Career Goals, Salary Expectations, and Salary Negotiation Among Male and Female General Surgery Residents

Abstract

In general surgery, women earn less money and hold fewer leadership positions compared with their male counterparts. OBJECTIVE To assess whether differences exist between the perspectives of male and female general surgery residents on future career goals, salary expectations, and salary negotiation that may contribute to disparity later in their careers. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This study was based on an anonymous and voluntary survey sent to 19 US general surgery programs. A total of 606 categorical residents at general surgery programs across the United States received the survey. Data were collected from August through September 2017 and analyzed from September through December 2017. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Comparison of responses between men and women to detect any differences in career goals, salary expectation, and perspectives toward salary negotiation at a resident level. RESULTS A total of 427 residents (70.3%) responded, and 407 responses (230 male [58.5%]; mean age, 30.0 years [95% CI, 29.8-30.4 years]) were complete. When asked about salary expectation, female residents had lower expectations compared with men in minimum starting salary

Influence of Student Loan Debt on General Surgery Resident Career and Lifestyle Decision-Making

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“…47,48 Men in leadership ben efit from the higher income associated with leadership and can also perpetuate the policies and informal support networks that recruit, retain and promote other men at disproportionately higher rates. 49,50 Women in medicine are more likely to experience imposter syndrome and to have lower salary expectations than men, 51 but this may result from the anchoring of expectations and feelings of selfworth that go along with lower starting salaries. 52 Likewise, women see themselves as less capable of negotiating higher pay than men 51 but are also more likely to experience consequences from trying to do so.…”

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Gender-based differences in physician payments within the fee-for-service system in Ontario: a retrospective, cross-sectional study

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