Payment benchmarks

California

All specialties combined, recipients in California, 2025.

97,674recipients in California with a general payment in 2025

$3,876average for the year

California: the distribution

General payments only, latest program year (2025), as reported to CMS. Values below the 25th percentile are not shown as a bar (too close to zero to read), but are included in the count above.

25th percentile $53.75

Median (50th) $172

75th percentile $609

90th percentile $2,120

95th percentile $5,317

99th percentile $60K

Percentile	Amount
25th percentile	$53.75
Median (50th)	$171.95
75th percentile	$608.89
90th percentile	$2,119.76
95th percentile	$5,317.47
99th percentile	$59,841.56

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What this means, and what it doesn't

These payments are legal and common. Drug and device makers routinely pay for meals at educational events, consulting, speaking, travel, and research. Companies are required by federal law to report them; that's why this data exists.
A payment is not evidence of wrongdoing. Most clinicians who accept industry payments provide excellent care. Research payments in particular often reflect participation in clinical trials.
Context beats raw numbers. A few hundred dollars in sandwiches over several years is typical. What's worth understanding is scale, source, and purpose, which is what this page shows.
The data comes from companies, not doctors. Figures are "as reported to CMS" by the paying companies. Clinicians can dispute records through CMS's official process.

Source: CMS Open Payments, program years 2019-2025, as reported to CMS by drug and device makers (published June 30, 2026).