Salaries and Benefits

The training programs at Children's Mercy provide a variety of perks, benefits and on-site services to help make the residents/fellows' experience positive and rewarding. All residents and fellows receive benefits as prescribed in the Policies and Procedures governing Graduate Medical Education. For more extensive details in regards to benefits, please reference the Policy and Procedure Manual. All residents are given the following benefits:

2025-2026 salary for residents and fellows

Residents/Fellows are provided educational funds to use towards books and other educational materials. PGY 1 receives $600; PGY 2 receives $750; PGY 3 receives $1000; PGY 4 - 6 receives $1,500; PGY 7 and above receive $2,250 per contract year. An additional $2,250 is available for for PGY 2 trainees and beyond for travel related to presenting scholarly activity.

Optometry Residents start at $58,656.00. Psychology interns start at $41,766.40 (with opportunity for overtime) and psychology fellows start at $60,758.88.

Sample fellowship contract (PDF)

Sample residency contract (PDF)

Children's Mercy highly values the trainees at our institution. The benefits package received by residents and fellows contribute to our residents' positive training experience.

• We value your goals by:

  • Teaching and mentoring from over 750 Pediatric Specialists that work at CMH because they want to teach and share their knowledge to make you successful. 
  • In-house Pediatric Board Review course led by faculty experts.
  • Providing funds for use for scrubs, books, et. . . anything you need for your education.
  • Free Society Membership
  • Up to $2500 to present your research at national conferences.
  • Individualized specialty tracks for both residents and fellows
  • Non-clinical electives to supplement your clinical education like Parenting elective, Board Review, Leadership, etc.
  • Use all electronic library services and the on site medical library located on the ground floor of the hospital during the term of the appointment; this library is available 24 hours, seven days a week.

   

• Your paycheck goes farther because:

  •  Competitive salary paired with a low cost of living in KC!
  • No Medical or Dental Insurance Premium for you and your dependents (worth $7,608 for the family plan per year).The resident/fellow is eligible for group health and dental insurance for self and dependents, at the hospital's expense. Health and dental insurance coverage is fully explained in and governed by the health insurance plan and summary plan description.
  • Missouri is a low tax state.
  • Children's Mercy is a qualified employer for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness program
  • We pay for licensing, certifications, and compliance needs. Professional liability insurance is provided through the hospital's self-insured trust in the amount of two million dollars ($2,000,000) at the hospital's expense, in accordance with the terms of the self-insured trust.
  •  Free Basic life, short term disability, long term disability, malpractice and professional liability insurance.
  • Optional Hospital Indemnity benefit that pays you when you have a hospital stay (even for Maternity Leave).
  • Parking . . . free everywhere you rotate.
  • A moving allowance of $500 is provided for any resident/fellow moving from outside the metropolitan Kansas City area.
  • Free board exam for fellows.
  • Optional partner and child life insurance and flexible spending accounts.
  • Free Long-term disability insurance.  The resident/fellow is eligible for a benefit equal to sixty per cent (60%) of their base salary if they are disabled for a period of at least ninety (90) days, in accordance with the terms of the life-insurance policy.
  • Free Short-term disability insurance. The resident/fellow is eligible for a benefit equal to 100% of their base salary if they are disabled for a period of at least six weeks and 65% for up to 90 days.
  • Flexible benefits program. Tax savings are available through health-care and dependent-care spending accounts.
  • Life style spending account.
  • Residents/fellows are provided certification fees for ACLS, PALS or ATLS Certification. Residents/fellows are expected hold Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification before commencing training at Children's Mercy.

• We keep you well by:
  • Providing a Social Worker dedicated social worker, Kim Vipond, LCSW, to focus on your wellbeing to support you throughout training.
  • Patsy, our GME dog! CM Child Life has numerous facility dogs to support our patients, families, and staff as well.  Patsy visits resident workrooms and events on a regular basis.
  • Free Mental Health Professional that works exclusively with trainees.
  • 4 weeks of paid vacation plus Winter Block scheduling
  • Full Salary and Benefit support for 6 weeks of medical leave AND 6 weeks of family leave (12 weeks for maternity leave).
  • $800 per calendar year in your Lifestyle Spending Account
  • Snacks in the Wellbeing Basket in Housestaff, Wellness on Wheels (WOW!) Cart for snacks, and the Coffee Cart that visits you in workrooms.
  • Water/Ice machine and Coffee 24/7.
  • Dedicated trainee area with a massage chair, computers, kitchen with fridges and microwave, TV, lactation room.
  • Individual sleep rooms
  • Adjusted clinical templates for lactating parents and lactation resources are eligible for a free breast pump and supplies as well as lactation support if needed. Hands-free pumps are available for trainees to check out.

• We help you make connections by:
  • Coursework across programs
  • Parents in Medicine (PIM) group
  • Free tickets to events (Zoo, Sporting KC Suite)
  • Lunch and Learn conferences
  • Trainee retreats
  • GME Month activities