Explore geriatrician salary ranges, day rates, and how medical directorship and locum work shape earning potential in 2026.
Geriatric medicine sits at the intersection of internal medicine, cognitive care, and complex chronic disease management. The specialty faces a well-documented workforce shortage relative to the growing aging population, creating persistent demand for geriatricians across inpatient, outpatient, and post-acute settings. Most full-time geriatricians earn approximately $289,201 annually, with medical directorship, post-acute leadership, and underserved rural markets pushing compensation higher.
| Source | What it Measures | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Doximity Physician Compensation Report (2025) | Mean physician compensation | $289,201 |
| Medscape Physician Compensation Report (2025) | Average total compensation | $289,201 |
Geriatric medicine faces one of the most acute workforce shortages in medicine. The combination of growing demand and limited fellowship supply creates persistent locum opportunities, particularly in post-acute and rural settings.
| Compensation Type | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| W-2 employed (based on $289,201 / 2,080 hrs) | ~$139 /hr |
| Locum tenens — lower band | $125 /hr |
| Locum tenens — upper band | $145 /hr |
Sources: Doximity 2025; Barton Associates market data 2025–2026.
The strongest long-term earning paths in geriatrics often come from combining clinical care with administrative leadership roles such as medical director of a skilled nursing facility or post-acute program.
Geriatrician compensation peaks in markets where aging population density and limited fellowship-trained physician supply combine. Post-acute care networks, skilled nursing facility medical directorships, and rural health systems with large senior populations pay the highest locum premiums.
Rural and post-acute geriatric care markets face the most acute physician shortages and pay the highest locum premiums to secure consistent coverage.
A full-time geriatrician typically manages a panel of 15 to 25 patients per day across outpatient clinic, skilled nursing facility rounds, and hospital consultations. Responsibilities span comprehensive geriatric assessment, polypharmacy management, dementia care, fall prevention, and care coordination across the care continuum. Medical directorship roles add administrative responsibility but significantly increase total compensation.
Locum rates range from $125 to $145 per hour. The four scenarios below use representative rates from within that band.
To exceed $350,000: pursue medical directorship roles, work in underserved rural markets, and add hospice or post-acute leadership responsibilities.
The strongest long-term earning paths in geriatrics often come from combining clinical care with administrative leadership. Medical directorships at skilled nursing facilities and post-acute programs can add $50,000 to $100,000 annually above clinical compensation.
A $140/hr locum rate versus a $139/hr W-2 equivalent may appear similar at first glance, but the 1099 structure unlocks significant tax advantages. Independent geriatricians gain access to business expense deductions across licensing, CME, travel, and equipment; higher retirement contributions through a SEP-IRA or Solo 401(k); the Qualified Business Income deduction of up to 20%; and S-corp structuring at higher income levels. Barton partners with Earned to help locum physicians navigate these decisions.
Barton coordinates your job search from start to finish!
We’ll schedule a phone consultation to discuss your interests, goals, and work history to find the right opportunities.
Your Barton rep will submit your information to the facility you want to take an assignment at and work on next steps.
Barton handles licensing, credentialing, and travel arrangements before you arrive so you’re ready on day one.
Most earn approximately $289,201 annually based on Doximity and Medscape data. Medical directorship, post-acute leadership, and underserved rural markets push compensation higher.
Based on $289,201 annually divided by 2,080 hours, the W-2 equivalent is approximately $139 per hour. Locum tenens rates range from $125 to $145 per hour.
Hybrid models combining employed income with regular locum assignments can push total compensation above $329,000. Medical directorship roles can add $50,000 to $100,000 above clinical compensation.
Post-acute care networks, skilled nursing facility medical directorships, and rural health systems with large senior populations pay the highest locum premiums.
Send us a quick note and we'll point you in the right direction.
