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Preventive Medicine Physicians

Apply knowledge of general preventive medicine and public health issues to promote health care to groups or individuals, and aid in the prevention or reduction of risk of disease, injury, disability, or death. May practice population-based medicine or diagnose and treat patients in the context of clinical health promotion and disease prevention.

Median salary (BLS)

$265,930

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$69k – $452k

Job outlook

+3% (about average)

AI exposure

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports one wage for this occupational group, which covers 6 related roles — so read the median as an approximate group figure, and the range as the truer picture for this specific title. BLS source.

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $93,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Preventive Medicine Physicians

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Education

Typical entry: Doctorate / professional (MD, JD, PhD)

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$90,200–$411,000

Time to qualify

8.2 yr

Renewal

$75/yr

  1. 1

    Bachelor's degree

    Degree

    Four years at public in-state rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $11,610/yr, plus books. Private and out-of-state run higher; grant aid lowers most students' actual net price.

    $40,000–$150,000 · 4 years source

  2. 2

    Doctoral / professional degree (PhD, MD, JD…)

    Degree

    Three to seven years beyond the bachelor's. PhDs are often funded with a stipend; MD and JD programs are among the most expensive.

    $50,000–$260,000 · 4 years source

  3. 3

    National & state licensure

    License

    A national board/registry exam plus a state license application (the NCLEX pattern). Exact exam and fees depend on the role and state.

    $200–$1,000 · 2 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Preventive Medicine Physicians" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Preventive Medicine Physicians

    Entry / Junior

    $69,170

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Preventive Medicine Physicians

    Established

    $265,930

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Preventive Medicine Physicians

    Senior

    $359,145

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Direct or manage prevention programs in specialty areas such as aerospace, occupational, infectious disease, and environmental medicine.
  • •Document or review comprehensive patients' histories with an emphasis on occupation or environmental risks.
  • •Identify groups at risk for specific preventable diseases or injuries.
  • •Perform epidemiological investigations of acute and chronic diseases.
  • •Supervise or coordinate the work of physicians, nurses, statisticians, or other professional staff members.

Fields of study

Any field

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.