Analysis of US Pediatric Pharmacists Incomes: A Gender Comparison Survey Study by the Pediatric Pharmacy Association, Practice-Based Research Network

OBJECTIVES While gender disparities in the US workforce have received substantial attention, income inequalities among subspecialty pharmacists remain understudied. This study aimed to develop a professional profile of pediatric pharmacists in the United States, construct and test gender-specific income-determination models, and identify and compare factors influencing income among male and female pediatric pharmacists. METHODS Data were collected via a national survey targeting pediatric pharmacists. The survey included human-capital, job-related, and demographic variables. Separate income-determination models were estimated between genders, using ordinary least-squares with logged annual income as the dependent variable. Key covariates included hours worked, years of experience, administrative role, salary negotiation history, and work location. RESULTS A total of 285 responses were analyzed from a 29.3% response rate. Women outnumbered men 3:1. The average annual income difference between male and female pharmacists was $10,294 (6.4%, not significant); however, regression estimates showed significant differences in annual income determinants by gender (p ≤ 0.05). Work input and experience positively influenced income for both genders, but job-related covariates were significant only for women. Working more hours and having more years of experience led to bigger pay increases for men than for women. Projected annual earnings based on model estimates revealed a statistically significant gender income gap of $10,745. CONCLUSIONS The study highlights a nuanced gender disparity in income among pediatric pharmacists, with income determinants functioning differently across genders. Although the average gender pay gap was not statistically significant, regression-based projections suggest potential underlying inequities. These findings call for further research and institutional dialogue to address gender-based income disparities in specialized pharmacy fields.