Gender Differences in Salary Compensation for Academic Hand Surgery Faculty at US Medical Schools

Purpose: This study investigated gender differences in salary compensation for hand surgery faculty at US medical schools. Methods: Salary compensation benchmarks were analyzed from 154 US medical schools in the 2023 American Association of Medical Colleges Faculty Salary Survey. Median salaries were extracted for assistant professors, associate professors, and full professors. Net present value (NPV) calculations were used to determine the impact of gender on total salary compensation assuming different academic scenarios including promotion timelines and career longevity. Results: Compensation data were available for 157 full-time academic hand surgeons, and 34 were women (22%). There were 70 assistant professors (45%), 49 associate professors (31%), and 38 full professors (24%). Most faculty were men across academic ranks (range, 70% to 88%). Gender differences in annual salary compensation were greatest at the assistant professor level. Women hand surgeons earned less than men hand surgeons at each academic rank including at assistant professor ($432,500, 74% of salaries of men), associate professor ($587,439, 89% of salaries of men), and full professor ($567,230, 82% of salaries of men). Gender differences in annual salary translated to a NPV difference of $2.0 to $2.6 million in lifetime salary compensation. Conclusions: Gender differences in salary exist across academic ranks for hand surgery faculty at US medical schools. These differences are highest among assistant professors. More investigation is needed to determine reasons for these differences and create strategies that promote gender equity in academic hand surgery. Clinical relevance: Promoting gender diversity, inclusion, and equity is a strategic imperative held by multiple professional societies in academic surgery. Understanding reasons for gender differences in salary compensation may lead to strategies that promote gender equity in hand surgery.