Ochsner Children's values your specialized training and expertise, offering a compensation package that reflects your importance to the health system and the community. New graduates can expect a competitive starting base salary in the low $300,000s, while mid- to late-career physicians may qualify for base salaries up to $350,000, depending on experience and credentials.
Your financial security is ensured through a 2–3 year salary guarantee before transitioning to an RVU-based model. This thoughtful structure gives you time to establish your practice without productivity pressures, while still providing incentives for growth. A sign-on bonus starting at $20,000 (with potential for higher amounts based on experience) helps ease your transition to Lafayette. Additionally, you'll receive premium pay for practicing at this non-OMC site, further enhancing your compensation.
The call coverage that is integrated into your position is fully built into your base compensation, eliminating the uncertainty of variable call pay or unexpected coverage requirements. This transparency allows for better financial planning and work-life balance, as you'll know exactly when you're on call and how it affects your compensation.
Ochsner offers a full benefits package that supports your professional development, personal health, and financial future. Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance protect you and your family, while retirement benefits help you build long-term financial security. Professional liability coverage with tail insurance provides peace of mind in your clinical practice.
Your continuing medical education is supported through a generous allowance for conferences, courses, and travel. This commitment to ongoing learning ensures you can stay current with advances in pediatric gastroenterology and maintain your board certification without significant out-of-pocket expenses.
Relocation assistance makes your move to Lafayette smooth and affordable, with support for moving expenses, temporary housing if needed, and other transition costs. This comprehensive approach to relocation recognizes that changing communities is about more than just changing jobs.
The compensation structure at Ochsner Children's reflects a thoughtful balance between productivity incentives and lifestyle protection. The initial salary guarantee period allows you to establish your practice without immediate financial pressure, while the subsequent RVU-based model rewards clinical efficiency and growth. This approach encourages you to build a busy, successful practice while recognizing the importance of sustainable workloads.
The carefully designed schedule—with Friday afternoons protected for administrative time and a 1:4 call rotation—demonstrates Ochsner's commitment to physician well-being. This balance ensures you can provide excellent patient care while maintaining personal energy and enthusiasm throughout your career.
This compensation structure offers something increasingly rare in healthcare: predictability with opportunity. The guaranteed salary period provides financial stability during your practice establishment, while the productivity component rewards your expertise and efficiency as your practice matures. Unlike purely productivity-based models that can lead to unpredictable income and burnout, or fixed salary models that may not recognize exceptional performance, Ochsner's approach creates a sustainable path to both financial success and professional satisfaction.
When combined with Lafayette's affordable cost of living—where your compensation stretches significantly further than in metropolitan areas—this package offers exceptional value. The freedom from excessive call burden and the built-in administrative time further enhance the true compensation value by protecting your personal time and energy. This thoughtful approach to physician compensation reflects Ochsner's understanding that the best patient care comes from physicians who are financially secure, professionally supported, and personally fulfilled.