Preventive Medicine Physicians
Overview

Introduction
Preventive medicine physicians diagnose and treat people to prevent or reduce risks of disease, injury, disability, or death. The practice of preventive medicine is a medical specialty that is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Preventive medicine physicians may also evaluate how effective treatments are for various diseases. These physicians hold either a doctor of medicine (M.D.) or osteopathic medicine (D.O.) degree.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Salary.com reports that salaries for preventive medicine physicians ranged from $168,913 to $215,441 in 2024.
Some sources provide higher salary figures. For example, The Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2024 reports that public health and preventative medicine physicians earned average salaries of $263,000.
Salaried doctors usually earn benefits such as health and ...
Work Environment
Preventive medicine physicians have offices and examination rooms that are well equipped, lighted, and ventilated. Depending on the size of the medical practice, there may be at least one nurse-receptionist on the physicians staff, as well as several nurses, a laboratory technician, a physicians assistant, and a bookkeeper, among others.
Physicians usually see patients by appointments th...
Outlook
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that employment for physicians and surgeons, not listed by other specialties, will grow as fast as the average (4 percent) for all careers through 2033. A major factor in this increase in job opportunities is population growth, particularly among the elderly, which means greater demand for preventive medicine physicians. Also, more people have access to medi...