Career Overview
Diagnose, treat, and provide preventive care to individuals and families across the lifespan. May refer patients to specialists when needed for further diagnosis or treatment.
Also Known As
- Family Physician
- Family Practice Physician (FP Physician)
- Medical Doctor (MD)
- Physician
Alternate Job Titles
- Board Certified Family Physician
- DO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician)
- Doctor
- Family Medicine PCP (Family Medicine Primary Care Physician)
- Family Medicine Physician
- Family Physician
- Family Practice Medical Doctor (FP MD)
- Family Practice Physician (FP Physician)
- Family Practice Physician Traditional Practitioner
- Family Practice Practitioner
- Family Practitioner
- General Physician
- General Practice Doctor (GP Doctor)
- General Practitioner
- Geriatric Physician
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Prescribe or administer treatment, therapy, medication, vaccination, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
- Order, perform, and interpret tests and analyze records, reports, and examination information to diagnose patients' condition.
- Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results.
- Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
- Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
- Advise patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, and disease prevention.
- Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, students, assistants, specialists, therapists, and other medical staff.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
- Therapy and Counseling
- Psychology
- Biology
- Customer and Personal Service
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Time Management
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Speech Clarity
- Written Expression
- Near Vision
- Speech Recognition
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Cooperation
- Empathy
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Achievement
- Recognition
- Independence
- Working Conditions
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Doctoral Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- eClinicalWorks EHR software
- Epic Systems
- MEDITECH software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
Tools & Equipment
- Adult Magill forceps
- Angiocaths
- Auditory testing equipment
- Automated external defibrillators AED
- Baby scales
- Blood collection syringes
- Cervical collars
- Colposcopes
- Cord clamps
- Cryosurgical units
- Dermal curettes
- Desktop computers
- Dictation equipment
- Dressing forceps
- Ear curettes
Work Environment
- Contact With Others
- Frequency of Decision Making
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
- Freedom to Make Decisions
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $81,330 |
| Median | $238,380 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | >$239,200 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 107,950
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Emergency Medicine Physicians
Education: Post-Doctoral Training
Median Salary: >$239,200
Pediatricians, General
Education: Post-Doctoral Training
Median Salary: $210,130
General Internal Medicine Physicians
Education: Post-Doctoral Training
Median Salary: $236,350
Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Education: Post-Doctoral Training
Median Salary: >$239,200
Pediatric Surgeons
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: >$239,200
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.