Academic faculty physicians in primary and specialty care enjoyed a slight boost in compensation between 2009 and 2010, according to a new report from the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA).

In particular, MGMA's Academic Practice Compensation and Production Survey for Faculty and Management: 2011 Report Based on 2010 Data, found that median compensation for primary care faculty physicians rose 3.47 percent since 2009, to $163,704, while median compensation for specialty care faculty increased 2.7 percent, to $241,959, during the same time period.

Annual compensation for internal medicine primary care faculty physicians increased by 6.84 percent since 2009, and increased 4.46 percent between 2008 and 2009. Pediatric faculty reported annual compensation of $145,000, a 2.21 percent increase since 2009.

Specialists in pulmonary medicine saw the greatest jump since 2009--of 7.38 percent--to a median salary of $197,011. Non-invasive cardiologists reported a 6.7 percent increase since 2009, to $256,908.

Because academic physicians are required to devote a portion of their time to research and teaching activities, they were--as expected--not as clinically productive nor as highly paid as their private-practice counterparts.

Based on voluntary responses to MGMA's annual survey, this year's report contains academic-specific data on 18,776 faculty physicians and nonphysician providers categorized by specialty and 1,993 managers.

To learn more:
- read the statement from MGMA

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