Please note: The UCSF Graduate Medical Education Resident and Fellow Resource Hub, which includes the UCSF GME Salary and Benefits webpage, has a tremendous amount of useful information in addition to what's listed below.
Salary
The salary scale for UCSF residents effective July 1, 2024, is:
- PGY-1: $92,284 per year
- PGY-2: $94,777 per year
- PGY-3: $97,829 per year
- PGY-4: $101,017 per year
The current salary scale is the result of the most recent CIR/SEIU collective bargaining agreement (July 1, 2022–June 30, 2025). Further increases are determined by negotiation with the union.
Chief residents receive an additional stipend of $600 per year. Eligible residents can also receive a maximum possible incentive payment of $1800 per year based on the achievement of UCSF-wide or program-specific quality improvement goals at UCSF Health. Residents can receive up to $60 per two-week period payment for Bilingual Translation Service (only during clinical time providing translation services at ZSFG).
Benefits
All residents receive medical, dental, vision, prescription drug, behavioral health, and fertility and family-forming services coverage benefits for themselves and their dependents. Visit the UC Resident and Fellow Insurance webpage for information on how to enroll and the UC Resident Health Benefits page for more information on each of these benefits. There are also resources in place to help residents select a plan, find a provider, and expedite insurance enrollment. A UCSF Health Care Facilitator is available to provide free and confidential phone consultation for PCP or mental health provider selection/changes, authorizations, benefits, and bills.
Residents at UCSF also have access to financial benefits such as life and AD&D insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, access to a Medical Flexible Spending Account or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA), and retirement benefits. The GME College workshop series routinely includes finance workshops as well, to support residents in their personal and professional development.
Educational expenses
Psychiatry residents are reimbursed up to $600 per year by the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral sciences for educational expenses such as conference travel, textbooks, exam prep, and medical equipment.
Residents who rotate at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center for at least three months in an academic year — which applies to all PGY-1s — are eligible for up to an additional $600 per year in reimbursement for educational expenses. Residents are also reimbursed for USMLE Step 3 examination fees.
Leave
Residents are entitled to 20 days per academic year of vacation leave and also have up to 12 days per academic year of sick leave for personal illness or disability. (Service requirements limit the amount of vacation leave that can be taken at one time.)
In addition, first- and second-year residents can have up to three days per academic year of educational leave if they are presenting a poster, a workshop, or a talk at a professional meeting, or are members of an official committee of a professional organization. Third- and fourth-year residents can have up to five days of educational leave to attend a professional meeting and do not need to be presenting or on an official committee to qualify.
Malpractice
UCSF is obligated by the California Tort Claims Act to defend house staff against any liability or malpractice claim arising out of the house staff members’ act or omissions within the scope of university duties. Professional liability insurance coverage is maintained to meet such obligations.
Retirement benefits
All residents automatically contribute to the university retirement program, the Safe Harbor Defined Contribution Plan. Upon graduation, residents may receive a lump sum cash out of their retirement savings, unless they take an academic position with the University of California system.
Residents can also voluntarily contribute to 403(b) and 457(b) plans pre-tax or after-tax (Roth contribution).
Blumberg Loan
The Blumberg Loan is an interest-free loan that was established through Graduate Medical Education (GME) to financially assist UCSF residents and clinical fellows. Residents and clinical fellows may request a loan from a month prior to their training start date through five months prior to their training end date. The loan may be in the amount of $1,200, $2,400 or $3,600, and is payable over 12 months.
Visit the GME website for more information and a copy of the application form.
Resident well-being
UCSF and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences are firmly committed to supporting the physical and emotional well-being of its residents. The UCSF Graduate Medical Education office offers a wealth of mental health and well-being resources for residents across UCSF, including options for accessing primary care and mental health care covered by insurance and detailed pathways for reporting concerns. In addition, the GME office hosts monthly grand rounds on topics ranging from managing anger and stress to preventing substance abuse during residency. Finally, UCSF has a Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) which exists to provide support to employees, including house staff.
In the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, all residents participate in an annual 1½-day off-site retreat organized by Resident Association (RA) officers and funded by a combination of departmental support and RA dues. Chief residents aare always available for residents to discuss their concerns in a confidential environment. Although being in psychotherapy is not required, the program welcomes residents choosing to be in therapy.
