Navigating the complexities of physician compensation is crucial, especially when you’re dedicated to the demanding yet rewarding field of family medicine. Understanding the average family medicine physician salary is more than just knowing a number; it’s about recognizing your worth, empowering your contract negotiations, and fostering career longevity. At Physician Side Gigs, we understand the importance of salary transparency. Physicians often express feelings of being undervalued, highlighting the need for doctors to confidently negotiate their compensation. That’s why we’ve compiled comprehensive Family Medicine Doctor Salary data, gathered directly from physicians across the nation, and are making it freely accessible to our community members. Unlike expensive, generic databases, our data is specifically designed to provide relevant and comparable insights into family medicine physician earnings.
Average physician salaries are influenced by a multitude of factors, with specialty being a primary determinant. To provide a focused view, we’ve analyzed data from our extensive physician salary and compensation database, contributed by doctors nationwide, to bring you a detailed look at family medicine doctor salaries in 2024. Beyond specialty, factors like hours worked, geographic location, and practice setting significantly impact earning potential. Our analysis delves into these variations, offering a nuanced understanding of the family medicine doctor salary landscape. The data presented below is aggregated from mid-2023 through mid-2024, providing the most current insights available.
Disclaimer: The information presented here is derived from our physician salary and compensation database and is subject to self-reporting variations and data availability. This information is intended for educational purposes and individual physician advocacy, not for collective bargaining. Please consult our physician salary data pages for comprehensive disclaimers. Always conduct independent research before making decisions based on this information. We are not financial, legal, or tax professionals and do not offer personalized advice. Consult with appropriate professionals as needed. We strongly recommend having your physician employment agreement reviewed by a physician contract review attorney to ensure you have the most relevant and up-to-date information for your specific situation.
2024 Average Family Medicine Physician Salary Overview
In 2024, the average annual family medicine doctor salary across all contributors to our data was $283,000. This figure represents attending physicians and excludes resident and fellow salaries. However, using a single average can be misleading due to the various factors influencing physician compensation. To provide a more accurate and useful picture, we’ve broken down this average to offer more relevant comparison points for your situation.
Full-Time Family Medicine Physician Salary Trends in 2024
Many family medicine physicians work full-time, and including part-time salaries in the overall average can distort the full-time salary landscape. Therefore, let’s examine full-time salaries separately to give a clearer insight into what you can expect.
For our analysis, we defined full-time employment as working 36 hours or more per week on average. We excluded data points where the average hours were not specified to ensure data accuracy.
The average family medicine physician salary for a full-time doctor in 2024 is $295,000. To further illustrate the salary distribution around this average, consider these additional statistics:
- Highest Reported Salaries: Some family medicine doctors reported annual salaries in the range of $550,000 to $600,000.
- Lowest Reported Salaries: The lower end of reported salaries for family medicine doctors was around $150,000 per year.
- Median Salary: The median salary for full-time family medicine doctors, across all data points, was $305,000. The median provides a more robust measure of central tendency as it is less affected by extreme high or low values.
Part-Time Family Medicine Physician Salary Insights for 2024
A significant number of physicians choose to work part-time for various reasons, including work-life balance and personal commitments. Understanding part-time salary trends is essential for those seeking flexible career options.
To determine the average part-time salary, we analyzed data from attending physicians who reported working between 16 to 25 hours per week. Due to data limitations for finer breakdowns, we encourage you to contribute your salary data to help us enhance the granularity of future updates. You can find contribution links on our physician salary and compensation data page.
The average part-time family medicine physician salary in 2024 was $206,000. This figure highlights the substantial earning potential even in part-time roles within family medicine.
Family Medicine Doctor Salary Based on Specialization
Within family medicine, various sub-specializations can influence compensation. Our data collection allowed physicians to specify their specialization, providing valuable insights into salary variations within the field. The following salary breakdowns are for physicians working 36+ hours per week or more, focusing on full-time compensation across different family medicine specializations.
- 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: Insufficient data for reliable average
- Family Medicine: Urgent Care: Insufficient data for reliable average
- Family Medicine Hospitalist: Average salary – $342,000
Among the specializations with sufficient data, family medicine hospitalists reported the highest average salary. Practice environment, which we will explore next, also plays a significant role in salary determination.
Gender Pay Gap in Family Medicine Physician Salaries
Addressing gender equity in physician compensation is crucial. We analyzed reported salaries for full-time family medicine physicians (36+ hours per week) to compare average earnings between female and male physicians, irrespective of other factors like specialization or location.
Our findings indicate a gender pay gap within family medicine:
- Female Family Medicine Physicians: Average salary – $290,000
- Male Family Medicine Physicians: Average salary – $307,000
On average, male family medicine doctors in our data reported salaries approximately 6% higher than their female counterparts. Further research is needed to fully understand the underlying causes of this disparity and to promote equitable compensation practices.
Impact of Practice Environment on Family Medicine Doctor Pay
The setting in which a family medicine physician practices significantly influences their salary. We categorized practice environments to identify average pay differences across various settings for full-time physicians (36+ hours a week).
- 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: Insufficient data for reliable average
Our data suggests that Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), other non-profits, and government positions generally offer the lowest salaries for family medicine physicians in terms of base pay. However, it’s crucial to remember that these roles often come with significant benefits beyond salary.
Government and non-profit organizations may offer enhanced benefits packages, including superior health insurance, robust retirement plans and pensions, and eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). These positions can also provide a better lifestyle with more predictable schedules, lower patient volumes, and reduced administrative burdens related to insurance and private payers. Therefore, we emphasize the importance of evaluating the entire compensation package, not just the base salary, when considering different job opportunities.
The data also indicates a trend where physicians employed by non-private equity-backed organizations tend to earn more than those in private equity settings. Understanding these nuances is vital when assessing job offers.
Family Medicine Physician Salary by Employment Type
Employment type is another critical factor influencing physician compensation. We analyzed salary data for full-time attending physicians (36+ average hours a week) based on their employment classification.
- 1099 (Single Entity Regular Job, 1099 Arrangement): Insufficient data for reliable average
- W2 Employee: $287,000 per year
- Locums/Per Diem: Insufficient data for reliable average*
- Partner/Owner: $374,000 per year
The data reveals a substantial income growth opportunity for family medicine physicians who pursue partnership or practice ownership. Partners and owners, on average, earned 30% more than W2 employees, highlighting the financial benefits of practice ownership.
*For detailed insights into locum tenens compensation, please refer to our dedicated locums pay and compensation data set and our statistics on locum tenens compensation for doctors, which provide more extensive data on this employment type.
Geographic Location and Family Medicine Doctor Salary
Location plays a significant role in determining physician salaries due to variations in cost of living, demand, and regional compensation norms. We examined salary differences across states for full-time family medicine attending physicians (36+ average hours a week). States with fewer than 10 data points were excluded to ensure statistical reliability.
Lowest Family Medicine Salaries by State
Highest Family Medicine Salaries by State
Lowest Paying States for Family Medicine Physicians:
- Pennsylvania – $240,000 per year
- Texas – $272,000 per year
- Illinois – $276,000 per year
- Michigan – $282,000 per year
Highest Paying States for Family Medicine Physicians:
- California – $380,000 per year
- North Carolina – $333,000 per year
- Florida – $304,000 per year
- Ohio – $297,000 per year
While city and metropolitan area cost of living, state and local taxes also heavily impact take-home pay, comparing salary ranges across states can reveal opportunities for geographic arbitrage. Relocating to a higher-paying state with a favorable cost of living could significantly enhance your financial situation. Remember to thoroughly research cost of living comparisons, including often-overlooked factors like state and local taxes, before making relocation decisions.
Family Medicine Doctor Pay and Hours Worked Correlation
In the medical field, income is often directly related to workload. We investigated the relationship between average salaries and reported hours worked for full-time attending family medicine physicians. Although some physicians reported working over 81 hours per week, the majority fell within the hour ranges analyzed below.
- 36-40 hours per week average – $286,000 per year
- 41-45 hours per week average – $292,000 per year
- 46-50 hours per week average – $313,000 per year
- 51-60 hours per week average – $322,000 per year
As expected, our data indicates a positive correlation between hours worked and average salary. However, it’s crucial to consider the impact of work-life balance on long-term career satisfaction and well-being. While increasing hours may boost immediate income, the risk of physician burnout can outweigh the financial benefits over time, potentially diminishing long-term earning potential and career fulfillment.
Furthermore, the data doesn’t fully capture the often-significant time family medicine physicians spend on administrative tasks outside of patient hours, such as charting. Emerging technologies like AI scribes are increasingly being adopted to alleviate this burden, potentially improving work-life balance and efficiency.
Trends in Family Medicine Physician Salary Over Time
Our analysis included data from mid-2023 to mid-2024, representing our most recent salary and compensation database. To understand salary trends over time, we also examined historical data from our previous database, initiated in 2018. For consistent comparison, we focused on family medicine doctors beyond residency/fellowship working 36+ hours per week. For 2023, we combined data from both databases, carefully managing the transition to avoid data duplication.
- 2018-2019: $234,000
- 2020-2021: $244,000 (4% increase)
- 2022-2023: $273,000 (11% increase)
The average family medicine physician salary from our latest database (mid-2023 to mid-2024) is $295,000, indicating a continued upward trend in compensation. Notably, the rate of salary increase is also accelerating, suggesting positive momentum for family medicine physician earnings. We believe that continued salary transparency will further support these positive trends.
Key Insights from Family Medicine Physicians
As part of our data collection process, physicians in our online community provided additional comments and insights. These qualitative contributions offer valuable perspectives on job selection and contract negotiations, enriching our salary data with real-world experiences.
We’ve compiled a few key insights that may be particularly helpful for family medicine doctors:
Strategies to Increase Your Family Medicine Physician Salary
If the salary data presented has prompted you to re-evaluate your current compensation, several strategies can help you increase your income as a family medicine physician. However, remember to consider the entire compensation package, including benefits like PTO, call responsibilities, retirement contributions, and other perks. Salary is a critical component, but it’s only one aspect of a well-negotiated physician employment contract.
If you are content with your current workplace but feel underpaid, consider initiating a conversation with your management. If you are a valued team member, they may be open to renegotiating your contract to retain you. While the answer may not always be yes, initiating the dialogue is worthwhile. Be realistic in your expectations and approach the conversation respectfully, armed with data on comparable salaries from resources like our physician salary and compensation database.
Exploring external career opportunities can also reveal higher earning potential. Sometimes, employers may be unable or unwilling to meet your compensation expectations. Interviewing for positions at other organizations can provide valuable market insights and reveal offers that better reflect your worth. Explore open positions on our Physician Side Gigs job board and utilize our comprehensive physician career resources to navigate your job search effectively.
While our salary data serves as a powerful negotiation tool, we consistently recommend engaging a local contract review attorney for physicians to review any employment agreements. These specialists possess invaluable expertise in physician contract negotiation, including identifying potential red flags and advocating for your best interests.
For family medicine physicians already earning at or above market rates but seeking additional income, consider these options:
- Moonlighting Opportunities: Supplement your primary income with part-time work in other settings.
- Increased On-Call Availability: If feasible, volunteering for additional on-call shifts can boost your earnings.
- Telemedicine Practice: Expand your reach and income by incorporating telemedicine into your practice.
Explore more side gigs for family medicine doctors for diverse avenues to augment your income.
Additional Resources for Family Medicine Physician Salary and Career Information
Discover more insights in our related articles and resources on physician compensation and salaries.
If you haven’t recently contributed to our data, please take a few moments to share your information. Your anonymous contributions are vital to maintaining our database and producing 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 new career opportunities? Browse the Physician Side Gigs job board for current family medicine physician openings.
For guidance on negotiating your next contract to secure the best possible terms, explore our resources on physician contract negotiation.
Also, explore our curated list of side gigs for family medicine physicians to discover additional income streams and career diversification options.
