Health Consequences of a Changing Economy

The Income-Based Mortality Gradient Among US Health Care Workers: Cohort Study

Abstract

The health care industry is the largest employer in the USA. The health care workforce encompasses a range of occupations that vary widely by income, including home health aides, food service workers, clerical workers, nurses, physicians, and executives. These income differences may have important implications for health and longevity. However, to our knowledge, the relationship between income and mortality among health care workers (HCWs) has not been well-examined. Understanding this relationship is important given the growing role of the health care industry and the essential nature of health care work. To address this gap in the literature, we estimated the income-based mortality gradient among health care workers interviewed in a nationally representative survey over the period 2007–2014.