Physician Salary Estimator

Physician salary from RVUs is calculated by multiplying your annual work RVU (wRVU) production by your compensation rate per wRVU. For example, if you produce 5,000 wRVUs per year at a rate of $50/wRVU, your annual RVU-based compensation would be $250,000. Many physicians also have a base salary component with production bonuses above a threshold.

A good wRVU compensation rate varies significantly by specialty. Primary care specialties like Family Medicine typically see rates around $42-$48/wRVU, while surgical specialties can range from $55-$70/wRVU. Factors that influence your rate include geographic location, practice setting (academic vs. private), payer mix, and call responsibilities. The MGMA and AMGA surveys provide the most widely-used benchmarks.

Annual wRVU production benchmarks vary widely by specialty. At the 50th percentile, primary care physicians typically produce 4,500-5,500 wRVUs per year, while high-volume surgical specialties may produce 7,000-10,000+ wRVUs. MGMA median benchmarks are the industry standard for comparing your production to peers in the same specialty.

Surgical subspecialties like neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery, and orthopedic surgery tend to have the highest total RVU-based compensation due to both high wRVU production and higher per-wRVU rates. Neurosurgeons at the 90th percentile can produce over 14,000 wRVUs annually. However, compensation rates per wRVU are often highest in specialties like psychiatry and anesthesiology.

To negotiate a better RVU rate: (1) Know your market value using MGMA and AMGA benchmark data for your specialty and region. (2) Track your actual wRVU production to demonstrate your productivity. (3) Highlight your patient satisfaction scores, quality metrics, and call coverage. (4) Consider the total compensation package including benefits, CME, and retirement. (5) Get competing offers to establish leverage. (6) Focus on objective data rather than subjective arguments.