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Occupational Physician (MD)

Occupation Information table
Overview: Occupational physicians treat illnesses and injuries incurred by employees during working hours. They assess health status of new hires of a company or persons returning to work after a serious health disorder. They examine the plant's work place to identify and eliminate hazards.
Duties: They examine and treat injuries of employees that have occurred while working on their jobs. They determine whether the injured worker can continue working or requires further care.

They assess the health status of employees returning to work after an illness or disease. Determine if the workers can perform job duties full time or part time and if an illness is communicable.

They recommend changes of job duties that have been shown to cause injuries or result in worker's stress. They conduct studies to survey workers' opinions about job related illnesses and stress.

They design training programs to teach employees how to reduce and manage stress. They design employee counseling and rehabilitation programs for abusers of alcohol and drugs.
Degree(s): A.S. Health Sciences 
A.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences (Mathematics and Science) 
Job Outlook: Employment in this field is projected to grow 9% to 13% from 2018 to 2028, which is faster than the average projected growth for all occupations.
Starting Salary: The average annual starting salary in large corporations, physician groups and HMO's is about $110,000 per year. Experienced occupational physicians can earn over $170,000 per year.
Salary Range (National Average): $110,000 to $125,000
Education Level: This occupation generally requires an advanced degree (e.g. Ph.D.). The typical commitment is a minimum of 3 years of study beyond a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree.
Additional Training/Education: All states require occupational physicians to be licensed. This involves graduation from a medical school (usually 4 years), passing an examination, and up to 7 years of "residency" graduate medical training in occupational medicine. The minimum educational requirement for acceptance to most medical schools is 3 years of college study.
Recommended Skills:
  • Weighing out the options in a situation or a problem and logically choosing the best course of action.
  • Identifying the most appropriate equipment and tools needed to get a job done.
  • Paying attention to what other people are saying, and taking time to understand the points being made.
  • Using your hands to operated fine instruments and precision tools.
  • Being aware of the reactions of others, and understanding why they react the way they do.
  • Ability to identify a problem, review related information, develop and evaluate options, and implement a solution.
  • The ability to understand complex written paragraphs, instructions, or reports.
  • Using logic to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Using scientific methods to investigate and conduct experiments.
  • Talking, giving speeches, or speaking in a group to convey information, explain ideas, or give instructions.
  • Teaching others how to do something.
  • Analyzing the symptoms of a problem and deciding what actions should be taken to resolve the problem.
Recommended Values:
  • Gaining the respect of others by the nature and/or level of responsibility of your work.
  • Having a level of income that will afford you with luxuries, and which will allow you to become financially independent.
  • Being able to decide on how to get something done without significant direction from someone else.
  • Being involved in helping other people in a direct way either individually or in a small group.
 

* National data collected by the Department of Labor in 2014 with projections through 2024. For New York green job information .

* For New York salary data information .

* For New York green job information .

Understanding acquiring positions in this field may be enhanced through continuing academic study (i.e. earning a baccalaureate or a master's degree) and/or work experience in the field, Queensborough Community College has established transfer agreements with other institutions for students who wish to further pursue their educational goals. Students are highly encouraged to meet with one of our Career Services to fully understand the opportunities available through study in their degree program.