Relationship between aspirational income and GP job satisfaction: Repeated cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Background: Income from employment is known to be a key driver of job satisfaction, although little is known to what extent this relationship exists for GPs working in England.

Aim: To examine whether GP job satisfaction is affected by aspirational income (continuous) as well as actual income received (categorical).

Method: We analysed responses to four waves of the national GP Worklife Survey between 2015 and 2021. We used linear regression to look at how aspirational income impacts 10 domains of job satisfaction, when conditional on actual income received. This was adjusted for contract status, gender, age, years qualified, and hours worked per week.

Results: The interquartile range for aspirational income was between £90 000 and £150 000, the most reported actual income was between £90 000-£110 000. Higher aspirational income, conditional on actual income, was associated with reduced overall GP job satisfaction (-0.092, 95% CI = -0.108 to -0.076). The largest reductions in job satisfaction were with remuneration (-0.193, 95% CI = -0.210 to -0.177), and amount of responsibility given (-0.081, 95% CI = -0.098 to -0.063). Stratified analysis found little difference by gender, level of experience, or whether GPs reported being a senior partner. Greater reductions in satisfaction with remuneration were found for GP partners (-0.205, 95% CI = -0.223 to 0.188) than for salaried or locum GPs (-0.126, 95% CI= -0.179 to -0.073).

Conclusion: Discrepancy between what GPs report as adequate income for their job and actual income is a key driver of GP job satisfaction. Addressing this issue will require changes in working conditions and responsibilities or increases in reimbursement.