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How to determine base salary for hospitalists

Hospitalist Leadership Connection, August 3, 2010

Determining the appropriate starting salary when recruiting hospitalists can be a tricky endeavor. There are many factors to consider besides national salary data. Determining proper base salary takes into account location, other physicians’ pay, and additional costs.

Consider the following questions when determining base salary:

• What do other hospitalists make in the immediate city or region?
• What is the premium for experience, if any?
• If recruiting a hospitalist to an existing group, will the new recruit’s salary affect the salary structure of the existing physicians? If you have recruited for some time, is it possible that current starting salaries are higher than your existing physician salaries? You will need to consider the impact of proposing to pay a resident more than your experienced physicians at your practice.
• Will the clinical requirements of the job demand additional training that will, in turn, command a higher salary?
• Is the anticipated workload commensurate with the income potential?

When advertising for hospitalist positions, some practices choose to announce their starting salary in ads or mailers. Others do not reveal salary levels until the candidate responds to the ad. Either approach is reasonable, but it is recommended not to disclose salary in the advertisement. The ad should assure candidates that the salary level is competitive but does not necessarily disclose the exact amounts. However, if the hospital is in a difficult recruiting location and has the budget to offer a high salary, then you might want to advertise the high base salary.

Ultimately, the appropriate salary will be whatever it takes for qualified physicians to seriously consider the hospitalist position. Initial salary ranges might not attract the number of candidates needed to be successful. Monitor candidate feedback and consider adjustments to your financial package accordingly.

The above excerpt is adapted from Practical Guide to Hospitalist Recruitment and Retention, by Kirk Mathews, MBA, and John Nelson, MD, FACP, published by HCPro, Inc.

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