Primary Care Physician Compensation Reaches $330,000 but Lags Behind Inflation
Primary care physician compensation rose to $329,543 in 2025, a 2.23% increase from 2024, according to a new Medical Group Management Association report. The wage growth lagged the 2.7% inflation rate, with only surgical specialists keeping pace with cost-of-living increases. The stagnant real wage growth occurs amid a projected shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, raising concerns about healthcare access.
The Medical Group Management Association released its 2026 Provider Compensation and Productivity Data report on June 10, 2026, analyzing compensation data from over 245,900 physicians and advanced practice providers. Primary care physician median compensation increased 2.23% to $329,543 in 2025 from $322,343 in 2024, while surgical specialists saw 2.9% growth to $601,973 and nonsurgical specialists experienced only 1.79% growth to $461,647. Over a five-year period, surgical specialists essentially matched the 16.4% cumulative inflation increase, while primary care physicians trailed slightly and nonsurgical specialists lagged more meaningfully. The report indicates that compensation increases are driven by workforce scarcity rather than increased productivity, as various physician productivity measures declined across categories. MGMA's acting CEO noted this dynamic reflects "a system under pressure" with implications for healthcare access if the trend continues.
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- ForbesCenter
Primary Care Doctor Pay Hits $330,000 But Increase Lags U.S. Inflation
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