HOW COMMON is paid time off for hospitalists? According to the 2023 Today’s Hospitalist Compensation & Career Survey, the majority of hospitalists—64.3%—receive no paid for their time off at all. Of the roughly one-third that do receive some pay when they are off, the average amount is 2.7 weeks per year.
Pediatric hospitalists are much more likely to receive paid time off than their adult counterparts. Our data found that 61% said they are compensated for time off compared to 32% of adult hospitalists. Pediatric hospitalists also said they received more paid time off—an average of 4.4 weeks—than adult hospitalists, who reported receiving an average of 2.4 weeks.
Academic hospitalists are also more likely than hospitalists overall to be compensated for time off, with 51% saying they get PTO. The mean amount of time off among academic hospitalists was 2.9 weeks per year.
Time off by group type
The picture for paid time off is even bleaker among adult hospitalists working in certain types of groups. Among hospitalists working for national hospitalist management companies, for example, only 7% reported receiving paid time off. Hospitalists working for local hospitalist groups had it only slightly better, with 17% stating that they are compensated for time off.
At the other end of the spectrum, our data found that 40% of hospitalists working for hospitals/hospital corporations said they received paid time off. Hospitalists working for universities/medical schools came in a close second, with 36% reporting that they receive pay during time off.
Career satisfaction
Our data seem to show a correlation between paid time off and career satisfaction/burnout.
Among hospitalists who said they’re dissatisfied with their careers, for example, only 20% received pay when not working. Among hospitalists who said they’re satisfied, by comparison, 35% received paid time off, and among hospitalists who said they’re very satisfied, 39% received paid time off.
Similarly, among hospitalists who said that burnout was very significant, only 25% receive paid time off. Among hospitalists who said that burnout was significant, 33% received paid time off, and among hospitalists who said that burnout was insignificant, 54% received paid time off.
Time off by region
Only 17% of hospitalists in the Mountain region and 24% of hospitalists in the South said they got paid time off. In the Northeast, by comparison, 51% of hospitalists said they received paid time off.
Finally, hospitalists in the Mountain and Pacific regions said they received 2.8 weeks of paid time off.
In the VA system, you will make about $300k per year for working 40 hour work weeks. You will receive a tremendous benefits package. You will get automatic pay raises every 2 years of employment. And every year you receive 5 weeks of paid time off. Plus you accrue sick leave that can cover time for doctors appointments, family emergencies, etc. Lastly, you will be taking care of the best group of respectful patients you have ever met.
Good luck getting through the VA application process.