Family Medicine Physicians earn a median of $244,180 per year ($117.39/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 3.3% through 2035, with about 2,900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
- SOC 29-1215
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Family Medicine Physician in four numbers
- Median pay
- $244,180a year, or $117.39/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $77KTop 10% $429K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.3%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2,900114,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025114.3K
- Projected 2035118K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 114.3K Projected 2035 118K - Typical education
- Doctorateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Some college0.3%
- Bachelor's2.3%
- Master's9.5%
- Doctorate59.1%
- Post-doctoral training28.9%
Highest education held by family medicine physicians Segment Value Some college 0.3% Bachelor's 2.3% Master's 9.5% Doctorate 59.1% Post-doctoral training 28.9%
Also advertised as: Board Certified Family Physician, Family Medicine Physician, Family Physician, Family Practice Medical Doctor (FP MD), Family Practice Physician (FP Physician), Family Practitioner.
Pay
How much do Family Medicine Physicians make?
Every family medicine physician in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$244,180
Middle half earn $162,420 to $334,270
- 10th
- $76,830
- 25th
- $162,420
- 75th
- $334,270
- 90th
- $428,550
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $76,830 |
| 25th | $162,420 |
| Median | $244,180 |
| 75th | $334,270 |
| 90th | $428,550 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $244,180
- Median hourly wage
- $117.39/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $255,820
- People employed
- 107,510
Versus all US occupations
At $244,180, Family Medicine Physicians earn 379% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $193,200 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $102,760, this is 138% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $428,550 or more while the bottom 10% earn $76,830, a gap of 5.6×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 97% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Rhode Island pays the most at $467,160, and still leads at $456,746 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Family Medicine Physicians the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Rhode Island | $467,160 | $456,746 | 210 |
| 2Oklahoma | $361,350 | $411,359 | 2,170 |
| 3Idaho | $347,160 | $363,541 | 690 |
| 4Montana | $330,760 | $349,474 | 460 |
| 5Alaska | $323,490 | $316,035 | 760 |
| 6Pennsylvania | $306,030 | $313,645 | 4,190 |
| 7Utah | $297,510 | $300,929 | 550 |
| 8Oregon | $293,240 | $283,705 | 1,490 |
| 9Washington | $292,900 | $273,705 | 1,270 |
| 10Arizona | $292,760 | $290,791 | 2,620 |
Job outlook
Is Family Medicine Physician a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physicians | +3.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Family Medicine Physicians to change 3.3% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 3,700 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 2,900 openings are projected each year, 2.5% of the 114,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of physicians and surgeons varies by occupation (see table). An increasing number of older adults, who are more likely than younger people to experience health problems and to need complex care, is expected to drive overall employment growth for physicians and surgeons.
In addition, increasing rates of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, will result in continued reliance on physicians and surgeons by large numbers of people seeking medical care.
Getting in
How to become a Family Medicine Physician
Physicians and surgeons typically need a bachelor’s degree as well as a degree from a medical school, which takes an additional 4 years to complete. Depending on their specialty, they also need 3 to 9 years in internship and residency programs. Subspecialization includes additional training in a fellowship of 1 to 3 years.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Doctoral or professional degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Internship/residency
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as family medicine physicians.
- Doctoral Degree59.1%
- Post-Doctoral Training28.9%
- Master's Degree9.5%
- Bachelor's Degree2.3%
- Some College Courses0.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 59.1% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 28.9% |
| Master's Degree | 9.5% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 2.3% |
| Some College Courses | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Family Medicine Physician do?
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.
Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance. Physicians examine patients; take medical histories; prescribe medications; and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests. They often counsel patients on diet, hygiene, and preventive healthcare. Surgeons operate on patients to treat injuries, such as broken bones; diseases, such as cancerous tumors; and deformities, such as cleft palates.
There are two types of physicians, with similar degrees: M.D. (Medical Doctor) and D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine). Both use the same methods of treatment, including drugs and surgery, but D.O.s place additional emphasis on the body's musculoskeletal system, preventive medicine, and holistic (whole-person) patient care. D.O.s are most likely to be primary care physicians, although they work in all specialties.
Day-to-day tasks
- Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results.
- Refer patients to medical specialists or other practitioners when necessary.
- Advise patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, and disease prevention.
- 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.
- Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
- Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
- Coordinate work with nurses, social workers, rehabilitation therapists, pharmacists, psychologists, and other health care providers.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most physicians and surgeons work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week. Many physicians and surgeons work long shifts, which may include irregular and overnight hours or being on call. Physicians and surgeons may travel between their offices and the hospital to care for patients. While on call, a physician may need to address a patient’s concerns over the phone or make an emergency visit to another location, such as a nursing home.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking4.4
- Reading Comprehension4.3
- Active Listening4.3
- Writing4.1
- Speaking4.1
- Active Learning4.0
- Monitoring4.0
- Science3.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.4 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.3 |
| Active Listening | 4.3 |
| Writing | 4.1 |
| Speaking | 4.1 |
| Active Learning | 4.0 |
| Monitoring | 4.0 |
| Science | 3.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving4.0
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0
- Time Management4.0
- Social Perceptiveness3.9
- Service Orientation3.9
- Instructing3.4
- Coordination3.1
- Persuasion3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.0 |
| Time Management | 4.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 |
| Service Orientation | 3.9 |
| Instructing | 3.4 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Billing and invoicing software
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Electronic mail software
- Information retrieval or search software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Family Medicine Physician?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Family Medicine Physician |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 6 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Social6.2
- Investigative6.1
- Conventional4.0
- Realistic3.8
- Enterprising2.3
- Artistic1.4
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Family Medicine Physician
O*NET related occupations
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with family medicine physicians highlighted
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- Family Medicine Physician$244,180
- Physician Assistant$135,880
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Physical Therapist$102,760
- Dental Hygienist$98,100
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$96,590
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110
- Surgical Technologist$64,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $244,180 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 |
| Radiologic Technologist and Technician | $80,110 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within family medicine physician
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Family Medicine Physician appears on
Questions
Family Medicine Physician: frequently asked questions
How much do Family Medicine Physicians make?
Family Medicine Physicians earn a median of $244,180 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 379% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $117.39/hr. The middle half earn between $162,420 and $334,270. The top 10% earn $428,550 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Family Medicine Physician?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Family Medicine Physicians. BLS also lists internship/residency as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 59.1% hold doctoral degree.
Is Family Medicine Physician a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.3% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 2,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Family Medicine Physician do?
Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance. A core O*NET task: collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results. Employers most often ask for Medical software, Office suite software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Family Medicine Physicians the most?
The highest state medians for Family Medicine Physicians are Rhode Island ($467,160), Oklahoma ($361,350), Idaho ($347,160) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Family Medicine Physician?
O*NET scores Family Medicine Physicians highest on the Social, Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.