Physemp Family Medicine Salary Report
March 2026 |
Executive Summary
If you are a Family Medicine physician wondering where to practice, the answer is surprisingly simple, and I say “surprisingly” because medical school took eight years and the answer turns out to be:
Go somewhere cold.
Or rural. Or hard to spell on the first try. Ideally all three.
This is not a joke. Researchers — and by “researchers” I mean people who looked at actual data, which I realize is a controversial approach — have confirmed that the less your future hometown resembles a place people voluntarily visit on vacation, the more money you will make practicing medicine there.
Meanwhile, physicians who insist on living somewhere with “culture” and “restaurants that serve things on wooden boards” will earn measurably less — but will have access to excellent brunch, which, and I cannot stress this enough, does not amortize your student loans.
National Salary Overview
Across the United States, Family Medicine physician compensation currently ranges from $240,000 to $290,000 for most practitioners, with select markets exceeding $300,000 — which sounds like a lot until you remember what you went through to get here, including but not limited to: organic chemistry, gross anatomy, medical boards, residency, and at least one attending physician who seemed to genuinely enjoy making your life worse.
A few highlights:
- Texas is paying well, because Texas does everything at a larger scale than other states, including compensation packages, belt buckles, and opinions about Texas.
- South Dakota is also paying extremely well, presumably as an incentive to move to South Dakota.
- Louisiana has salary figures that appear, at first glance, to be a typo. They are not a typo. Louisiana is simply compensating for… Louisiana. (The alligators are not in the job description. Technically.)
- Montana offers strong pay, stunning scenery, and a patient panel where “drove two hours to get here” is considered a routine commute.
- Minnesota is cold in ways that meteorologists describe as “aggressive” but apparently warms up considerably when you look at the W-2.
Explore Family Medicine job market insights and trends
Where the Money Is (Pack Accordingly)
The top-paying markets share several charming characteristics:
- You can see a lot of stars at night
- The nearest Whole Foods is in a different time zone
- Recruiters will call you back the same day, which never happens in Boston
These states are not subtle about what they want. Their recruitment materials essentially say: “We will give you more money than you would make elsewhere. We just need you to actually be here.” This is a reasonable request, and yet somehow difficult to fill.
Where the Jobs Are (But Not Necessarily the Paychecks)
California currently lists 389 Family Medicine openings, which is an impressive number until you realize 389 physicians cannot meaningfully address California’s healthcare needs any more than 389 umbrellas could meaningfully address a hurricane.
Compensation in California, New York, and Massachusetts is fine. Solid. Reasonable. The kind of word you use when someone asks how the soup is and you don’t want to be rude.
You will have:
- A job ✓
- Colleagues ✓
- Proximity to good coffee ✓
- Rent that will make you briefly consider if you should have gone into finance ✓
The Core Market Dynamic (Which Has a Name Now)
Family Medicine has entered what I am calling — and I encourage you to use this phrase at conferences — The “We Really Need You Out Here” Phase.
The WRNYO Phase is characterized by:
- Rising salaries in underserved and rural markets, sometimes dramatically
- Stable or softening salaries in major metros, where physician supply meets physician demand and everybody politely pretends the market is fine
- Recruiter behavior shifting from “we’ll get back to you” to “please, please call us back” — a development that took roughly forty years longer than it should have
This is, at its core, supply and demand. There are not enough Family Medicine physicians in the places that need them most, and the places that need them most have apparently decided that money is a reasonable response to that problem. Economists consider this basic. It only took healthcare about a generation to catch up.
Final Guidance
If your goal is maximum income: Rural markets, underserved regions, anywhere a recruiter has left you three voicemails.
If your goal is maximum lifestyle amenities: Coastal metros, academic centers, places with functioning public transit and more than one sushi restaurant.
If your goal is understanding Louisiana compensation: I cannot help you. No one can. This is a journey you must take alone.
All Family Medicine job markets
Salary data based on over 600 listings with disclosed compensation out of 2,650 jobs. Figures may reflect part-time or specialized roles. This report is informational and should not replace professional judgment or financial planning.
Physemp has been connecting physicians with opportunities since 1994 — back when “googling salary data” was not a thing, and physicians had to ask around at conferences like normal people.
