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Family Medicine Physicians

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeHigh pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $244,180 Median per year · $117.39/hr Most earn $76,830–$428,550

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Plan, implement, or administer health programs or standards in hospitals, businesses, or communities for prevention or treatment of injury or illness.
  • Order, perform, and interpret tests and analyze records, reports, and examination information to diagnose patients' condition.
  • Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results.
  • Advise patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, and disease prevention.
  • Prepare government or organizational reports which include birth, death, and disease statistics, workforce evaluations, or medical status of individuals.
  • Plan, implement, or administer health programs or standards in hospitals, businesses, or communities for prevention or treatment of injury or illness.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 2,900 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Offices of physicians66.3%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals17.4%
  • Self-employed (their own business)3.8%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Family medicine is not an entry-level job. Most people spend about 11 years after high school in college, medical school, and residency before they can practice on their own, so it's a long road that rewards people who enjoy science and caring for whole families.

  1. Bachelor's degree with pre-med coursework

    4 years

    Earn any bachelor's degree while taking required science courses such as biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and math, plus strong grades and a good MCAT score, so you can apply to medical school.

  2. Medical school (MD or DO degree)

    4 years

    Learn medicine through classroom study and clinical rotations in hospitals and clinics, then pass the national licensing exams that let you move on to residency.

  3. Family medicine residency

    3 years

    Train in a supervised family medicine program that covers pediatrics, adult care, obstetrics, and office procedures, building the hands-on experience you need to see patients independently.

  4. Family Medicine Physician

    Ongoing

    Once you finish residency and become licensed and board-certified, you diagnose and treat patients of all ages, provide preventive care, and refer patients to specialists when needed.

Where it can lead

  1. Hospitalist

    2-4 years of experience first

    Many family physicians shift to caring for patients in the hospital full time, which changes the setting from clinic visits to inpatient care and shift-based schedules.

  2. Medical Director

    5+ years of experience first

    Experienced physicians can take on leadership of a clinic or practice, which adds management, staffing, and quality-improvement work on top of seeing patients.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, chemistry, and mathStrong science and math grades prepare you for the demanding college courses that pre-med students take.
  • Volunteer at a hospital, clinic, or nursing homeHands-on time around patients shows you whether you like caring for people and gives you experience to talk about on applications.
  • Join a science or health clubClubs like science olympiad or a health occupations group let you explore medicine with peers and build teamwork skills.
  • Get a starter job that builds people skillsWorking as a cashier, server, or camp counselor teaches communication and patience, which matter a lot in patient care.
  • Learn first aid or CPRTaking a basic certification course, often offered by local Red Cross chapters or schools, is a simple first step into healthcare.

In college

  • Major in a science and complete pre-med coursesBiology, chemistry, or another science major, plus the required pre-med classes, covers the prerequisites medical schools look for.
  • Shadow physiciansSpending time watching doctors in clinics or hospitals helps you confirm your interest and gives you insight for applications and interviews.
  • Work as a medical scribe, EMT, or certified nursing assistantClinical jobs like these, available in many towns, give you real patient experience and show admissions committees you understand healthcare.
  • Join a pre-health or pre-med student organizationCampus groups often host speakers, mock interviews, and volunteer events that help you plan your path step by step.
  • Volunteer in community healthHelping at free clinics or health fairs builds experience working with families and underserved patients, which is central to family medicine.

Tips for getting started

  • Start building a science foundation now, since strong grades in biology, chemistry, and math matter for medical school applications.
  • Spend time around healthcare, such as volunteering or shadowing, so you know what daily work as a doctor really looks like before committing.
  • Pay attention to how you enjoy working with people of all ages, because family medicine means seeing babies, adults, and older patients in the same practice.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

  • Medicine Professional degree: typical pay 1 year after finishing $65,192 a year · typical debt $207,472

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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