Family Medicine Physicians
Diagnose, treat, and provide preventive care to individuals and families across the lifespan. May refer patients to specialists when needed for further diagnosis or treatment.
Also called: Board Certified Family Physician, DO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician), Doctor, Family Medicine PCP (Family Medicine Primary Care Physician), Family Medicine Physician, Family Physician
Median pay
$244,180
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$76,830 – $428,550
People employed
107,510
Holland code
SIC
Social · Investigative · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 2.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 3.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 4.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 5.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 6.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 7.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 8.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
The hard parts
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
- Exposure to disease or infection
- Tight deadlines are common
Family Medicine Physicians pay by state
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What family medicine physicians do
- 01Prescribe or administer treatment, therapy, medication, vaccination, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
- 02Order, perform, and interpret tests and analyze records, reports, and examination information to diagnose patients' condition.
- 03Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results.
- 04Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
- 05Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
- 06Advise patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, and disease prevention.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
- Therapy and Counseling
- Psychology
- Biology
Work styles that stand out
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Cooperation
- Achievement Orientation
- Social Orientation
- Self-Control
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from family medicine physicians
- Genetic Counselors57% · −59%
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary55% · −67%
- Midwives55% · group pay
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary54% · −56%
- Clinical Research Coordinators54% · group pay
Majors that lead here
- Medicine
- Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy
- Family Medicine/Emergency Medicine Combined Specialty Program
- Family Medicine/Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine Combined Specialty Program
- Family Medicine/Preventive Medicine Combined Specialty Program
- Family Medicine/Psychiatry Combined Specialty Program
- Internal Medicine/Family Medicine Combined Specialty Program
- Family Medicine Residency Program
- Family Medicine Residency/Fellowship Programs, Other
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.