Best States for Family Physicians – Overview
Family physicians have a rewarding career. However, some states are comparatively better for practicing family medicine in the US.
Even for professional physicians, compensation remains an important factor to consider. This is true if you want to establish your private practice or clinic.
We’ve ranked the top states to practice family medicine to make things easier.
10 Best States for Family Physicians
Here is our list of the 10 best states for family physicians:
1 – Alabama
Are you a certified physician looking to increase your income? Or are you looking to repay your student loans from medical school as quickly as possible?
Then, practicing family medicine in Alabama would be your best option.
According to the most recent data, the average annual salary for family physicians in Alabama is approximately $235,000.
The pay is certainly impressive, but the quality of healthcare facilities makes Alabama’s healthcare infrastructure truly excellent.
At least five specialties at the University of Alabama at Birmingham rank in the top 20 in the US, and six additional specialties rank in the top 50.
Montgomery, Huntsville, and Birmingham are among the top 25 cities with the lowest cost of living.
2 – Kentucky
Kentucky is famous for its strong efforts, especially in education and healthcare.
The average annual salary for family physicians in Kentucky is closer to $230,000 based on the latest available data. Their cost of living is lower than the national average.
Kentucky offers significantly lower rent expenses and many nationally popular activities like the Derby Season.
3 – Oklahoma
Oklahoma is considered the best place for physicians to practice medicine, especially those with families.
The Sooner State is listed as the 2nd most affordable state in terms of cost of living in the United States, with a cost of living index of 85.8.
According to several surveys, Oklahoma City is expanding rapidly and ranks among the top 10 cities in which to raise a family.
If you wish to practice family medicine as a physician in Oklahoma, you can expect to earn around $338,000 annually.
In addition, you will also enjoy around 115% more pay than the national average for locum pay in Oklahoma.
4 – Indiana
Indiana is famous for having 6 Indiana University hospitals that rank right in high-performance medical procedures.
This shows just how well the Hoosier state pays its medical practitioners. According to recent figures, the average annual income for a family physician in Indiana is approximately $220,000.
In addition, the locum pay is around 103% more than the national average.
Apart from having a strong healthcare infrastructure and sports culture, the state is also famous for being the Basketball Capital of the World.
5 – Missouri
Missouri became the best state for family physicians in 2021 by agreeing to pay more to its dedicated healthcare workforce.
According to the latest data, the typical annual salary for family physicians in Missouri is around $215,000. Locum physicians in Missouri also earn around 117% more than physicians in other states in the US.
According to reports, the average price of a house in Missouri is also around 30% lower than the nationwide average.
Besides its good earning potential, Missouri is also a great location to start a new career or establish a private family medicine practice.
Reports show that 2 out of 160 hospitals in Missouri are ranked nationally, while 7 others are known to meet national healthcare quality standards.
6 – South Carolina
South Carolina is yet another US location that offers family physicians the opportunity to earn to the fullest extent.
According to recent statistics, the average annual salary for family physicians in South Carolina is approximately $225,000. This could also help you retire sooner.
You can live a fruitful retired life in a state that ranks among the top states for retirement in the US.
The state offers numerous beaches and resorts, making it ideal for family life and retirees.
The Medical University of South Carolina has held the No. 1 spot for five years. Several facilities rank among the top in the country.
7 – Florida
Florida is among the most popular states in the US and the third most populous state.
The state offers year-round sunshine, with balmy beaches that attract young and old to the Sunshine State. The growing population has also raised the demand for family physicians in Florida.
The state has extremely advanced hospitals and healthcare facilities. The UF Shands Hospital has 9 top-ranking specialty departments.
Florida is also ranked as the 21st best state to practice medicine. According to the most current data, family physicians in Florida have an average annual income of about $210,000.
8 – Georgia
Georgia is the 8th highest-paying state for physicians in the United States. According to recent data, the median annual salary for family physicians in Georgia is approximately $215,000.
Working in Georgia as a family physician also allows you to work with the country’s most experienced doctors.
Atlanta is home to more than 250,000 students in various universities, and the Emory School of Medicine ranks 22nd among research facilities in the US.
9 – Iowa
Iowa is ranked 9th on our list of the best states for family physicians. As a family physician in Iowa, you can expect to earn as much as $330,000 per year.
Besides this, locum physicians in Iowa also get paid around 107% more than the national average in terms of locum pay.
Several surveys have also ranked Iowa as the 9th most inexpensive place to live in the United States. This makes Iowa excellent for practicing family medicine.
10 – Tennessee
Tennessee is 10th on our list of the best states for family physicians in the United States.
The annual salary for family physicians in Tennessee averages around $230,000 based on the latest available figures. Locum physicians earn around 118% more than the national average.
According to Medscape research, the state is the 20th best place to practice medicine.
The state is home to the famous Vanderbilt University Medical Center, nationally ranked in 10 pediatric and 9 adult specialties.
If you move to Tennessee to practice family medicine, you won’t have to worry about paying state-levied income tax. Tennessee’s property tax rates are also incredibly low.
Conclusion
This is our list of the 10 best states for family physicians to practice medicine. We ranked them according to the level of medical infrastructure, average annual salary, and cost of living.
Newly certified family physicians looking to build a solid career base should start practicing in one of the above states.
See Also
Allergy Testing Training for Physicians
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
Non Clinical Job for Physicians
Wound Care Certification for Physicians
ICD 10 Coding Training for Physicians
How to Deal With Needle Phobic Patients
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