Compensation for primary care physicians shows notable uptick in 2016, Medicus Firm report shows

Average salaries and perks like signing bonuses are seeing a notable upswing for primary care physicians, says Dallas-based physician search agency the Medicus Firm.

The firm's second annual primary care and advanced practice placement compensation summary report was based on placement records showing the average offers being extended and accepted by primary care physicians nationwide, and highlights placement salaries for family practice physicians and internal medicine physicians who were placed with their clients in 2016.

Data showed that the average primary care salary that was offered at placement, but not including signing bonus, rose from $207,041 in 2015 to $229,734.

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The average signing bonuses offered to primary care docs swelled by roughly $8,000 from $19,714 in 2015 to $27,799 in 2016. The increase was especially significant in mid-sized communities where signing bonuses almost doubled, from $16,875 to $31,967.

Overall, those bonuses were much bigger in rural and mid-sized communities, as opposed to metropolitan areas, the report said. However, urban areas did prove advantageous for internal medicine physicians. In 2016, those placed in urban areas saw the biggest spike in total compensation offered, from $237,522 in 2015 to $265,225 in 2016, the report said.

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Regionally, Midwestern states scored the biggest increases in primary care signing bonuses from 2015-2016. Specifically, Ohio Valley states grew from $18,063-$35,666, while those in the Central US/Upper Midwestern states grew from $24,375 in 2015 to $37,353. That region also touted the showed the biggest hike in total primary care compensation packages, with nearly $40,000 more offered.

Twitter: @BethJSanborn