Resolve

Physician base salaries barely moved in 2026, up just 2% across the 4,417 contracts we reviewed for the 2026 Physician Salary & Employment Report.

But look past the base number and the picture changes: median bonus opportunity rose 12%, and the median signing bonus now sits at $25K.

That's not a coincidence. Employers facing tight margins are holding base salaries steady while shifting compensation growth into bonuses, productivity incentives, and sign-on packages—components that are easier to adjust and don't set a permanent baseline.

For physicians, a negotiation that stops at base salary leaves real money on the table. The report breaks down how bonus structures vary by specialty and region.

Get the full 2026 physician salary and employment report at https://hubs.la/Q04pWt-m0

Standardized language often overlooks the individuality of a physician’s value. Call schedules, productivity expectations, and exit terms should reflect your role... not a generic template.

A contract that treats physicians as interchangeable creates risk on both sides. Contracts are made to be reviewed carefully AND modified. Don't skip those steps. And you don't need to be a legal expert. Hire an attorney to explain all the fine print to you and point out potential problem areas, or give you peace of mind that the contract is solid.

👉 See how tailored review protects you at https://hubs.la/Q04pGkdb0

A banned non-compete can still come back to haunt you.

🔹 Employers still write non-competes into contracts in states that ban them, either intentionally or because they haven't updated their templates
🔹 Laws can change: a ban today doesn't guarantee a ban when you leave
🔹 Removing the clause from your contract protects you no matter what the legal landscape looks like down the road

Don't let language sit in your contract that could be weaponized later.

Read our complete non-compete guide by state: https://hubs.la/Q04pNxNj0

Everyone assumes the coasts pay the most. The data says otherwise.

Cost-adjusted, the 2026 Physician Salary & Employment Report found:
🔹 Midwest: $358K median (highest in the country)
🔹 South: $351K
🔹 West: $298K
🔹 Northeast: $285K (lowest)

The gap isn't about coastal vs. rural; it comes down to pay structure, cost of living, and call burden, which vary more by region than most physicians expect. The full report maps this out state by state.

Get the full 2026 physician salary and employment report at https://hubs.ly/Q04pbQH90