GME Compensation & Benefits
Important Application Information
Houston Methodist Hospital Sample Agreement of Appointment
No Smoking Hiring Policy
ACLS Provider Certification
Prospective Residents – Benefits
Houston Methodist Hospital is proud to offer a comprehensive employee benefits program for our residents. This program will represent a sizable portion of the total compensation and is designed to provide protection and a measure of security for residents and their families. This information highlights the many benefit plans available to eligible resident employees. It is not intended to be a complete description of all benefits. Additional details are available and will be discussed upon acceptance in Houston Methodist Residency Program.
Eligibility in the many benefits programs offered by Houston Methodist Hospital is based upon full-time employment status.
Paycheck: Residents are paid every 2 weeks, in accordance with the biweekly pay schedule of Houston Methodist Hospital.
| Houston Methodist Hospital Resident Salaries for Academic Year |
|
Program Level |
Salaries 2025- 2026 |
|
1 |
$69,981 |
|
2 |
$72,570 |
|
3 |
$75,055 |
|
4 |
$77,643 |
|
5 |
$81,299 |
|
6 |
$84,244 |
|
7 |
$87,049 |
|
8 |
$90,278 |
Insurance & Benefits
Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, and Disability Insurance
Houston Methodist Hospital provides insurance programs to all resident employees of the hospital. The medical plans offered through Cigna are provided cost-free to residents. Insurance coverage for residents and their families, if enrolled, will start on the first official day of their programs.
The medical plan offers three options — Premier, Premier Plus and High Deductible. Premier and Premier Plus options are similar in coverage, except that the Premier Plus plan offers out-of-network opportunities.Vision insurance is provided through EyeMed Vision Care.
The dental coverage plans include either the Delta Dental DHMO or PPO. The DHMO plan requires a referral to a dental specialist from the primary dentist, while the traditional method (PPO) does not.
Life and Disability Benefits
Supplemental Life, Short, and Long-Term Disability, and Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance plans are also available to residents. A baseline level of short and long-term disability and life insurance is provided free of charge to residents.
Coverage for dependents is available at group rates for medical, dental, vision, AD&D, and life insurance. The premiums for dependent coverage are deducted from the resident's payroll every two weeks.
Houston Methodist provides GME trainees with a one-time benefit of 240 hours of paid leave to be used for any time off from work that falls under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), such as, but not limited to, the birth of a child or a serious health condition affecting you or an applicable family member. The paid leave hours are provided at the beginning of the residency or fellowship and are available for the length of the training period.
Physical & Mental Wellness
Wellness Programs
Various wellness programs are available to residents such as smoking cessation, weight reduction, stress management, tai chi, etc.
Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)
The EAP, administered by United Behavioral Health, provides easy, no-cost access to a professional who can offer residents and family support and direction with personal or job-related stress. The EAP can assist with issues surrounding relationships, parenting concerns, drug and alcohol use, anxiety, depression, financial concerns, etc.
Financial Benefits
Flexible Spending Accounts
The resident may participate in a flexible spending account for health care and dependent care expenses through deductions from their pay on a pre-tax basis. The Health Care Spending Account allows residents to be reimbursed for eligible services not covered by the medical, dental, vision, or prescription plans up to the elected amount determined by the resident. The Dependent Care Spending Account allows residents to be reimbursed for childcare expenses.
Retirement Plans
Residents may contribute a significant level of allowed compensation to a 403(b) Tax-Sheltered Annuity, up to the annual IRS contribution limit. Residents will also receive an employer match of 50% up to the individual contribution of 4%. Additional assistance is available for retirement planning through Fidelity Investments as well.Time Away
Personal Time Off
Resident employees are allocated PTO, for vacation, holidays, personal reasons, severe weather emergencies, family illnesses, and short-term personal illness at a predetermined annual level. The PTO annual award for residents at the PGY1 level is 16 days (128 hours) and the award for residents at the PGY2 level and above is 21 days (168 hours). Unused PTO will automatically carry over to subsequent training years.
Upon termination, residents who worked for Houston Methodist for at least four years from their original date of hire can receive a payout, less applicable taxes, of their remaining PTO balance (not to exceed the amount of PTO that was awarded for the current academic year). Residents may not participate in the PTO sell program. Example: A resident has finished their fourth academic year and has 208 hours remaining in the Bank PTO balance. Employment terminates so 168 PTO hours will be paid out with 40 hours being forfeited.
Educational Leave and Stipend
Residents at the PGY1 level and above are offered five (5) PTO days (40 hours) to present at professional meetings or attend in an official capacity (elevated officer/representative) approved by the respective Program Director. Residents are eligible to receive up to $2,500 per year to defray the costs of presenting at a conference (travel, lodging, airfare, and registration fee), etc.Peace of Mind
Legal Plan
Hyatt Legal Plans provides a plan to assist residents with legal matters for a very minimal fee per pay period.
Malpractice and Tail Coverage
Houston Methodist Hospital provides residents with professional liability coverage at no cost. Liability coverage also includes legal defense and protection against awards from claims reported or filed after the completion of the program if the events are within the scope of the program ("tail coverage").Additional Information
Transportation and Parking
Residents are given the opportunity to obtain parking contracts in the Texas Medical Center at discounted rates for various garages within close proximity to the hospital. Other transportation options are also available to residents through Human Resources Transportation Services and are discussed in greater detail during resident onboarding and orientation.
Lab Coats
Residents are provided with a limited number of monogrammed lab coats through GME via your program at no cost to the resident.
Resident Lounge and Call Rooms
Residents are encouraged to use the Resident's Lounge that is comfortably equipped with sofas, chairs, a refrigerator, a microwave, cable television, and computer workstations. Houston Methodist Hospital also provides call rooms for overnight call. The GME office also assigns sleep rooms to residents who are too fatigued to drive home safely.
This information highlights the many benefit plans available to eligible resident employees. It is not intended to be a complete description of all benefits and may change as institutional policies are modified. Additional details are available and will be discussed upon acceptance into a Houston Methodist Residency Program.
Call & Sleep Room System
In order to accommodate residents and fellows who are on call in the hospital overnight, Houston Methodist Hospital has implemented a modified hotel system to assign sleep rooms to residents and fellows. This system helps residents and fellows stay safe by helping them avoid driving while drowsy. This document explains how the call and sleep rooms operate and can be accessed.
For more information or questions about the Houston Methodist call room system, please contact:
Phillip Stewart, EdD, MBA
Director, Graduate Medical Education
Houston Methodist Hospital
713.441.4967
Ombudsman Program
The ombudsman program for Graduate Medical Education is a resource for residents. If you are a patient and are concerned about your care, please ask your nurse to speak with a patient liaison or call Guest Relations at 713.441.4100.
Each ombudsman is knowledgeable about hospital processes and graduate medical education training issues, requirements, and procedures. As impartial and confidential resources, the ombudsmen can help residents assess and solve disputes or problems. The ombudsmen do not have the authority to make decisions but can inform and refer residents to the individuals with that authority.
The ombudsman program is an alternative mechanism for residents to voice their concerns and to solve disputes. The program does not take the place of program directors and faculty in listening to resident concerns nor of the designated institutional official in handling due process and grievance procedures. The program supplements can be found through PolicyTech, a valid Houston Methodist ID and password are needed. For more information, please contact the GME Office.