SALARY and benefits
One of the best parts of working at CMC is that we feel valued and respected by the hospital. We are fortunate to have a competitive salary and benefits package that allows our residents to live comfortably for all three years of residency. Charlotte is a growing city, more affordable than most other cities of similar size. In 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025 resident salaries at all PGY levels received a raise and are now even more competitive.
Salaries as of 2025-2026:
Meal stipend:
Parking:
401k Match
Health/dental/vision insurance:
Voluntary benefits:
Moonlighting:
Liability insurance:
Disability insurance:
Please see the Atrium Health GME website for most up-to-date information regarding salary and benefits.
Salaries as of 2025-2026:
- PGY-1 – $70,528
- PGY-2 – $73,682
- PGY-3 – $76,718
- PGY-4 – $80,338
- PGY-5 – $83,840
Meal stipend:
- Residents receive approximately $800-$900 quarterly to spend at hospital cafeterias and cafes including Caribou Coffee. Additionally, residents have access to multiple resident and physician lounges in the hospital, each of which is stocked 24/7 with sandwiches, salads, snacks, coffee, and other drinks. There are also free hot meals in the main physicians lounge Monday through Friday from 11-1.
Parking:
- Parking is free for residents at a reserved parking deck just steps away from the emergency department.
401k Match
- After 90 days, you automatically will be enrolled in the Atrium Health 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan at a pretax contribution rate of 3% of eligible compensation.
- These contributions will be matched by Atrium Health based on how much you contribute.
- You can receive up to 4% total match
Health/dental/vision insurance:
- Two health plan options exist to choose from, each of which is subsidized by Atrium Health and paid for through payroll deduction. Residents/fellows may choose from an HSA or FSA with Copay plan. Additionally, Atrium provides $750 or more of bonus contributions yearly for completing simple LiveWELL incentives.
- Employer pays premiums for dental coverage by DELTA Dental for resident/fellow and eligible dependents/spouses.
- Vision is covered by Community Eye Care with no copay for eye exams and a $200 annual allowance for eyewear. Premium is paid by the resident/fellow.
Voluntary benefits:
- Residents/fellows have the option to enroll in additional benefits including home, auto, and pet insurance and other benefits.
Moonlighting:
- Internal ED moonlighting is offered to PGY-2/3s working in the low-acuity wing of our ED. Shifts are Saturdays and Sundays.
- Internal ICU moonlighting is also offered in our medical and trauma ICUs for PGY-2/3s who have completed their rotation in that respective ICU. This is a great opportunity to get additional experience managing complex high acuity patients. Shifts dates and times depend on need, but there are always multiple shifts per month.
- There are also additional opportunities for moonlighting such as providing emergency responder coverage for local Cardiac Rehab facilities.
- External moonlighting (e.g. outside of Atrium Health) is allowed but must be organized by the resident/fellow.
Liability insurance:
- Residents are fully covered while working as a resident/fellow and while in-house moonlighting. External moonlighting is not covered.
Disability insurance:
- Short and long-term disability coverage is provided by Atrium health to 60% of base salary.
- There is also an option through Guardian for Guaranteed Standard Issue Disability Insurance Policy option for CMC trainees (no medical underwriting required).
Please see the Atrium Health GME website for most up-to-date information regarding salary and benefits.
