Work in a free clinic? What's your salary?

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I'm interested in working in a free or low-cost clinic after a family medicine or internal medicine residency. I'm a non-trad finishing a post-bac now, already owe plenty in student loans from undergrad, and so my debt after medical school will be considerable. I'm sure others are in the same boat, interested in working with the underserved but unclear as to what doctors working (not volunteering) in clinics can expect to make. I understand salaries vary based on region, there are NHSC loan repayment plans to be had at certain places, etc, but I'm asking for hard numbers from anyone who works or has worked as a physician in such clinics.

I'd be particularly interested in clinician salaries in NYC or southern California, if possible, which I know will be substantially lower than in rural areas. Thanks for any info.

Originally Posted by BEJ2

I'm interested in working in a free or low-cost clinic after a family medicine or internal medicine residency. I'm a non-trad finishing a post-bac now, already owe plenty in student loans from undergrad, and so my debt after medical school will be considerable. I'm sure others are in the same boat, interested in working with the underserved but unclear as to what doctors working (not volunteering) in clinics can expect to make. I understand salaries vary based on region, there are NHSC loan repayment plans to be had at certain places, etc, but I'm asking for hard numbers from anyone who works or has worked as a physician in such clinics.

I'd be particularly interested in clinician salaries in NYC or southern California, if possible, which I know will be substantially lower than in rural areas. Thanks for any info.

I am not a Family Doctor, but, rather, the husband of one.

Her salary is 103K yearly (she just got a 3% raise, hence the extra 3K).

However, she did also qualify for NHSC, and received $60K for her first 2-year commitment to the clinic, towards loan repayment, given in one, lump sum when she started her contract.

We live in the Midwest, where the cost of living is significantly lower than in New York and Southern California (where I used to live).

A really good website to gauge salaries in various states/regions is 3met.org

Often, posted are jobs in rural facilities or FQHCs.

I hope this helps.

Take good care.

Originally Posted by slp2doc

A really good website to gauge salaries in various states/regions is 3met.org
.

Couldn't get that link to come up

Originally Posted by SnakeOil

Couldn't get that link to come up

My mistake!

The link is: www.3rnet.org/

I was responding from my phone, and mistyped; my apologies.

I worked as locum in a public health center $80/hr.

Thanks for the replies! Hopefully people will continue to post...

Just a thought from me, an about-to-be-a med student, what about having a regular job and doing this: http://www.denverrescuemission.org/o...emergency-care (scroll down to "Clinic" as a volunteer option? Just a thought...

Originally Posted by SBB2016

Just a thought from me, an about-to-be-a med student, what about having a regular job and doing this: http://www.denverrescuemission.org/o...emergency-care (scroll down to "Clinic" as a volunteer option? Just a thought...

That is a completely viable option. Many practitioners work a 4 day week and could easily volunteer for something like this.

$100-120/hr in NYC for FP/IM. Most close to 100. Places with good benefits, like being able to retire after 10 yr (which includes 3 yr residency done at city hospital), offers salary on the lower end.

I'm out west, mostly rural. Most FQHCs around here start at least at 120K (truly rural locals are 140-150K start). If you want to be at a truly FREE clinic then I haven't heard of much paying better than 90K...depends on the clinics operation funding source.

Why not consider volunteering also? Work at a "regular" clinic, and volunteer at a community clinic on the side. FQHC has lots of onerous rules and regulations. There are plenty of clinics with opportunities to volunteer that aren't FQHC and have more flexibility.

Originally Posted by notinkansas

Why not consider volunteering also? Work at a "regular" clinic, and volunteer at a community clinic on the side. FQHC has lots of onerous rules and regulations. There are plenty of clinics with opportunities to volunteer that aren't FQHC and have more flexibility.

Totally agree. I work at my office as part of a physician group making a nice (OK, very nice) salary, and I volunteer time every month at a free clinic. I don't sacrifice income for being able to help those who need medical care and cannot afford it.

So if you volunteer a professional service, what are you allowed to write off? Just expenses, or more??

Originally Posted by SBB2016

So if you volunteer a professional service, what are you allowed to write off? Just expenses, or more??

You seem to have misunderstood the word volunteer.

There is a difference between a free clinic and a FQHC. The former is typically volunteer-supported (e.g., donations of time and money, with no paid employees). The latter is state and/or federally-supported, with relatively meager income potential compared to private practice. People work there either because they want to, or they have no other options.

Originally Posted by Smokemont

You seem to have misunderstood the word volunteer.

I suggested this about 10 posts up. I asked a question, and don't try to BS me about it because people can write off volunteer expenses no matter what. Good grief people...

Originally Posted by SBB2016

I suggested this about 10 posts up. I asked a question, and don't try to BS me about it because people can write off volunteer expenses no matter what. Good grief people...

Sorry to "BS" you but I just think it's extremely tacky to be asking about tax write offs when volunteering your time as a physician, even in an online forum. Ask your accountant or read the IRS tax code.

It's like saying "which volunteering opportunities will give me the highest deduction?"

Whatever... you are going to think what you want regardless of what I say. I asked a legit question, it's okay that you don't know the answer. I am sure you'll NEVER EVER check into financial aspects of a job before you take it, or anything like that, that would just be 'tacky'...