Compare your productivity to national benchmarks across 34 specialties. Data based on MGMA and industry surveys.
34
Specialties Tracked
5,200
Median Primary Care wRVUs
$55
Avg Compensation/wRVU
55-60%
Income Jump 25th to 75th
Showing 34 specialties
| Specialty ▲ | Category | 25th %ile ▲ | Median ▲ | 75th %ile ▲ | 90th %ile ▲ | $/wRVU ▲ | Median Comp ▲ |
|---|
Data sources: MGMA DataDive, AMGA, SullivanCotter surveys. Figures are approximate annual benchmarks for 2026.
See how your wRVU production compares to your peers.
Estimated Annual Compensation
Work Relative Value Units (wRVUs) are the standard measure of physician productivity in the United States. Benchmarks compiled by organizations like MGMA, AMGA, and SullivanCotter provide percentile-based ranges that show how physicians in each specialty compare nationally. These benchmarks are used by hospitals, health systems, and private practices to set compensation, evaluate performance, and structure employment contracts.
The percentile values tell you where a specific production level falls within the distribution of all surveyed physicians. The 50th percentile (median) means half of physicians in that specialty produce more and half produce less. Being at the 75th percentile means you outproduce 75% of your peers -- a strong position in any contract negotiation.
Because most physician compensation models are tied directly to wRVU production, understanding where you fall on the benchmark curve has direct financial implications. A Family Medicine physician producing at the 75th percentile (6,400 wRVUs) earns approximately $92,000 more annually than one at the 25th percentile (4,200 wRVUs) at a typical $42/wRVU rate.
~5,100
Median wRVUs
5 specialties tracked
~7,300
Median wRVUs
9 specialties tracked
~5,600
Median wRVUs
15 specialties tracked
~4,800
Median wRVUs
5 specialties tracked
Use benchmark data to ensure your compensation rate ($/wRVU) and productivity expectations are in line with national standards. If you produce above the median but earn below it, you have a strong case for renegotiation.
Set realistic annual and monthly wRVU targets based on percentile data. Aiming to move from the 25th to the 50th percentile is a practical first goal that can significantly impact your earnings.
When reviewing job offers, compare the offered $/wRVU rate and production expectations against benchmark data. A high base salary with low wRVU thresholds may be more favorable than a high rate with unrealistic targets.
Benchmark data helps you decode whether your compensation model is fair. Compare your total compensation (wRVUs x $/wRVU) against the median total compensation for your specialty to see the full picture.
Moving from 25th to 75th percentile typically increases income by 55-60% across most specialties. For an orthopedic surgeon, that difference is roughly $292,500 in annual compensation at $65/wRVU.
Surgical specialties produce the highest median wRVUs with Cardiothoracic Surgery leading at 9,000 median wRVUs, followed by Neurosurgery at 8,500 and Radiology at 8,500.
Compensation rate matters as much as volume. Neurosurgery's $70/wRVU rate combined with high volume yields median compensation of $595,000, while Psychiatry's $65/wRVU rate on 3,800 wRVUs yields $247,000.
The 90th percentile represents exceptional production and is often unsustainable long-term. Target the 50th-75th range for a healthy balance of productivity and well-being.
RVU Tracker automatically calculates your percentile ranking and shows exactly where you stand compared to your peers -- in real time.
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