Primary Care & Hospital-Based Physicians salary guide

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Published BLS wages for this family. BLS OEWS May 2025.

Family Medicine Physician SOC 29-1215, Family Medicine Physicians. direct match.
Internal Medicine Physician SOC 29-1216, General Internal Medicine Physicians. broader match.
Pediatrician SOC 29-1221, Pediatricians, General. broader match.
Geriatrician SOC 29-1216, General Internal Medicine Physicians. broader match.
Concierge / Direct Primary Care Physician SOC 29-1215, Family Medicine Physicians. broader match.
Hospitalist (incl. Nocturnist) SOC 29-1216, General Internal Medicine Physicians. broader match.
Emergency Medicine Physician SOC 29-1214, Emergency Medicine Physicians. direct match.
Urgent Care Physician SOC 29-1229, Physicians, All Other. broader match.
Occupational Medicine Physician SOC 29-1229, Physicians, All Other. broader match.
Anesthesiologist SOC 29-1211, Anesthesiologists. direct match.
Diagnostic Radiologist SOC 29-1224, Radiologists. broader match.
Interventional Radiologist SOC 29-1224, Radiologists. broader match.
Neuroradiologist SOC 29-1224, Radiologists. broader match.
Breast Imaging Radiologist SOC 29-1224, Radiologists. broader match.
Pathologist SOC 29-1222, Physicians, Pathologists. broader match.
Intensivist (Critical Care Medicine) SOC 29-1229, Physicians, All Other. broader match.
Neonatologist SOC 29-1229, Physicians, All Other. broader match.
Chief Hospitalist SOC 29-1229, Physicians, All Other. broader match.
Lead Family Medicine Physician SOC 29-1215, Family Medicine Physicians. broader match.
Nocturnist (Night Hospitalist) SOC 29-1229, Physicians, All Other. broader match.
Pediatric Hospitalist SOC 29-1221, Pediatricians, General. broader match.
Bilingual Family Medicine Physician SOC 29-1215, Family Medicine Physicians. broader match.

What does this physician family do during a workday?

These physicians see patients, review records, order tests, and decide next steps. In primary care, that often means preventive visits, chronic follow-up, and referrals. In hospital-based work, the day can include admissions, rounds, consults, procedures, and overnight coverage. We help you define which tasks belong in the job.

The work changes by setting and by specialty. A family physician may handle same-day visits and inbox work. A hospitalist may cover admissions, sign-outs, and discharge plans. An anesthesiologist or radiologist may spend more time on procedures or interpretation.

How much does the setting change the role?

The setting often changes the work more than the title. Outpatient clinics bring scheduled visits, preventive care, and follow-up messages. Inpatient units bring handoffs, rounds, and discharge decisions. Emergency, urgent care, and critical care roles add faster decisions and more changing patient flow.

Ask where the physician will spend most of the shift. Ask who handles triage, calls, and after-hours messages. Ask whether the physician works alone, with advanced practice providers, or with a larger attending group. Those details shape the search and the offer.

How do schedules differ across these roles?

Some roles follow standard clinic blocks. Others use rotating days, nights, weekends, or call. Hospitalists, nocturnists, anesthesiologists, and emergency physicians often need clear handoff rules. Pediatricians, geriatricians, and family physicians may mix clinic time with inpatient or nursing home visits.

We ask about the real schedule, not just the headline schedule. We ask how often weekends come up and who covers absences. We also ask what work follows the shift, such as charting, imaging review, or patient calls.

What experience matters most to hiring teams?

You usually want experience that matches the actual day. A hospitalist should know inpatient flow and discharge planning. A radiologist should read the studies your site sees most. A pathologist should fit the pace and case mix of your lab. A direct primary care physician should be comfortable with longer visits and close patient communication.

Board certification, recent practice, and comfort with your setting often matter more than a broad resume. If bilingual care is part of the role, say which languages matter. If the job needs procedures, inpatient work, or occupational exams, put that in the first review questions.

What should we ask before interviews start?

Ask who makes the clinical decisions and who handles operations. Ask about referral patterns, consult support, imaging access, and after-hours coverage. Ask whether the physician owns certain judgments, such as admission status, procedure choice, or discharge timing. Those answers prevent mismatched interviews.

You should also ask about charting tools, call burdens, and who reviews performance. A short phone screen should confirm schedule fit, scope, and location. If the role includes travel, multiple sites, or night coverage, we clarify that early.

How do we present these openings to candidates?

We write the opening around the work, the setting, and the schedule. That keeps the conversation grounded in what the physician will do on day one. It also helps you compare family medicine, hospital medicine, emergency, radiology, anesthesia, and pathology openings without mixing the details.

We arrange locum tenens, travel and contract coverage on request. Credentialing, licensing and malpractice coverage are confirmed per engagement before anyone starts. For permanent hiring, we focus on fit, scope, and decision-making lines before interviews move forward.

What else should you ask about this edition?

How do we describe a hospitalist role without overstating the pace?

Start with admissions, rounding, consults, and discharge work. Then name the shift pattern and handoff process. That gives candidates a real picture without guessing at volume.

What should we ask a radiologist or pathologist about daily work?

Ask which studies, specimen types, and consults they will handle most often. Ask how much time goes to subspecialty reads, urgent calls, and case review. Those details matter more than a generic title.

How do we screen for a physician who fits outpatient primary care?

Ask about visit length, chronic disease follow-up, inbox management, and referral habits. Ask whether the physician will see children, adults, or both. If the role includes bilingual care, confirm that before the first interview.

What should we clarify before discussing locum or contract coverage?

Confirm the schedule, site, scope, and any night or weekend call. We arrange locum tenens, travel and contract coverage on request. Credentialing, licensing and malpractice coverage are confirmed per engagement before anyone starts.