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:

2024-2025 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 $51,958.40. Psychology interns start at $39,041.60 and psychology fellows start at $56,784.

Sample fellowship contract (PDF)

Sample residency contract (PDF)

Children's Mercy is a qualified employer for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness program.

Health and dental insurance
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.

Professional liability insurance
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.

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.

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.

Life style spending account
Children’s Mercy provides a Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) to help support the health and wellness of employees. The account is funded quarterly, based on your status on the first day of each quarter for up to $800 a year.

Flexible benefits program
Tax savings are available through health-care and dependent-care spending accounts.

Worker's compensation
Benefits are provided to residents and fellows who are injured performing their job.

PALS, BLS, ACLS, or ATLS training
Residents/fellows are expected hold Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification before commencing training at Children's Mercy Hospital. Residents/fellows are provided certification fees for ACLS, PALS or ATLS Certification.

Meal cards
Meal cards are available for trainees who take call shifts. Residents and fellows receive a limited number of white coats/scrubs.

iPads and laptops
Designated fellows receive a hospital-issued iPads or Laptops. 

Parking
The resident/fellow will be provided free parking at the hospital during the term of the appointment.

Moving allowance
A moving allowance of $500 is provided for any resident/fellow moving from outside the metropolitan Kansas City area.

Library
The resident/fellow will be eligible to 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.

Vacation
The resident/fellow is eligible for up to twenty (20) days of paid vacation.

Paid sick time off (EIT)
The resident/fellow will accrue one day (eight hours) of paid time off for illness after each full month of service.

Maternity/paternity leave and FMLA
Residents/fellows receive six weeks of Family Pay and may take off up to 12 weeks per year for the birth or adoption of a child in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Act if eligible.

Leave of absence (LOA)
LOA are granted on a case-by-case basis by the program director. The ability to use vacation and/or sick time will be decided by the program director. The decision will be based on the underlying need for the leave.

Military leave
A resident/fellow, who enlists or is drafted into the armed forces of the United States, including reservists and members of the national guard who are activated to military duty, other than active duty for training purposes, shall be granted military leave without pay.

Professional leave
The hospital will consider paid professional leave for all residents/fellows at the discretion of the program director for the various reasons and determined on a case-by-case basis