July 2006

Primary-care MDs want to earn more

Primary-care doctors say their incomes are disappointing, but the majority is satisfied with their careers.

A study conducted by Merritt Hawkins, a physician recruitment firm, and Physicians Practice magazine report that 53 percent of primary-care doctors say their average $150,000 a year salaries are disappointing, with only 10.5 percent calling their compensation excellent.

When asked if they were “very satisfied” or “somewhat satisfied” with their careers, 68 percent of the doctors said they were.

Yet, despite their satisfaction, only 37.6 percent said they would choose to enter primary care again if they could start their careers over. More than one-third said they would go into a surgical or diagnostic specialty instead. Meanwhile, 28.6 percent said they would not choose to go into medicine.

Aside from salaries, the doctors also showed concern about their overhead costs with 60 percent of respondents saying they spent between 40 percent and 70 percent of their revenues on running their offices.

The survey was sent to three types of primary care doctors: family practitioners, internists, and pediatricians.

Sources: Merritt Hawkins, www.merritthawkins.com, Physicians Practice, www.physicianspractice.com

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