Telehealth for Physicians: Compensation & Getting Started
Based on data from 1 physician on OffCall
What Physicians Earn from Telehealth
Typical Compensation: $24,000/year
Time Commitment: 1.5 hours per week Data reflects 2025 responses from OffCall physicians
What Is Telehealth?
Telehealth is a broad term encompassing remote clinical care through video, phone, or asynchronous platforms. Unlike traditional telemedicine that often focuses on acute care, telehealth roles may include chronic disease management, lifestyle and wellness counseling, mental health support, and specialty consults.
The work often emphasizes continuity of care, patient education, and proactive health management. Physicians use their communication skills and clinical acumen to engage patients in long-term health goals—all from a remote setting. Telehealth platforms are especially common in employer wellness programs, virtual primary care, and integrative health models.
Many physicians are drawn to telehealth for its predictability, low-intensity clinical demands, and the ability to maintain continuity with patients over time. It’s an appealing fit for those who want to maintain a clinical connection with more flexibility and less urgency than traditional care settings.
Who This Side Gig Works Best For
Ideal Candidates:
- Board-certified physicians in internal medicine, family medicine, or psychiatry
- Strong patient communication and long-term management skills
- Interest in preventative or holistic care models
- Willing to work in asynchronous or non-urgent care settings
Less Ideal For:
- Physicians looking for high-acuity or procedural work
- Specialties reliant on diagnostics or rapid interventions
- Those expecting fast-paced, high-volume clinical shifts
How to Get Started
Telehealth roles can be found through employer wellness vendors, digital health startups, or hybrid primary care companies like PlushCare, One Medical, and Maven Clinic. Depending on the platform, physicians may need to be licensed in multiple states and comfortable using proprietary documentation systems.
Most telehealth companies seek physicians with excellent documentation habits, collaborative care mindsets, and comfort working independently. Highlight prior experience in lifestyle medicine, coaching, or patient education if applicable.
What to Charge
Telehealth compensation varies by platform, specialty, and patient volume. In this case, a ~1.5 hour weekly commitment translates to $24,000/year. Some platforms pay per encounter, while others use fixed stipends or shift rates.
Understand how case volume, follow-up expectations, and administrative time factor into pay. Avoid roles that blur the line between salaried and per-visit models without clarity on workload.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Overcommitting to “light” shifts: Low-hour roles may still carry panel management or message volume responsibilities—clarify the full scope of work.
- Unclear expectations around follow-up: Some platforms expect ongoing patient engagement outside of scheduled visits—know what’s included in your compensation.
- Assuming low time = low responsibility: Even with limited hours, telehealth work often requires documentation, communication, and EMR familiarity.
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