11 Highest Paying States for Family Physicians

Here we are again with another Superlative Series, this time with the 11 highest paying states for family physicians!

A family physician is a specialist who practices family medicine. Family medicine is a branch of medicine “devoted to comprehensive health care for people of all ages”, according to Wikipedia. Just to settle the confusion, family physicians in Europe are called general physicians. Because of their role as primary care physicians, family physicians usually practice in outpatient settings. Other countries would not permit you to see other specialists until you are referred by a family physician.

The advent of family medicine as a specialty in the US was seen after World War II. Due to the medical advances after the war, many doctors and medical students felt that the 4 years of medical training and one-year internship was no longer sufficient for the wide scope of knowledge that was needed to practice family medicine. These doctors petitioned the board for a residency training, which was recognized in 1969 in the United States.

The template for family medicine in most countries mirrors that of the United States, with the major similarity of an outpatient setting. Differences include the number of training years and training. In Canada, family physicians are required to undergo at least 2 years of specialty training after medical school. Once finished, they have the option to undergo a third year of training, this time in palliative care, emergency medicine, and women’s health. In India, medical graduates also undergo 3 years of training, after which they can already practice family medicine. It wasn’t until the 1990s that India has recognized family medicine as a distinct specialty. Today, there is a shortage of family physicians in this country of over a billion people. In the Philippines, family medicine also required 3 years of training under an accredited hospital, with rotations in almost all specialties. Unlike other countries, patients can opt to bypass family physicians when seeking medical care, going directly to medical specialists.

If you are an anesthesiologist or know someone who is, you will want to check out the 11 highest paying states for anesthesiologists!

To compile the list of the 11 highest paying states for family physicians, we searched the internet for available salary data of family physicians per state. Recruiter, Healthcare Salary Online, and Medscape were our main sources. All websites, as expected, had different figures per state. The salary for each state, as provided by our sources, were then added and averaged, with the 11 highest paying states making this list.

Don’t bypass this list and be sure to read the 11 highest paying states for family physicians!

11. Idaho

Average Annual Salary: $191,623

The Gem State certainly lives up to its name, medically-speaking. Family physicians earn $191,000 here, impressive considering that Idaho is known as a rural state. As of this writing, only 600 family physicians are employed by the state.

10. South Dakota

Average Annual Salary: $192,286

The Mount Rushmore State is known for, guess what? Mount Rushmore! And it should also be known among family physicians due to being 10th on our list. There are only 300 family physicians in this state, fewer than our previous entry. That may not be a factor as South Dakota is one of the least dense states in the United States.

9. Texas

Average Annual Salary: $192,510

From one of the least dense states, we go to the largest in terms of population and area. The Lone Star state currently has more than 5000 family physicians practicing in its borders, either in public or private practices.

8. Wyoming

Average Annual Salary: $193,780

Another state with a small population, Wyoming is the 2nd least dense state in the United States. It comes as no surprise that there are only around 300 family physicians practicing here. However, there is no shortage of picturesque landscapes, and doctors with a bit of cowboy in ‘em would love to be here.

7. Utah

Average Annual Salary: $194,296

Many of the doctors who practice in Utah, including the 900 or so family physicians, can be proud of what they have achieved – the state has the lowest percentage of a number of abortions, and is rated as having the 4th highest state of well-being in America.

6. Oklahoma

Average Annual Salary: $194,330

Physicians might want to think of moving to this state, as Oklahoma ranks 45th in physician per capita ration. However, it ranked 21st in health funding from the government. The Sooner State should be improving sooner or later. No pun intended.

5. Iowa

Average Annual Salary: $196,156

With family physicians earning more than $196,000 annually, Iowa makes it to number 5 on our list of the 11 highest paying states for family physicians. Resident has around 16 choices for health insurance and with about 1,500 family physicians to seek medical advice from.

4. Wisconsin

Average Annual Salary: $196,603

It doesn’t only lead the nation in cheese and milk production, but it also has the 4th highest pay for family physicians on our list! The Badger State has more or less 2,500 family physicians, working for an average of $196,000 a year. A toast with wine and cheese, anyone?

3. Georgia

Average Annual Salary: $197,370

While ranked 41st in the percentage of its residents who exercise, Georgia has more than 15,000 doctors, around 2,000 of which are family physicians. But this does not mean one can live a sedentary lifestyle. Go out and jog! Your physician will be happier knowing you are healthy than charge you money every time you visit due to some nagging health issue.

2. Kansas

Average Annual Salary: $197,670

All is bright and sunny in the Sunflower State for family physicians! With almost $200,000 in annual salary, Kansas comes in at number 2 on our list! Also notable for being a mainly agricultural state, you could say that the state’s ranking on our list makes it the cream of the crop. This time, pun intended!

1. Arkansas

Average Annual Salary: $208,543

Coming in at first on our list is the state with an almost similar name as number 2 – Arkansas. AR – Kansas. A Richer Kansas. For family physicians, at least. This is the only state in our list that averaged more than $200,000 for family physicians annually, which makes it number 1 on the 11 highest paying states for family physicians!