These 10 physician recruitment trends were identified in physician workforce reports, recruitment incentive surveys, federal workforce programs, and physician support initiatives.
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Signing Bonuses — Average physician signing bonuses reached $38,215 in AMN Healthcare's most recent physician incentive review, making signing bonuses one of the most common physician recruitment tools.
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Student Loan Repayment — Loan repayment assistance remains a recruitment tool used by health care employers and federal workforce programs. The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) offers loan repayment programs for physicians practicing in eligible communities.
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Relocation Assistance — AMN Healthcare reported average physician relocation allowances of $12,619, up from $11,284 in the previous report.
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NHSC Scholarship Program — The NHSC Scholarship Program provides financial support for medical education in exchange for a future service commitment in communities experiencing physician shortages.
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CME Allowances — Average continuing medical education (CME) allowances reached $4,073 in physician recruitment packages, according to AMN Healthcare's 2025 review of recruiting incentives.
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Combined Incentive Packages — The combined value of physician signing bonuses, relocation allowances, and CME benefits averaged $58,744 among physician recruitment agreements reviewed by AMN Healthcare.
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Educational Loan Repayment Packages — Physician contracts that included educational loan repayment provided an average benefit of $104,200, according to AMN Healthcare's physician recruiting incentives review.
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NHSC Loan Repayment — The NHSC Loan Repayment Program offers eligible primary care physicians up to $75,000 in loan repayment assistance for a 2-year service commitment at approved sites.
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Starting Salaries — The average starting salary for physicians reached $403,000 in AMN Healthcare’s 2025 review.
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Physician Health Programs —The Federation of State Physician Health Programs represents state physician health programs that offer confidential evaluations, treatment referrals, monitoring, education, and other support services for physicians, health care professionals, and trainees affected by substance use disorders, mental health conditions, or other health issues that may affect their ability to practice.
Sources: AMN Healthcare, NHSC, Federation of State Physician Health Programs
