SOC 29-1215 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Family Medicine Physicians — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Family Medicine Physicians in California is $252,010 per year, close to the national median of $244,180 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Family Medicine Physicians in California is $252,010 per year, close to the national median of $244,180 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $137,220 and $349,420. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $74,510 and the ninetieth at $475,480.
California ranks number 25th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Salinas records the highest median at $410,370. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 11th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $74,510 | −69.5% |
| 25th | $137,220 | −43.8% |
| Median (50th) | $252,010 | +3.2% |
| 75th | $349,420 | +43.1% |
| 90th | $475,480 | +94.7% |
| Mean | $252,930 | +3.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salinas | $410,370 | 320 | |
| 2 | San Jose | $351,760 | 1,120 | |
| 3 | Sacramento | $345,310 | 830 | |
| 4 | San Luis Obispo | $345,310 | — | |
| 5 | Bakersfield | $332,530 | 190 | |
| 6 | Vallejo | $306,500 | 100 | |
| 7 | San Francisco | $304,560 | 2,170 | |
| 8 | Napa | $299,710 | 90 | |
| 9 | Riverside | $298,890 | — | |
| 10 | San Diego | $295,530 | 1,360 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $252,010 buys what $227,651 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 6.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$252,010as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$227,651US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $252,010 a year, 3.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $74,510 to $475,480 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- It ranks 25th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Salinas, at $410,370.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Family Medicine Physicians in California?
The median annual wage is $252,010, or $121.16 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $244,180, so pay in California is 3.2% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $475,480 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $74,510 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Salinas, at $410,370 per year.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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