, compiled by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), contains data on more than 12,000 faculty physicians and nonphysician providers at over 350 medical departments nationwide.

The 2006 report is based on figures generated from 2001 to 2005. According to the results, the aggregate median physician outcome for diagnostic radiologists was $221,727 in 2001. That figure grew by 8% the next year to $239,499, and continued climbing until the year 2005 when the average compensation rate for an academic radiologist was $288,020. There was a nearly 30% increase in salary between 2001 and 2005.

Compare that to compensation for physicians in academic primary care who experienced a 6.51% increase during the five year period. By 2005, these doctors took home a salary of little over $135,000.

The academic salary slump overall was particularly bad in 2004, according to the survey. Radiologists saw a 0.67% increase in salary between 2004 and 2005. Other specialties saw a negative change, such as emergency medicine (-1.51%) and psychiatry (-2.7%).

For nonphysicians, the compensation rate increased for grants/contracts administrators, human resources managers, and IS network administrators. On the other hand, associate/assistant administrators saw a drop in income.

Billy Newton Jr., secretary treasurer for the MGMA Academic Practice Assembly, suggested that this 2004 salary stagnation may have been because of a financial squeeze on academic institutions, encouraged to cut costs and having to contend with increasing malpractice insurance premiums, dwindling reimbursement, and less university funding.

By Shalmali Pal
AuntMinnie.com staff writer
April 10, 2006

Rads are still in demand, recruiting survey shows, June 7, 2005

Radiology's class war? SalaryScan reveals red state/blue state divide, May 31, 2005