Employer FAQ

Detailed answers to common physician-recruitment questions from hospital and health-system hiring leaders.

Recruiter fees

Fees typically run 20–30 percent of the placed physician's first-year compensation. Retained engagements are 25–30 percent with an upfront retainer (about one-third of the fee). Contingency engagements are 20–28 percent, paid only on successful placement. Fees are paid by the hiring organization, never the physician.

Time to fill

Retained physician searches average 90–150 days from kickoff to signed contract. Contingency searches average 120–240 days. Surgical subspecialties, leadership roles, and rural placements typically run 150–270+ days. Internal HR teams without specialized recruiter support average 180–270 days.

Replacement guarantee

Retained engagements include a twelve-month replacement guarantee. Contingency engagements typically carry a 90 to 180 day guarantee. If the placed physician leaves within the guarantee window, we restart the search at no additional fee.

Exclusivity

Retained searches are exclusive — we are the only recruiter on the search for the duration of the engagement. This protects candidate-employer relationships and prevents the same physician from being submitted by multiple competing recruiters.

How to engage

Email hire@physicianrecruitment.com or call 1-888-812-3452 to schedule a 30-minute kickoff call. We discuss the position, your timeline, and the right engagement structure (retained, contingency, or hybrid) and provide a written proposal within two business days.