April 5, 2018, by Scott Rupp
One of the most important things to come from HIMSS is the healthcare industry research the organization releases each year. One of the most intriguing reports from this year’s batch is a study featuring information about gender and racial pay gaps in health IT.
The 2018 HIMSS Compensation Report collected feedback from 885 health IT professionals whose salaries averaged about $109,610. The results show that women and minorities are often paid significantly less than their peers.
Gender
Women on average make $100,447, which is 18 percent less than their male counterparts who earn $123,244 annually. According to these numbers, females are paid $.82 for every $1 their male peer is paid. Women in clinical management roles are more likely to experience a greater pay gap.
Additionally, the gender pay gap tends to widen with the increased age of women health IT professionals.
Race
The average salary of white respondents is $112,926, 12 percent higher than the average salary of non-white respondents of $99,069.
Like the gender pay gap, the racial pay gap widens with the increased age. Non-white health IT professionals in executive management positions make 29 percent less than their white peers, while non-white health IT professionals in non-executive management positions appear to make 12 percent more than their white colleagues.
Satisfaction
Women and non-white digital health professionals are both paid less than their respective peers, but this is not necessarily expressed in their salary satisfaction. Women say they are as satisfied with their salaries as their male peers, while non-white professionals are notably less satisfied with their pay.
However, non-white professionals are less likely to report a salary increase than their white peers, and the likelihood of receiving a bonus increases as managerial responsibilities increase. Men appear more likely to earn a bonus over their female counterparts.
HIMSS states that the report is meant to “shine a light” on and correct disparities wherever they might exist.
Scott Rupp
Contributor
Scott E. Rupp is a writer and an award-winning journalist focused on healthcare technology. He has worked as a public relations executive for a major electronic health record/practice management vendor, and he currently manages his own agency, millerrupp. In addition to writing for a variety of publications, Scott also offers his insights on healthcare technology and its leaders on his site, Electronic Health Reporter.