Starting salaries rise for primary care doctors in 2012

Source: ACP Internist Weekly

Primary care physicians reported $180,000 in median first-year guaranteed compensation, up from $175,000 in 2011, a salary survey noted.

MGMA’s “Physician Placement Starting Salary Survey: 2013 Report Based on 2012 Data” reported that medical practices feel the pressure to recruit physicians and offer competitive benefits amid concerns over the physician workforce shortage, expected to reach more than 90,000 physicians by 2020 and 130,000 by 2025.

In an effort to recruit physicians, practices may be offering benefits such as first-year, postresidency or postfellowship signing bonuses, paid relocation expenses, loan forgiveness, paid vacations, and continuing medical education, the organization said in a press release.

The report also assessed physician movement around the country. Physicians reported that they were most likely to relocate within their region. Physicians in the Midwest (including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin) reported the most relocations away from the region. Physicians reported the fewest placements to the West (including Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming).

The MGMA report contains data on 5,225 clinicians in 629 medical organizations.