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Primary Care Physician Salary in the United States

How much does a Primary Care Physician make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Primary Care Physician in the United States is $242,486 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $117.

However, a Primary Care Physician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $291,334
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $227,469 to $268,055
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $213,797
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Primary Care Physician Salaries

A Primary Care Physician's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Primary Care Physician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Primary Care Physician's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $234,791
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $235,868
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $236,945
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $238,452
  • Expert (over 8 years): $242,486
Levels Salary
Entry Level Primary Care Physician$234,791
Intermediate Level Primary Care Physician$235,868
Senior Level Primary Care Physician$236,945
Specialist Level Primary Care Physician$238,452
Expert Level Primary Care Physician$242,486
View as Graph

How Do Primary Care Physician Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Primary Care Physicians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $268,480.
  • California: $267,462.
  • Massachusetts: $263,898.

Top Paying Cities for Primary Care Physicians

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $305,848
  • San Francisco: $302,499
  • Oakland: $296,124

What Skills Can Increase a Primary Care Physician's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 4.16% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Medical Services (Mentioned in 4.42% Job Postings): A service that provides medical treatment to people within an area or country: In poorer countries without a reliable health service, 90% of care for people with Aids-related illnesses is carried out in the home. health services.
  • Medical Education (Mentioned in 2.94% Job Postings): Medical education is a course of study directed toward imparting knowledge and skills required for the prevention and treatment of diseases to persons seeking to become physicians.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 4.16%
Medical Services 4.42%
Medical Education 2.94%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Primary Care Physician's salary.

  • Emergency Medicine: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Critical Care: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Internal Medicine: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Emergency Medicine $257,035
6%
Critical Care $257,035
6%
Internal Medicine $254,610
5%
Get Latest Data

Primary Care Physician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Primary Care Physician roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Primary Care Physician positions in Pharmaceuticals or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Primary Care Physician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Primary Care Physician

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$363,729$175.050%
Biotechnology$290,983$140.020%

How Education impacts a Primary Care Physician's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Primary Care Physicians enter the field with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Primary Care Physician with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $225,884 and $241,944).

Primary Care Physician Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Primary Care Physician
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.3%
High School 1.3%
Associates 4.0%
Bachelors 4.0%
Masters 5.3%
Doctorate 85.3%
View as Graph

Primary Care Physician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Primary Care Physician's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$227,469
Average $242,486/year
$268,055
$18,956
Average $20,207/month
$22,338
$4,374
Average $4,663/week
$5,155
$109
Average $117/hour
$129
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $268,055 $22,338 $5,155 $129
Average $242,486 $20,207 $4,663 $117
25th Percentile $227,469 $18,956 $4,374 $109

Most common benefits for Primary Care Physician

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Primary Care Physician

Here are companies hiring for Primary Care Physician and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Primary Care Physician

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Primary Care Physician?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Primary Care Physician roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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