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Family medicine physician: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $76,830lowest 10% earn less
- $162,42025th percentile
- $244,180median
- $334,27075th percentile
- $428,550top 10% earn more
A family medicine physician earned a median of $244,180 a year in May 2025, well above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. The path takes a doctoral degree and residency training[3].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +3.3%[5]
- Openings per year
- 2,900[6]
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree[3]
How much do family medicine physicians make?
The official BLS title is Family Medicine Physicians. In May 2025 the median pay was $244,180 a year, or $117.39 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $255,820 a year, or $122.99 an hour[7].
The median for all occupations was $50,980[2].
Annual pay spread out widely[4]:
| Percentile | Annual wage | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 10th[4] | $76,830 | |
| 25th[4] | $162,420 | |
| 50th (median)[1] | $244,180 | |
| 75th[4] | $334,270 | |
| 90th[4] | $428,550 |
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $76,830, and the top 10% earned more than $428,550[4]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8]. Hourly, the 25th percentile was $78.09 and the 75th was $160.71[9].
These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10].
Pay by state and city
Rhode Island had the highest state median at $467,160, followed by Oklahoma at $361,350 and Idaho at $347,160[11]. Rhode Island had 210 jobs[11].
Texas had the most jobs at 6,190, then Pennsylvania at 4,190, New York at 4,000, Michigan at 3,770 and Missouri at 3,740[12].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the top medians were Oklahoma City, OK at $481,870, Knoxville, TN at $460,080 and Providence-Warwick, RI-MA at $438,290[13]. The metro with the most jobs was New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ with 4,870 jobs and a $249,150 median[14].
Show median pay in 50 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island[11] | $467,160 | 210 |
| Oklahoma | $361,350 | 2,170 |
| Idaho | $347,160 | 690 |
| Montana | $330,760 | 460 |
| Alaska | $323,490 | 760 |
| Pennsylvania | $306,030 | 4,190 |
| Utah | $297,510 | 550 |
| Oregon | $293,240 | 1,490 |
| Washington | $292,900 | 1,270 |
| Arizona | $292,760 | 2,620 |
| New Jersey | $292,170 | 3,050 |
| Wisconsin | $290,640 | 1,470 |
| Maryland | $285,730 | 1,050 |
| North Dakota | $280,100 | 260 |
| Minnesota | $280,030 | 1,820 |
| Massachusetts | $277,490 | 3,540 |
| West Virginia | $272,680 | 320 |
| New Hampshire | $268,650 | 350 |
| Colorado | $265,560 | 2,700 |
| Iowa | $265,200 | 1,140 |
| Wyoming | $264,580 | 100 |
| Indiana | $261,940 | 1,410 |
| Georgia | $259,320 | 3,690 |
| Louisiana | $255,330 | 1,090 |
| California | $252,010 | n/a |
| Nevada | $251,550 | 340 |
| Kentucky | $248,730 | 1,170 |
| Illinois | $245,120 | 1,960 |
| South Dakota | $239,970 | 550 |
| Maine | $239,870 | 730 |
| Vermont | $239,340 | 240 |
| South Carolina | $239,200 | 1,200 |
| Texas | $235,710 | 6,190 |
| Mississippi | $235,630 | 570 |
| District of Columbia | $233,390 | 150 |
| Kansas | $229,390 | 210 |
| Nebraska | $228,590 | 830 |
| New Mexico | $228,040 | 650 |
| Delaware | $228,000 | 640 |
| Florida | $227,700 | n/a |
| Tennessee | $226,830 | 2,260 |
| Ohio | $223,700 | 1,490 |
| Virginia | $222,630 | 2,930 |
| Hawaii | $218,210 | 260 |
| Arkansas | $215,820 | 290 |
| North Carolina | $215,230 | 1,520 |
| Michigan | $214,070 | 3,770 |
| New York | $210,920 | 4,000 |
| Missouri | $171,180 | 3,740 |
| Connecticut | $163,930 | 790 |
| Alabama | $134,550 | n/a |
How to become a family medicine physician
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree for entry, with internship or residency as the typical training[3]. No related work experience is listed[3]. The Occupational Outlook Handbook profile covers physicians and surgeons as a wider group, so the details below describe that group[15].
- First: earn a bachelor's degree. No specific undergraduate major is required for medical school, though applicants usually studied subjects such as biology or physical science[16].
- Next: complete medical school, which takes an additional 4 years[17]. It leads to a medical doctor or osteopathic medicine degree[16]. Schools are highly competitive, and applicants usually submit MCAT scores, transcripts and recommendation letters[18].
- Then: complete a residency. It usually lasts 3 to 9 years depending on the specialty[19].
- Finally: get licensed. All states require a license, and requirements vary by state[20]. Licensure includes passing national exams[21].
Board certification is optional for the wider group, but it may improve job opportunities[22]. Subspecialty training adds a fellowship of 1 to 3 years[19].
What family medicine physicians do
These doctors diagnose, treat and provide preventive care for individuals and families across the lifespan. They may refer patients to specialists[23]. Common tasks include[24]:
- Prescribing or giving treatment, medication and vaccinations.
- Ordering and interpreting tests to diagnose conditions.
- Recording patient history and examination results.
- Monitoring progress and adjusting treatment.
- Explaining procedures and test results to patients.
- Advising on diet, activity, hygiene and disease prevention.
- Directing nurses and other staff and coordinating with other health providers.
Workers report titles such as family physician and family practitioner[25].
Where they work
For the wider physician group, settings include physicians' offices and hospitals, as well as government agencies, nonprofits and insurance companies[26]. Those in group practices can coordinate care but have less independence than solo practitioners[27].
For the wider group, full-time work is the norm, and some people work more than 40 hours a week[28]. Long shifts, irregular or overnight hours and time on call are also common[28]. Physicians may stand for long periods[29].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to grow 3.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 114,300 to 118,000 jobs[5]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[30]. That puts this job close to the average.
About 2,900 openings a year are projected[6]. Openings include jobs left when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 1.8% of workers leave the labor force and 0.4% move to another occupation[31].
Is it a good fit?
The facts suggest this career suits someone ready for a long training path, with a doctoral degree and residency before practice[3][19]. Pay is far above the all-occupations median, but the range is wide, from $76,830 to $428,550 at the 10th and 90th percentiles[2][4]. Job growth is close to average, and openings continue each year[5][30][6]. Communication and compassion are listed as important qualities for the wider group[32][33].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a family medicine physician make an hour?
- The median was $117.39 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 25th percentile was $78.09 and the 75th was $160.71[9].
- What degree do you need to be a family medicine physician?
- BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree, with internship or residency training[3].
- How long does it take to become a family medicine physician?
- For the wider physician group, medical school takes an additional 4 years after a bachelor's degree, and residency usually takes 3 to 9 years depending on specialty[17][15].
- Is family medicine in demand?
- Employment is projected to grow 3.3% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 2,900 openings a year[5][30][6].
- What is the highest paying state for family medicine physicians?
- Rhode Island had the highest median at $467,160, followed by Oklahoma at $361,350[11].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Family Medicine Physicians in the US was $244,180 per year and $117.39 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Family Medicine Physicians: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Internship/residency. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Family Medicine Physicians: 10th percentile $76,830, 25th percentile $162,420, 75th percentile $334,270, 90th percentile $428,550. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Family Medicine Physicians is projected to grow 3.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 114,300 to 118,000 jobs (a change of +3,700). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: about 2,900 openings for Family Medicine Physicians are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Family Medicine Physicians was $255,820 per year and $122.99 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Family Medicine Physicians: 10th percentile $36.94, 25th percentile $78.09, 75th percentile $160.71, 90th percentile $206.03. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Family Medicine Physicians in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Family Medicine Physicians jobs: Texas 6,190; Pennsylvania 4,190; New York 4,000; Michigan 3,770; Missouri 3,740. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Family Medicine Physicians (areas with at least 100 jobs): Oklahoma City, OK $481,870; Knoxville, TN $460,080; Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $438,290; Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $413,910; Salinas, CA $410,370; Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $393,890; Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $371,260; Rochester, MN $356,770. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Family Medicine Physicians jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 4,870 (median $249,150); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 2,950 (median $284,010); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,240 (median $259,310); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 2,170 (median $304,560); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 2,060 (median $259,320); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 2,050 (median $341,680). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Physicians and Surgeons" covers Family Medicine Physicians together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET description of Family Medicine Physicians. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Family Medicine Physicians. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 29-1215.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Board Certified Family Physician, Family Medicine Physician, Family Physician, Family Practice Medical Doctor (FP MD), Family Practice Physician (FP Physician), Family Practitioner, Medical Doctor (MD), Medical Staff Physician. O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Family Medicine Physicians: 1.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 0.4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.