Student Loan Repayment for Family Medicine Physicians
Family medicine physicians carry average debt of $225K and complete a 3-year residency before entering a field with broad employment options. With median attending salaries around $300K and many FM physicians working at FQHCs, rural health centers, and nonprofit hospitals, family medicine is one of the highest-return specialties for PSLF.
$300K salary · 3-yr residency · pre-loaded
Key numbers
Avg med school debt
$225K
AAMC GQ 2025
Resident salary (PGY-1)
$62K
ACGME median
Residency length
3 yrs
No fellowship typical
Debt-to-income ratio
0.75x
Debt ÷ attending salary
Attending Salary Distribution
Source: Marit Health, Jun 2026 · Median used in calculator
Residency Salary Progression
| Year | Salary | Monthly IDR est.* |
|---|---|---|
| PGY-1 | $68K | ~$285/mo |
| PGY-2 | $70K | ~$304/mo |
| PGY-3 | $73K | ~$328/mo |
* Salaries: AAMC 2025 national averages. IDR estimate assumes SAVE plan, single filer, no dependents.
PSLF Timeline
residencyFinish
residencyLoans
forgiven 🎉
With PSLF, loans forgiven after 10 years of qualifying payments — as early as Year 10 for family medicine physicians.
Salary & IDR Estimate
$300K
Monthly
~$2,217/mo
Annual
~$26,604/yr
Estimate assumes SAVE plan, single filer, no dependents.
Run full calculationPSLF fit
Strong
Family medicine physicians are the quintessential PSLF candidates — many work at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) or nonprofit primary care practices that qualify. With a 3-year residency and lower attending salary relative to specialists, the forgiveness amount can exceed $100K, making PSLF the default recommendation.
Check if your employer qualifiesRefinancing
When it makes sense
If you're moving into private practice or a for-profit setting, refinancing during early attending years makes sense. At $300K attending, target lenders with physician-specific underwriting — your income growth trajectory supports aggressive repayment over 7–9 years.
Compare refinancing lendersPre-filled with Family Medicine defaults
See your exact repayment numbers.
Calculator opens with Family Medicine salary ($300K) and 3-year residency pre-loaded. Adjust any input — results update instantly.
Common questions
Family Medicine loan repayment, answered.
Is PSLF worth it for family medicine?
For most FM physicians, yes. The combination of a 3-year residency, lower attending salary relative to specialists, and high rates of nonprofit employment makes PSLF one of the most valuable benefits available. Projected forgiveness often ranges from $80K to $150K depending on income and debt level.
What if I work at an FQHC — does that qualify for PSLF?
Yes — Federally Qualified Health Centers are 501(c)(3) organizations and automatically qualify for PSLF. FQHC employment is one of the cleanest PSLF pathways available, and many family medicine physicians work at FQHCs by career choice.
How much does a family medicine resident pay each month on IDR?
On SAVE with a $62K stipend, family medicine residents typically pay $0–200/month. This low payment keeps the loan in good standing while counting toward PSLF qualifying payments.
Should a family medicine physician refinance?
Only if you're not pursuing PSLF. Refinancing federal loans permanently eliminates PSLF eligibility. For FM physicians at qualifying employers, PSLF is almost always the better financial move — forgoing it to refinance at 5% is usually a $100K+ mistake.
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Run your Family Medicine numbers.
PSLF vs aggressive payoff vs refinancing — modeled with your salary, debt, and training timeline. Adjust any input and results update in real time.