Physician Salaries: Growing In Ohio?

Ohio isn’t doing too hot regarding its healthcare, ranking 44th amongst 50 other states.

But the healthcare system itself? That’s another story — at least for the physicians who are currently practicing there. And that’s despite the physician shortage that is currently ongoing in the country and threatens an already precarious situation.

Doctors in Ohio enjoy some of the highest pays in the country, consistently ranking in the top 10 for earning in an upper tax bracket. And they get to do that while working in some of the most advanced healthcare facilities in the U.S. such as the Cleveland Clinic.

So, good money and cutting-edge opportunities? Those are some impeccable qualities for a midwestern state to offer physicians. But of course, not everything is sunshine in the Buckwheat State, with a lot of pushback on certain health concerns that make physicians wary of settling there.

Still, a decent salary and cutting-edge opportunities are enough to make any young graduate think of Ohio as an option for the future, at the very least. So today, let’s discuss how physician salaries work in Ohio and whether they are worth it to weather the polarizing healthcare system.

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• Physician salaries in Ohio
• Most popular specialties in Ohio by number of active physicians
• How the Ohio healthcare system is holding up

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Physician Salaries in Ohio

It’s not a bad time to be a doctor practicing in Ohio, in all fairness. After all, the state is in the top 10 for the highest wages for physicians in the country.

A physician in Ohio can earn a decent $251,000 from the get-go. Sure, the salary would vary due to factors such as location, population density, and socio-economic environment, but $250,000 is the average for state physicians practicing there.

However, we all know that your physician salary can easily be increased if you opt for specialization or get into a sub-specialty. And so, here are some of the top-earning healthcare specialties in Ohio.

Specialization usually has limited residency spots open, hence the higher salary options after getting in. But they aren’t the fields with the highest number of active physicians. That usually goes to specialties that deal with primary care. In Ohio, it’s the following:

And the salaries for the most active specialties aren’t too shabby either. A family medicine practitioner can easily earn around $220,000 on average, whereas specializing in pediatrics nets you a little over $206,000.

So, Ohio isn’t a bad option for doctors to settle down in, at least when it comes to the numbers.

The Future of Healthcare in Ohio

Now we get into some of the more questionable stuff. Specifically, the state of Ohio’s healthcare sector and how it treats doctors and patients alike.

First, the negative: Ohio ranks 9th for the unhealthiest population, state wise. 

This comes as a surprise given how Ohio has some of best state-run medical facilities in the country, but let’s take a look at some of the metrics.

At least 20% of the state youth is into smoking, and this is a reduced number from previous years. But it’s still double the national average. There’s also the rampant drug abuse, 10th for the most drug overdose deaths per capita at a rate of 31.5.

Ohio is also home to some of the most unhealthy counties in the U.S., with Cuyahoga County having the second highest number of adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). It also has the fourth highest number of patients with a history of blood pressure and stroke and ranks in the top 5 for the most diabetic people in the state.

Ohio is experiencing a physician shortage, with 71% of its rural population unable to access healthcare.

On the flip side, Ohio ranks as the 8th best state for doctors to practice in.

It might not have the highest salary in the entire U.S., but the money goes a long way due to Ohio’s relatively low cost of living — at least 7% lower than the national average. Utilities are also cheap, 19% more than in other states. And affordable housing is available to all.

Ohio has a low rate of reported malpractice cases at just 13 per 100,000 residents. They also have a cap on any medical malpractice damages payout, insuring that physicians aren’t fined to the point of bankruptcy. Therefore, physicians are not required to have any medical malpractice insurance, but it’s best if you do.

Not only does it have some of the most prestigious and sought-after residencies, but Ohio is also ahead when it comes to research opportunities, ranking first in the U.S.

And if you’re coming in from out of state and have heard horror stories about the medical license procedures in Ohio, there’s good news. Ohio now has a much more lenient system for medical graduates from different states and even international medical graduates.

Final Thoughts

Is Ohio the best state for doctors to practice in all of the U.S.? No, but it’s far from the worst.

It offers some pretty good benefits for its physicians and is one of the leaders of medical research in the U.S. Of course, no state is perfect, and Ohio has some serious issues regarding its healthcare. But again, to each their own.