Family doctors play a fundamental role in Spain’s health system. They are responsible for providing comprehensive and continuous medical care to patients of all ages, treating a wide range of diseases and conditions. But how is your importance within the public health system reflected in your salary? How much does a Primary Care doctor earn?
Before exploring the topic of salary, it is important to understand the responsibilities and daily tasks that come with being a doctor specializing in Family and Community Medicine in Spain. A priori, they are medical professionals who established a long-term relationship with their patients. This involves providing primary medical care, coordinating treatment with other specialists, and providing ongoing follow-up to patients. Its focus is on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of common diseases, as well as the comprehensive health care of its patients.
Their role is crucial in the healthcare system as they are the first to respond to patients’ needs and can play a vital role in the early detection and management of chronic diseases. Therefore, the family doctor is a highly trained and versatile professional. In addition to their general medical training, they also have specialized knowledge in various areas, such as pediatrics, gynecology, geriatrics and mental health that they acquire while pursuing their specialty. This allows them to provide comprehensive care to people of all ages and at all stages of life.
Breakdown of the average salary of a family doctor in Spain
In 2023, the average salary of a family doctor in Spain is 43,600 euros gross per year, according to Jobted, a portal that reflects the salaries declared by professionals and disaggregated by autonomous communities. However, there are several factors that affect your compensation. These include professional experience, geographical location, type of employment and time commitment.
In general, for professionals with less than three years of experience, the average salary is around 32,100 euros gross per year. Additionally, a family doctor with more experience is expected to earn a higher salary. Therefore, if we talk about profiles with between 4 and 9 years of experience, the salary is already around 45,500 euros on average; between 10 and 20 years, at 65,300 euros; and for those who have more than 20 years in the field, the average salary is about 80,100 euros per year.
In addition to experience, geographic location also plays an important role in determining a family doctor’s salary. For example, currently your average salary in Andalusia is slightly above the average (45,300 euros gross per year), while in the Community of Madrid it is much lower (38,400 euros gross per year).
Salary supplements for family doctors
In addition to the base salary, family physicians may also receive salary supplements, which can significantly increase their total compensation. There are different types of salary supplements that family doctors can receive in Spain. These include supplements for residence, for services provided outside normal working hours or for working in areas that are difficult to cover.
Residency Complements Are Granted to Doctors Who Work in Geographic Areas That Present Difficulties for Medical Vacancies, such as Jadas – such as the case of Ceuta and Mella, the Most Lucrative Regions in the entire country to practice as a family doctor. On the other hand, supplements for services provided outside normal working hours refer to the additional compensation granted to doctors who perform on-call or emergency services outside their normal working hours.
These salary supplements can make a significant difference in a family doctor’s overall salary. For example, a doctor who works in an area with difficult coverage and who performs services outside of normal working hours can see his salary greatly increased thanks to these supplements. It is important to note that while salary supplements may seem attractive, they also mean a greater workload and possibly greater availability to be on call or cover services outside of normal working hours.
The impact of trienniums on salary
In addition to base salaries and salary supplements, family doctors in Spain can also benefit from trienniums. This is a concept that is applied in the field of public service, which includes doctors who work in hospitals and health centers of the public health system in Spain. The triennia represent the recognition of seniority and permanence in the job.
Each triennium is equivalent to three years of service and translates into a salary increase. As a doctor accumulates more three-year terms, his salary increases progressively. Triennia can have a significant impact on the total salary of a family doctor in Spain. As triennia accumulate, the doctor’s salary can increase significantly. Therefore, the final salary of each family doctor can vary greatly at the end of months.
