An increasing percentage of U.S. physicians have more than salary factored in their paychecks, according to the American Medical Association.
In 2024, approximately 60% physicians had two or more compensation methods, an increase from 51% just 10 years prior, according to a March policy report from the AMA.
The report outlined findings from the organization’s annual physician practice benchmark survey, which examines compensation methods such as salary, productivity and bonuses. The 2024 survey collected data from a nationally representative sample of 5,000 practicing U.S. physicians who do not work in solo practices.
The survey found salary remains the most common form and largest portion of physician compensation, with 70.5% of them reporting they received a salary in 2024 — 9 percentage points higher than 2014. Also in 2024, 55% said they received some compensation from personal productivity measures, 39% said the same for bonuses, and nearly 28% from metrics tied to their practice’s financial performance.
“As such, practices are increasingly compensating physicians using a blend of methods, with salary being a common component, often paired with a bonus and/or productivity,” the AMA’s report said.
Based on 2024 averages, here is how $100 of physician income is broken down:
- $58.20 from salary
- $28 from productivity measures
- $7 from practice financial performance
- $4.40 from bonuses
- $2.40 from other compensation methods
In 2014, this is how the average $100 was divided:
- $50.10 from salary
- $32.60 from productivity
- $11.80 from practice financial performance
- $3.80 from bonuses
- $1.70 from other compensation methods
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