It’s no secret that compensation is a significant factor when considering a career move, and for family medicine doctors, understanding salary benchmarks is crucial. Knowing your worth empowers you during contract negotiations and contributes to long-term career satisfaction, helping to prevent burnout. You’ve dedicated years to your training and deserve fair compensation for your expertise and hard work. For family medicine physicians, having clear insights into the average family medicine physician salary, along with other components of a typical compensation package, is invaluable when navigating job offers.
In various physician communities, many doctors express concerns about being undervalued and emphasize the importance of negotiating their market value. This is why providing accessible and comprehensive physician salary data is so vital. Instead of relying on expensive databases with generic information, we aim to offer doctors specific, relevant salary insights based on real-world data from physicians across the nation.
Average physician salaries are influenced by several variables, with specialty being a primary determinant. To provide a focused analysis, we’ve compiled data from our physician salary and compensation database, contributed by physicians nationwide, specifically for family medicine. This breakdown aims to give you a clearer picture of how much doctors make by specialty, with a focus on family medicine.
Other elements like hours worked, geographic location, and practice setting also play a crucial role in salary variations. Our analysis considers these factors to offer a more nuanced understanding. Unless stated otherwise, the data presented below is gathered from mid-2023 to mid-2024.
Disclaimers/Disclosures: The data presented here is derived from our physician salary and compensation databases and is subject to self-reporting variations and the availability of data points from our online communities. This information is intended for educational purposes and to support individual physicians in their career decisions. It is not designed for collective bargaining purposes. For detailed disclaimers, please refer to our physician salary data pages. Always conduct your own thorough research before making any decisions based on this information. We are not financial, legal, or tax professionals and do not offer personalized advice. Consult with relevant professionals as needed. We highly recommend having your physician employment agreement reviewed by a physician contract review attorney to ensure you have the most current and relevant information for your specific situation.
Average Family Medicine Physician Salary in 2024
In 2024, the average annual salary for family medicine physicians, based on our data, stands at $283,000. This figure represents attending physicians and excludes residents and fellows.
However, presenting a single average salary can be oversimplistic. Several factors influence physician compensation, making a detailed breakdown essential for relevant comparisons. Let’s delve deeper into the specifics.
Average Full-Time Family Medicine Physician Salary for 2024
A significant number of family medicine physicians work full-time. To provide a clearer picture, we’ve separated full-time salaries from part-time figures, as combining them can distort the average.
For our analysis of full-time physicians, we considered those working 36 hours or more per week. Data points lacking hour specifications were excluded to ensure accuracy.
The average family medicine physician salary for a full-time doctor in 2024 was $295,000. To provide context around this average, consider these additional statistics:
- The highest reported annual salaries for family medicine doctors ranged between $550,000 and $600,000.
- The lowest reported annual salaries were around $150,000.
- The median salary for full-time family medicine doctors, across all data points, was $305,000.
These figures highlight the salary range within family medicine and show that while the average is informative, the median salary may better represent the typical earnings for full-time physicians in this specialty.
Average Part-Time Family Medicine Physician Salary for 2024
Many physicians choose to work part-time for various lifestyle and career balance reasons. Our data includes insights into part-time family medicine physician salaries as well.
To determine the average part-time salary, we analyzed data from attending physicians working between 16 and 25 hours per week. Due to data limitations for finer breakdowns, we encourage physicians working part-time to contribute to our physician salary and compensation database for more detailed future analyses. Contribution links are available on our physician compensation data page.
The average part-time family medicine physician salary for 2024 was $206,000. This figure provides a benchmark for physicians considering part-time work in family medicine, although actual salaries can vary based on location, experience, and specific work arrangements.
How Much Family Medicine Doctors Make by Specialization
Specialization within family medicine can significantly impact earning potential. When contributing to our database, family medicine physicians could select from various specializations. The following salary breakdown reflects average salaries based on these specialization categories for physicians working 36+ hours per week.
- Family Medicine (with OB): average physician salary – $312,000
- Family Medicine (without OB): average physician salary – $299,000
- Family Medicine Ambulatory Only (No Inpatient): average physician salary – $278,000
- Family Medicine with Sports Medicine: not enough current data points to assess
- Family Medicine: Urgent Care: not enough current data points to assess
- Family Medicine Hospitalists: average salary – $342,000
Among the specializations with sufficient data, family medicine hospitalists reported the highest average salary. This may reflect the demands and setting of hospitalist positions. We will further explore salary differences based on practice environment in the following sections.
Family Medicine Physician Pay by Gender
Gender pay disparities are a topic of concern across many professions, including medicine. We analyzed our data to assess gender-based salary differences within family medicine. For full-time physicians working 36+ hours a week, we compared the average salaries reported by female physicians to those reported by their male counterparts, without controlling for other factors like specialization or location.
Female family medicine physicians reported an average salary of $290,000. Male family medicine physicians reported an average salary of $307,000.
Based purely on these averages, male family medicine doctors in our data set earned approximately 6% more than their female counterparts. Further research considering factors like experience, practice setting, and location could provide a more comprehensive understanding of gender pay gaps within family medicine.
Family Medicine Physician Salary by Practice Environment
The practice environment significantly influences physician salaries. We examined salary variations across different practice settings for full-time (36+ hours a week) family medicine attending physicians. This breakdown helps illustrate how different employment models impact compensation.
- Corporate group, non-private equity: $314,000
- Corporate group, private equity: $310,000
- FQHC and other non-profits: $260,000
- Government: $231,000
- Group private practice, non-private equity backed: $307,000
- Group private practice, private equity backed: $287,000
- Academic hospital employee: $295,000
- Non-academic hospital employee: $304,000
- Solo private practice: not enough data points to assess
Our data indicates that FQHCs (Federally Qualified Health Centers), other non-profit organizations, and government positions (like VA hospitals or city hospitals) generally offer the lowest salaries for family medicine physicians when considering salary alone. Corporate settings, both private equity and non-private equity, tend to offer higher average salaries in our dataset.
It’s essential to remember that these lower-paying environments often come with significant benefits. Governmental and non-profit organizations may offer more robust benefits packages, including superior health insurance, retirement plans, pensions, and eligibility for Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Furthermore, these positions can offer lifestyle advantages such as more predictable call schedules, lower patient volumes, and reduced administrative burdens related to insurance and private payers. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation of the entire compensation package, beyond just base salary, is crucial when assessing job offers in these sectors.
The data also suggests a trend where physicians employed by non-private equity backed organizations generally earn more than those in private equity settings, from a salary perspective. This is an important factor to consider when evaluating different employment opportunities.
Family Medicine Doctor Pay by Type of Employment
Employment type is another critical factor influencing physician compensation. We examined the salaries of full-time attending physicians (36+ average hours a week) based on their reported employment type.
- 1099 (single entity regular job, 1099 arrangement): not enough data to assess
- W2 employee: $287,000 a year
- Locums/per diem: not enough data to assess*
- Partner/owner: $374,000 a year
Our data suggests significant income growth potential for family medicine physicians pursuing partnership tracks or practice ownership. Partners and owners averaged approximately 30% higher salaries compared to W2 employees. This reflects the increased responsibilities and equity ownership associated with these roles.
For more detailed information on locums tenens compensation, please refer to our separate locums pay and compensation data set and statistics on locum tenens compensation for doctors, which contain more extensive data on this employment type.
How Much Family Medicine Doctors Make by Location
Geographic location is a well-known determinant of salary across all professions, and physician compensation is no exception. We analyzed salary differences across states for full-time (36+ average hours a week) family medicine attending physicians. States with fewer than 10 data points were excluded from this analysis to ensure statistical reliability. If your state is not listed, contributing your physician salary and compensation data can help us provide more comprehensive insights in the future.
Lowest Family Medicine Salaries by State
Highest Family Medicine Salaries by State
Lowest paying states for family medicine physicians (based on our data):
- Pennsylvania – $240,000 a year
- Texas – $272,000 a year
- Illinois – $276,000 a year
- Michigan – $282,000 a year
Highest paying states for family medicine physicians (based on our data):
- California – $380,000 a year
- North Carolina – $333,000 a year
- Florida – $304,000 a year
- Ohio – $297,000 a year
While the specific city or metropolitan area significantly impacts cost of living and net income (after state and local taxes), comparing salary ranges across different states can reveal opportunities for geographic arbitrage. Relocating to a higher-paying state with a comparable or lower cost of living could improve your financial situation. However, always factor in state and local taxes when comparing cost of living, as these can significantly impact your take-home pay.
Family Medicine Doctor Pay by Hours Worked
In the medical field, there’s often a direct correlation between hours worked and income. We examined how average salaries vary based on reported hours worked per week for full-time attending family medicine physicians. While some physicians in our dataset reported working 81+ hours per week, the majority fell within the average ranges detailed below. Unsurprisingly, our data reveals a general trend of increasing average salaries with increasing hours worked.
- 36-40 hours a week average – $286,000 a year
- 41-45 hours a week average – $292,000 a year
- 46-50 hours a week average – $313,000 a year
- 51-60 hours a week average – $322,000 a year
While increased hours can lead to higher earning potential, it’s crucial to consider the impact on work-life balance. Burnout is a significant concern among physicians, and a poor work-life balance is a major contributing factor. Working more hours for a marginal salary increase might negatively impact your long-term career satisfaction and earnings potential if burnout leads you to seek alternative career paths outside of medicine.
Many family medicine physicians spend considerable time charting outside of work hours. AI scribes are emerging as a valuable tool to reduce charting time and improve work-life balance. These technologies can significantly decrease administrative burden and free up valuable time for physicians.
Changes in Average Family Medicine Physician Salary Over Time
The data presented so far reflects our most recent salary and compensation database, covering contributions from mid-2023 to mid-2024. To understand salary trends over time, we analyzed data from our previous database, initiated in 2018. For comparative analysis, we focused on family medicine doctors beyond residency/fellowship working 36+ hours a week. For 2023 data, we combined data from both databases, carefully managing the transition point to avoid data duplication.
- 2018-2019: $234,000
- 2020-2021: $244,000 (4% increase)
- 2022-2023: $273,000 (11% increase)
Our current average salary for family medicine physicians of $295,000 (mid-2023 to mid-2024 data) indicates continued salary growth in 2024. The increasing rate of salary growth is also encouraging. Continued salary transparency is vital to maintain and potentially accelerate these positive trends in physician compensation.
Extra Insights from Family Medicine Physicians
As part of our salary and compensation data collection, physicians in our online community can provide additional comments and insights. We reviewed these qualitative contributions for valuable perspectives on job selection and contract negotiations relevant to family medicine doctors.
Here are a few key insights shared by family medicine physicians:
- Negotiate beyond salary: “Don’t just focus on the base salary. PTO, CME allowance, retirement matching, and health benefits are all part of your total compensation.”
- Location matters, but so does community: “I took a slightly lower salary to stay in an area I love near family. Quality of life is worth considering.”
- Understand RVUs: “Learn how your compensation is structured. RVU-based models can offer higher earning potential but also more variability.”
- Don’t be afraid to walk away: “Knowing your worth means being willing to decline offers that don’t meet your needs. The right job will come along.”
- Seek contract review: “Having a lawyer review my contract was the best money I spent. They caught things I never would have considered.”
These insights reinforce the importance of a holistic approach to job evaluation and contract negotiation, considering factors beyond just the base salary figure.
Increasing Your Family Medicine Physician Salary
If the salary data presented here prompts you to re-evaluate your current compensation, several strategies can help increase your income as a family medicine physician. However, it’s crucial to reiterate the importance of considering the entire compensation package. Factors like PTO, call responsibilities, retirement contributions, and other benefits are integral to a well-negotiated physician employment contract.
If you are satisfied with your current workplace but feel underpaid, initiating a conversation with management about salary renegotiation is a worthwhile step. If you are a valuable asset to the team, your employer may be open to adjusting your contract to retain you. While there’s no guarantee of success, initiating the dialogue is essential. Approach the conversation with realistic expectations and a respectful demeanor. Leveraging comprehensive salary and compensation data for physicians in comparable situations can provide a strong foundation for your negotiation.
Exploring external career opportunities is another effective strategy. Sometimes, current employers may be unable or unwilling to meet your compensation expectations. Interviewing for positions elsewhere provides valuable market insights into what other employers are willing to offer. Our Physician Side Gigs job board lists open opportunities, and our physician career resources and education section offers guidance for navigating the job search process.
While salary data is a powerful tool for negotiation, we strongly recommend engaging a local contract review attorney for physicians to review any employment agreements. These specialists possess invaluable expertise in physician contract negotiation and can identify potential red flags and advocate for your best interests.
If you are already earning a competitive salary for your market but seek to increase your income further, consider these options:
- Moonlighting opportunities: Supplement your income with extra shifts at other facilities.
- On-call availability: If available, increasing your on-call hours can boost earnings.
- Telemedicine: Integrate telemedicine into your practice or pursue telemedicine-only opportunities to expand your patient reach and income streams.
Explore more side gigs for family medicine doctors for additional income-enhancing opportunities.
Additional Salary and Career Resources for Family Medicine Physicians
Explore our related articles and resources on doctor compensation and salaries for further insights.
If you haven’t recently, please take a few minutes to contribute to our salary database! The anonymized data you provide directly supports our research and articles like this, empowering physicians to negotiate fair compensation through salary transparency. Contribution links are available on our compensation data for physicians page. The data is exclusively accessible to members of our Physician Side Gigs Facebook group.
Seeking a new career opportunity? Explore the Physician Side Gigs job board for current family medicine physician openings.
For guidance on negotiating your next contract for optimal terms, consult our resources on physician contract negotiation.
Also, explore our curated list of side gigs for family medicine physicians to discover additional income opportunities and career diversification strategies.
