Family medicine physicians: Salary, Job Outlook, Education and Career Path

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.

Short answer: Family medicine physicians earn a national median annual wage of $244,180 (BLS, May 2025). Employment is projected to change +3.3% from 2025 to 2035 (all occupations: +3.5%), with about 2,900 openings per year. The typical entry credential is doctoral or professional degree.

Median annual wage
$244,180
May 2025 Verified data
Projected change
+3.3%
2025 to 2035 Official projection
Openings per year
2,900
Average, 2025 to 2035 Official projection
Employment
107,510
OEWS, May 2025 Verified data

Family medicine physicians salary

$0$200K$400KUnited States$244,180
National annual wages for family medicine physicians, May 2025: 10th percentile $76,830, 25th $162,420, median $244,180, 75th $334,270, 90th $428,550. The bar spans the 25th to 75th percentile, the thin line spans the 10th to 90th percentile, and the red mark is the median.
MeasureAnnualHourly
10th percentile$76,830$36.94
Median (50th percentile)$244,180$117.39
Mean (average)$255,820$122.99
90th percentile$428,550$206.03

These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.

Family medicine physicians pay by state and metro area

$113K$467K
Median annual wage for family medicine physicians by state, May 2025. Highest: Rhode Island at $467,160. States in gray have no published estimate.
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
StateMedian10th pct90th pctEmploymentLocation quotient
Alabama$134,550$60,830$315,200
Alaska$323,490$162,110$425,2107603.4
Arizona$292,760$149,390$428,4902,6201.17
Arkansas$215,820$124,470$348,2402900.32
California$252,010$74,510$475,480
Colorado$265,560$75,120$365,8202,7001.36
Connecticut$163,930$86,600$325,4607900.67
Delaware$228,000$122,940$331,5706401.92
District of Columbia$233,390$226,790$486,6701500.32
Florida$227,700$75,020$392,610
Georgia$259,320$161,560$438,6203,6901.09
Hawaii$218,210$96,990$313,5602600.59
Idaho$347,160$84,020$525,1406901.17
Illinois$245,120$95,260$321,9801,9600.46
Indiana$261,940$111,860$468,4301,4100.64
Iowa$265,200$116,900$460,2301,1401.06
Kansas$229,390$154,610$325,8002100.21
Kentucky$248,730$108,750$487,2401,1700.84
Louisiana$255,330$118,970$464,4101,0900.82
Maine$239,870$163,850$290,4507301.64
Maryland$285,730$124,790$403,8801,0500.55
Massachusetts$277,490$107,650$384,3903,5401.41
Michigan$214,070$65,320$382,2403,7701.24
Minnesota$280,030$153,100$391,1501,8200.89
Mississippi$235,630$120,170$422,8605700.71
Missouri$171,180$69,590$428,5503,7401.84
Montana$330,760$175,530$511,8804601.3
Nebraska$228,590$78,910$433,8808301.17
Nevada$251,550$134,730$326,8603400.32
New Hampshire$268,650$175,300$303,1403500.74
New Jersey$292,170$151,840$403,4303,0501.03
New Mexico$228,040$64,500$384,3106501.09
New York$210,920$62,090$427,3304,0000.6
North Carolina$215,230$118,600$322,3101,5200.45
North Dakota$280,100$181,130$346,4002600.86
Ohio$223,700$67,790$405,1801,4900.39
Oklahoma$361,350$127,950$486,2702,1701.84
Oregon$293,240$194,070$346,1801,4901.09
Pennsylvania$306,030$156,000$413,2504,1901
Puerto Rico$112,990$48,730$158,7501,0501.62
Rhode Island$467,160$213,600$467,1602100.6
South Carolina$239,200$107,990$357,7701,2000.75
South Dakota$239,970$175,200$356,7205501.74
Tennessee$226,830$100,290$481,2002,2601
Texas$235,710$75,150$414,0106,1900.64
Utah$297,510$142,340$413,9105500.46
Vermont$239,340$165,990$331,5802401.13
Virginia$222,630$103,720$443,0102,9301.03
Washington$292,900$145,640$337,8701,2700.52
West Virginia$272,680$62,810$423,2703200.65
Wisconsin$290,640$199,250$371,6701,4700.72
Wyoming$264,580$224,970$358,8401000.53

A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.

Metro areas with the most jobs

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ4,870
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH2,950
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX2,240
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA2,170
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA2,060
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ2,050
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI1,940
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD1,790
Pittsburgh, PA1,730
St. Louis, MO-IL1,660

Highest paying metro areas

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
Springfield, MO$354,760
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA$352,590
Among metro areas with at least 100 workers in this occupation.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, State. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Metropolitan areas. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.

Job outlook for family medicine physicians

2025 (actual)114,3002035 (projected)118,000
BLS projects employment of family medicine physicians to go from 114,300 in 2025 to 118,000 in 2035, a change of +3.3% (+3,700 jobs). All occupations are projected to grow +3.5%.
  • Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
  • Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 3.8%.
  • Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.

These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.

Education and training for family medicine physicians

Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree
Related work experience
None
On-the-job training
Internship/residency
O*NET Job Zone
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed

Highest education of people working in this occupation

Less than high school0%
High school diploma0%
Some college, no degree0%
Associate's degree0%
Bachelor's degree0%
Master's degree0%
Doctoral or professional100%
Share of workers age 25 and over by highest education completed, 2023-24. The most common level is a doctoral or professional degree (100%).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Education and training tables 5.1 to 5.4. Attainment 2023-24 (ACS); wages 2025; projections 2025-35. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.

O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Degrees and programs that lead to this career

Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk

Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.

Licenses and certifications

Requirements for regulated professions are set by each state. Always confirm with the state regulator.

Skills, knowledge, and daily work

Most important skills

Critical Thinking4.4
Reading Comprehension4.3
Active Listening4.3
Writing4.1
Speaking4.1
Active Learning4.0
Monitoring4.0
Science3.9
O*NET importance rating on a 1 to 5 scale.

Most important knowledge areas

Medicine and Dentistry5.0
English Language4.7
Therapy and Counseling4.6
Psychology4.5
Biology4.5
Customer and Personal Service3.7
Computers and Electronics3.4
Mathematics3.3
O*NET importance rating on a 1 to 5 scale.

Typical tasks

  • 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.
  • Advise patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, and disease prevention.
  • Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, students, assistants, specialists, therapists, and other medical staff.
  • Refer patients to medical specialists or other practitioners when necessary.

Technology skills

  • Epic Systems (in demand)
  • MEDITECH software (hot technology)
  • Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
  • Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
  • eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
  • Acrendo Medical Software Family Practice EMR
  • Allscripts Professional EHR
  • Billing software
  • Brickell Research Brickell Medical Office
  • ChartWare EMR
  • Email software
  • Epocrates
  • Greenway Health PrimeSuite
  • Med Math
  • MedcomSoft Record
  • Medical procedure coding software

Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Instructing.

Common job titles: 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, Physician, Primary Care Physician.

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. ConnectPrep has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Source: National Center for O*NET Development for USDOL/ETA, O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026 release). Database release 31.0, August 2026; element dates vary by occupation. Published August 25, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.

Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there

Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.

Frequently asked questions

How much do family medicine physicians make?

The national median annual wage for family medicine physicians was $244,180 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $76,830 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $428,550. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.

What education do family medicine physicians need?

BLS lists doctoral or professional degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and internship/residency on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.

Is family medicine physicians a growing career?

BLS projects employment of family medicine physicians to change +3.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.

Which states pay family medicine physicians the most?

By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Rhode Island ($467,160), Oklahoma ($361,350), Idaho ($347,160). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.

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