Sutter Health - Bay Area logo
Sutter Health - Bay Area
Watsonville, California

Physician, Family Medicine (Watsonville, CA)

Family MedicineNo callFull-Time

Listed compensation

$280k-$335k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Opportunity Information

  • Team based care approach with NPs and PAs to support physicians with paneled patient needs
  • Virtual inbasket support team
  • Collaborative relationships with specialists across the organization

Robust Onboarding and Mentorship Program

  • Flexibility in schedule - 4 days a week for full time, part-time opportunities available, flexible patient visit duration
  • Remote video visits from home available
  • Light physician call - all virtual, with calls screened through an RN, NP and PAs initially
  • Abundant leadership and committee work opportunities, with active promotion of quality improvement projects

Physician-led inclusive organization, emphasizing collaboration, mentorship, clinician / staff well-being, and innovation

Qualifications

Board Certified or Board Eligible in Family Medicine

Join Us and Enjoy

  • Starting salary $280,000 - $335,000 (based on experience)
  • $200,000 forgivable loan
  • Signing bonuses available
  • Residency stipend ($1,000/month for 12 months before start date)
  • Relocation allowance
  • Guaranteed salary for two years with production bonus
  • Generous benefits package
  • Shareholder eligibility after two years
  • PSLF eligible
  • 401K, cash-balance retirement plan, HSA

Organization Details

Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group

We are one of the largest multi-specialty medical groups in the country, made up of over 2,100 physicians in 40+ specialties, in practices throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Our organization is nationally recognized for our excellence with multiple awards for quality of care, innovation and leadership.

Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group is affiliated with Palo Alto Medical Foundation, a not-for-profit health care organization, providing operational and administrative support, including the latest technology, allowing physicians to focus on delivering exceptional patient care.

Community Information

Located in the heart of California's Monterey Bay region, Watsonville offers a welcoming, diverse community with a rich agricultural heritage and a relaxed coastal lifestyle.

Surrounded by scenic farmland and just minutes from the beaches of Monterey Bay, Watsonville provides convenient access to outdoor recreation, local farmers markets, and the charming coastal communities of Santa Cruz and Monterey.

With its strong sense of community, vibrant cultural traditions, and more affordable living options compared with many other Bay Area communities, Watsonville is an appealing place to live and practice medicine.

Residents enjoy a mild coastal climate, beautiful natural surroundings, and easy access to both small-town amenities and larger metropolitan areas.

Equal Opportunity Statement

  • It is the policy of the Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group (PAFMG) to provide equal employment for all qualified individuals; to prohibit discrimination in employment because of race, color, creed, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, national origin, age, medical condition, disability or status as a veteran or a disabled veteran. We promote the full realization of equal employment opportunities through a positive continuing program within our service area. Equal employment opportunities apply to every aspect of PAFMG's employment policies and practices.

Key Responsibilities

Provide comprehensive family medicine care within a team-based environment supported by NPs and PAs. Participate in leadership, committee work, and quality improvement projects to enhance clinical outcomes.

Qualifications

Experience
2+ years of experience

Certifications

Board Certification

Key Skills

Clinical mentorshipVirtual consultationMedical innovation

Family Medicine — Physician Career Context

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$308k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $278k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Family Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 10% are remote, 38% have no call, 64% require no weekends.

Sutter Health - Bay Area ranks #16 of 34 employers hiring Family Medicine on WeekdayDoc by average advertised pay.

Family Medicine pay on WeekdayDoc is down 3.2% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Physician, Family Medicine (Watsonville, CA) at Sutter Health - Bay Area a 6.9 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Family Medicine — ranked against 2,570 active Family Medicine listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties.

Top Family Medicine Jobs

50 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution50 jobs · 36 employers

16
<$340k
16
$340k-365k
9
$365k-390k
7
$390k-415k
2
$415k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks42 jobs · 36 employers

401k / retirement match
88% this job
CME allowance
69%
Sign-on bonus
62% this job
Relocation assistance
50% this job
Loan repayment
36% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Physician

MedCap Health · Richmond, Virginia

$250k-$500k
#2

Primary Care Physician w/ Managed Care exp (Open comp.)

MASC Medical · Brooksville, Florida

$420k
#3

Primary Care Physician- Arvada

$300k-$400k
#4

Physician

$250k-$400k
+ 48 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.2this job 6.9
Better work-life than 70% of Family Medicine listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 2,570 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No call

Living in Watsonville

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$837k≈ 3.0× annual pay
Typical market rent
$3,229/mo≈ 14% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
26 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
109.9
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Sutter Health - Bay Area logo

About Sutter Health - Bay Area

Hospitals and Health Care
Palo Alto, CA
501-1,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

$200,000 forgivable loan
Signing bonuses available
Residency stipend ($1,000/month for 12 months)
Relocation allowance
Guaranteed salary for two years with production bonus
Generous benefits package
Shareholder eligibility after two years
PSLF eligible