Dr. Vince LeoneOwner, Consultant, Specialized Practice · Owner, Consultant at Specialized Practice

Doctors Discuss: Is $90K the Gold Standard for Associates?

15 Jan 2026 · 1 min

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In this segment of the YouTube discussion, a physician (Speaker A) argues that a $90,000 annual salary should be the baseline, or "gold standard," for newly hired associate physicians. He notes that in his own practice one associate is currently earning slightly less but is expected to reach $90,000 within the year, especially when bonuses are factored in. The speaker emphasizes the importance of allowing financial growth for associates, warning against an obsessive focus on money that prevents leaders from taking care of the clinicians who care for patients. The overall message is a call for employers to set a fair, supportive compensation floor and to provide clear pathways for associates to achieve it within their first twelve months.

Chapters

Really quickly, back to the associate thing. What do you think is a fair salary to pay an associate? I think starting out $90,000 should be the gold standard. I wish it was, uh, and it is for me. Um, I have one guy that's under $90,000, but he'll be there by the end of the year. It should at least be $90,000 by the end of the year, and with bonuses, um, my guy will get there, um, within his first 12 months. You know, be okay with with— don't have such an obsessive relationship with money that you can't take care of the people that are going to be taking care of you. You know, allow for that growth.