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Experimental research tool. Not medical, career, or professional advice. No warranty. See methodology.

Pediatrics

Comprehensive medical care of infants, children, and adolescents.

What this specialty is

Pediatricians manage the spectrum from healthy children's well visits through critical and complex pediatric medicine. After three years many pursue fellowship in cardiology, heme-onc, NICU, ICU, ID, endocrine, GI, etc. Outpatient general pediatrics emphasizes behavioral health, development, and family medicine. Inpatient and ICU work is procedurally and intellectually demanding.

Lifestyle & practice

Resident hours 60 to 70. Outpatient pediatrics 40 to 50 attending. Compensation is the lowest of the IM-style residencies ($230k to $260k median for general pediatrics) but among the highest job satisfaction.

Common fellowship paths

Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (NICU)Pediatric Critical CareCardiologyHematology / OncologyEndocrinologyGastroenterologyInfectious DiseasesPulmonologyNephrologyRheumatologyAdolescent MedicineDevelopmental BehavioralHospital MedicineEmergency Medicine
Quick facts
Residency length
3 years
Median comp (general)
$240k to $260k
Resources to learn more

High-signal external links curated for residents and applicants.

Market· 2026 cycle (NRMP Match Results)

Positions

390

All applicants

488

Seats / app

0.80

Per-pool matched-applicant means· 2024 cycle

From NRMP Charting Outcomes 2024 (most recent biennial publication). Source PDFs: MD Seniors / DO Seniors / IMG. NRMP publishes Charting Outcomes every other year, so this should refresh in early 2026 with the 2025 cycle data.

PoolStep 1Step 2PubsResearchAOA %n
MD_seniors2242476.42.613.41216
DO_seniors2262413.61.8454
US_IMG2122332.51.7165
Non_US_IMG2262405.12.4363
Charting Outcomes match rates over time· 20182024 cycles

Per-applicant-type match rates and mean Step scores published by NRMP every two years. Each row is one applicant pool in one cycle. Step scores reflect what matched applicants in that cycle achieved, not what programs require today.

YearTypeMatch rateMatched (n)Step 1Step 2
2024MD_Senior99.8%1216224247
2024DO_Senior99.3%454
2024IMG84.6%165233
2022MD_Senior98.5%1408230245
2022IMG75.4%169220233
2020MD_Senior98.4%1633228245
2020DO_Senior95.8%457223237
2018MD_Senior98.9%1640227243
2018IMG73.8%189221232
Applicant pool mixture
PoolShare
MD_seniors53.9%
DO_seniors20.1%
US_IMG7.7%
Non_US_IMG18.4%