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Doctors and Nurses

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Prison Doctors' Pay Higher in California Than in Other States

Physicians who work in California prisons can receive higher compensation packages than prison doctors in other large states, Bloomberg reports.

Background on Prison Care

In 2005, a federal judge took control of the prison health care system after inmates filed class-action lawsuits alleging inadequate medical care led to cruel and unusual punishment. The court also ordered the state to hire additional staff and boost compensation packages to attract doctors.

Comparing Prison Doctors' Compensation

California prison officials said they have raised wages to recruit medical professionals and comply with federal court orders. 

Data from the California State Controller's Office show that nearly 100 prison medical professionals received at least $300,000 in compensation in 2010.

According to Bloomberg, a prison physician in California can receive $248,172 annually in addition to overtime or compensation for performing extra duties, while a chief physician can receive up to $265,648 plus extra pay.

The compensation for California prison medical practitioners differs from other states. For example:

  • The highest compensation for a Florida medical employee was $230,711 in fiscal year 2011, according to the state's corrections department;
  • Texas officials said the most a prison doctor in the state can receive is about $220,000 annually; and
  • In New York, the top compensation in the state's penal system was $200,147 in 2010, according to the state comptroller's office.

In addition, compensation by specialty differs among states. For example, prison dentists:

  • In California can receive up to $288,636 annually, plus overtime and extra-duty compensation;
  • In New York can receive up to $141,585; and
  • In Texas can receive up to $150,000.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage of a U.S. physician was $180,870 in 2009, compared with $191,650 in California.

Other Figures

In 2010, California taxpayers paid $770 million toward prisons' dental, medical and mental health care.

In the current fiscal year, the state is projected to spend $9.8 billion on prisons and parole, up by $224 million from last year, according to Bloomberg. The state spent a record $10.1 billion in FY 2008 (Marois, Bloomberg, 8/23).

Reader Comments:
  • 6
  • 08/29/2011
  • Robert Forster

It looks again like we have no controls in government to prudently manage tax payer money. We have all overreached by being not engaged. State taxes are irrelevant since one chooses to live here despite the horrible fiscal condition of the state. Coming from Florida I can guarantee you they will deal with (that is not ignore or go around) their fiscal issues yet do without a state income tax. Parity with the private sector should be sought of our public employees and "no productivity standards"--who signed that contract with the Unions. It is that person we have issues with not the public employees.

  • 5
  • 08/24/2011
  • Tom Johnson

In Texas, they have one doctor for every 1500 inmates. In California it is one for every 450. The California prison doctors also work a 40 hour week, have no malpractice insurance concerns or offices to run and can refer any patient to a specialist whenever they feel the situation would warrant a referral. The doctors working in California prisons are not subject to productivity standards as this is not allowed per union contract. They, and the dentists and other health care professionals, are extremely well paid in comparison to what those same professionals make in the private sector. The prison guard union is not the only powerful union in California. If we could reduce our medical care costs for our prisons we could use that money to shore up our educational system. Do you think that might be a better long term investment of our money? California is broke so where should we invest? Prison health care or education?

  • 4
  • 08/24/2011
  • Edward Callahan

In a system where the guards – with basically no personal investment in education - can make over $100,000; the pay for physicians (with years of medical training to pay off) doesn’t seem so high. Both groups have the same hazardous working conditions.

  • 3
  • 08/24/2011
  • Clark Norwood

If we look at the physician compensation as noted in the article I think you will find that two of the three other states are paying pretty well compared to California. If you take into consideration state income tax rates of the noted states you will find that New York, 8.97%, adjusted income is $180,194 or 80% of CA, 9.3%, not so good. Florida and Texas have no state income tax so their adjusted income is Florida $230711 or 103% of CA and Texas $220147 or 98% of CA. Other states within 2-3% California's compensation is not too bad. These figures were computed by taking the gross income noted in the article and subtracting just the state income tax since Fed tax is going to be the same for all of the states.

  • 2
  • 08/24/2011
  • Scott Zettlemoyer

1 in 7 in the US need food stamps. No change in total compensation for California public employees during the last budget cycle. Disappearing middle class. This state is well on its way to ruin. Home to the very wealthy or the perpetual disadvantaged.



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