Physician incomes and work patterns across specialties: 1975 and 1983-84

Survey data on physician income and work patterns are examined and compared for 1975 and 1983-84. Specialty, hours and weeks worked, location, practice size, and incorporation status are examined. Dollar figures for 1975 are adjusted to show real-dollar income changes over the period. Incomes for surgical specialties were highest. In real-dollar terms, nonsurgical specialties exhibited sluggish growth or even fell. Urban-rural differences in real income and hours worked narrowed over time. Incorporation and group affiliation were positively related to income levels in both surveys, but number of hours worked was not. Limitations and interpretation of these data are discussed last.