Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Doctoral or professional degree
None
Internship/residency
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Family medicine physicians care for patients with a broad range of health needs and see steady national demand. This occupation employs about 116,000 people across the country, with a projected employment growth rate of 2.7%. Around 3,000 job openings are expected each year, reflecting both new positions and turnover. The national median annual salary is $238,380, offering strong earning potential for those who complete the required education and training. Successful family medicine physicians rely on skills such as adaptability, interpersonal abilities, problem solving and decision making, and critical and analytical thinking. Strong speaking and listening, along with writing and reading skills, help them communicate effectively. Science knowledge and comfort with computers and information technology also play a key role. For people interested in a medical career that requires a doctoral or professional degree and combines technical knowledge with frequent interaction with patients, family medicine offers a stable and rewarding long-term path.
Family medicine physicians earn a national median annual salary of $238,380, with notable variation by state and metro area. Among the top states by opportunity score, median salaries range from $210,920 in New York to $292,900 in Washington. Massachusetts and Colorado also show relatively high median pay at $277,490 and $265,560, respectively, while Virginia reports $222,630. At the metro level, salary differences are even more pronounced. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro posts a median salary of $351,760, the highest among the listed areas. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA follows at $304,560, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $284,010. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro reports $249,150, and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV shows $225,140. These figures indicate that geographic choice can significantly influence earning potential for family medicine physicians.
Family medicine physicians currently account for about 116,000 jobs nationwide. The occupation’s projected employment growth rate is 2.7%, indicating a gradual increase in positions over the projection period. In addition to this growth, there are an estimated 3,000 annual openings. These openings reflect a combination of new roles created by growth and positions that arise as existing physicians change jobs, retire, or leave the occupation. The combination of current employment, positive growth, and ongoing annual openings suggests that individuals entering or advancing within family medicine can expect continuing opportunities across the country. States and metro areas highlighted with higher opportunity scores further illustrate where demand and conditions may be particularly favorable, but the national figures alone indicate a stable outlook. For students and professionals planning long-term careers, these numbers support viewing family medicine as a field with consistent, ongoing employment prospects.
Location plays a major role in opportunity, pay, and employment levels for family medicine physicians. Among states, Massachusetts and New York have the highest opportunity scores at 65.87 and 65.78, with employment of 3,540 and 4,000 respectively. Massachusetts offers a median salary of $277,490, while New York’s median is $210,920. Washington and Colorado both combine relatively high salaries—$292,900 and $265,560—with opportunity scores above 56. Virginia provides a median salary of $222,630 and employment of 2,930, reflecting another sizeable job market. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA stands out with the highest opportunity score of 77.42 and the highest listed median salary of $351,760. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro also scores highly at 77.27 with the largest employment (4,870). San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH all show strong mixes of salary, employment, and opportunity scores, giving job seekers multiple attractive geographic options.
Becoming a family medicine physician typically requires a doctoral or professional degree, reflecting the advanced knowledge and training needed for this role. In addition to formal education, several core skills are important for success. Adaptability helps physicians navigate varied patient needs and changing situations. Interpersonal skills, speaking and listening, and customer service abilities support effective relationships with patients and colleagues. Problem solving and decision making, along with critical and analytical thinking and science knowledge, are central to evaluating information and making informed clinical judgments. Writing and reading skills are essential for documentation, understanding medical information, and professional communication. Comfort with computers and information technology also matters, as digital tools are a standard part of modern practice. Together, the advanced degree requirement and this broad skill set mean that individuals pursuing family medicine should be prepared for both rigorous education and continuous development of their professional competencies.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.
