Zone 5: Extensive Preparation

Family Medicine Physician

Family Medicine Physician earn $244,180 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $162,420 and $334,270. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.

About Family Medicine Physician

Diagnose, treat, and provide preventive care to individuals and families across the lifespan. May refer patients to specialists when needed for further diagnosis or treatment.


Median Wage
$244,180
Employed Nationally
108K
Openings / Year
3,300
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Job Zone
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation

Also known as:

Board Certified Family Physician Doctor Family Medicine PCP (Family Medicine Primary Care Physician) Family Medicine Physician Family Physician

How Much Do Family Medicine Physicians Make?

Family Medicine Physician earn $244,180 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $162,420 and $334,270. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.

$244,180
National Median (Annual)

Well above average for college graduates.

$162K–$334K
Middle 50% Range

25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.


Earnings Range

What Do Family Medicine Physicians Do?

O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Family Medicine Physician roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.

What You'll Do

  • Prescribe or administer treatment, therapy, medication, vaccination, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
  • Order, perform, and interpret tests and analyze records, reports, and examination information to diagnose patients' condition.
  • Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results.
  • Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
  • Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.

Core Skills Employers Look For

Critical Thinking Active Listening Reading Comprehension Speaking Writing

Who Thrives Here

S
Social

Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.

I
Investigative

This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.

C
Conventional

Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.

Where Do Family Medicine Physicians Work?

What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.

Work Setting
Mixed

Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.

Physical Demands
Light

Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.

Stress Level
High

High time pressure and significant consequences for errors. Deadline-driven or high-stakes decisions are common.

What Is the Job Outlook for Family Medicine Physicians?

The BLS projects +2.7% employment change for Family Medicine Physician through 2034, below the national average of +5%. About 3,300 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.

↗ +2.7%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)

Slower than average.

3,300
Annual Openings

New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.

108K
Currently Employed

Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.

Where the Jobs Are

The five states below employ the most Family Medicine Physician professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $244,180 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.

# State Jobs Median Wage vs. National
1 California 18,640
2 Florida 7,580 $220,500 -9.7%
3 Texas 6,510 $228,560 -6.4%
4 New Jersey 5,820
5 Pennsylvania 5,620

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →

How to Get Here

Most Family Medicine Physician positions require a doctoral or professional degree to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.

Doctoral or professional degree
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation

Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.


Degree Programs That Lead Here

# Program Graduates/yr 4yr Median Colleges
1 Medicine 29,206 $66,978 193

Top Colleges for Aspiring Family Medicine Physicians

Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.

# College UCD Score Net Price Salary 10yr
1 University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 93 $12,548 $82,511
2 University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA 93 $12,470 $84,943
3 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 93 $6,541 $71,588
4 University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA 92 $14,251 $80,735
5 Stanford University Stanford, CA 92 $13,807 $124,080
6 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI 91 $13,138 $83,648

Plan Your Path

Once you've sized up Family Medicine Physician, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.

Family Medicine Physician Pros & Cons

The data on Family Medicine Physician shows 2 measurable strengths and 3 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.

PROS
  • Very high median salary The national median of $244,180 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
  • High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $334,270 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
  • Slow job growth At +2.7% projected growth, this career lags the national average. Limited expansion means stiffer competition for openings that do appear.
  • High education requirement Most employers require a doctoral or professional degree, typically 6 to 10+ years of higher education before earning full wages. Factor tuition costs into your ROI calculation.
  • Limited annual openings With only 3,300 openings per year relative to field size, competition for available positions is intense. Networking and experience matter more here than in higher-turnover fields.

Family Medicine Physician Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Family Medicine Physician professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Family Medicine Physician is $244,180, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $162,420 and $334,270. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Family Medicine Physician a good career?
Yes, for the right person, but the commitment is significant. The $244,180 median wage reflects years of training most workers invest, and the path to a first career-level role typically spans 8 to 12 or more years. Research salary outcomes at specific programs, not just the national median, before committing to a graduate path.
How long does it take to become a Family Medicine Physician?
Plan on 8 to 12 or more years of combined education and supervised training before qualifying for career-level roles. A doctoral or professional degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Medicine are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $244,180 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Is a doctoral or professional degree worth it to become a Family Medicine Physician?
Yes, for most programs. At $244,180 median, graduates at in-state public programs typically recoup their investment within 10 to 15 years of practice. School choice (specifically tuition cost and your expected local job market) matters as much as the credential itself.
What is the job outlook for Family Medicine Physician?
The BLS projects +2.7% employment change for Family Medicine Physician through 2034, slower than average compared to all occupations. About 3,300 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 108K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
Why do Family Medicine Physician salaries vary so widely?
The $171,850 gap between the 25th ($162,420) and 75th ($334,270) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
How competitive is it to get a job as a Family Medicine Physician?
Competitive. With roughly 3,300 annual openings in a field of 108K workers, the ratio of openings to existing employment is below 5%. Most hiring replaces workers who retire or leave rather than filling new positions. Strong credentials, relevant experience, and professional network matter significantly more here than in growing fields.
What skills do Family Medicine Physician professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Family Medicine Physician roles: Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, and Writing. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.

Continue Exploring

Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.