The Top 7 Things Physicians Should Know Before Moving to San Antonio

Congratulations on receiving your residency match!

We understand the relief you must feel to finish one milestone on your career path and start the next leg of your journey. In the excitement that lies ahead, we also understand that you must have many questions, wondering what there is to see and do in the area you’ll soon call home.

You probably already know that San Antonio is home to two Level One Trauma Centers and two of the top largest hospitals in the nation, along with several biomedical research facilities throughout the area. These spaces will give you access to some of the latest medical and healthcare technology innovations.

That’s not all this city has to offer. Allow us to introduce you to the San Antonio area and help answer some of your burning questions.

Texas Hospitality

Did you know that Texas is known for its hospitality? It’s true! It’s also family-friendly, packed with job opportunities, and has an inviting climate and atmosphere with no shortage of things to see and do. Located in south-central Texas, San Antonio offers a great place to start your career and raise a family. You’ll get that down-home, small-town feel within the city limits. Neighbors wave to each other in passing, and you’ll get to know your friendly, professional bank tellers by name.

In Texas, particularly in San Antonio, it’s the atmosphere that makes a world of difference compared to other large cities across the country. Once you’ve experienced our atmosphere, it’s easy to see why we’re certain you’ll love living and working here.

Booming Job Market

While the atmosphere is a big part of what makes San Antonio so great, it’s far from the only thing. You’re probably wondering about the job market. Rest assured, there is no shortage of opportunities, especially in medicine and biomedicine. Not only will you find abundant opportunities, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that healthcare jobs will grow even more: a whopping 16% between 2020 and 2030, with no signs of slowing down.

In addition, you’re probably wondering how much you might expect to earn in the San Antonio area as a practicing physician. The good news is that with the high demand for quality medical providers, Salary.Com reports that physician’s salaries range between $183,826 and $239,513, depending on your education, certifications, years in practice, and specific skill sets.

Reasonable Cost of Living

If you plan to live and work in San Antonio, it makes sense that you’ll also want to know how affordable the cost of living is. After all, even a great salary only goes so far. Home prices for 2022 are currently averaging $359,545, which is lower than the rest of Texas. That’s good news for you. A lower cost of living translates into more money in your pocket and more money to pad your savings and investment accounts.

Another thing we should mention is that while San Antonio is a hot real estate market, physicians gain an edge with Extraco Mortgage. Unlike other home loans available to average buyers, Extraco Mortgage offers specialty physician home loans with unique benefits with just an offer letter of employment up to 90 days from your start date, including:

• Up to 100% financing
• Flexible financing
• No private mortgage insurance 

Great School Options

Wondering what schools are like for your current or future children? San Antonio has some of the best, top-rated schools in the area.

• Open enrollment public schools
• Selective enrollment schools
• Local charter schools

Many of San Antonio’s schools rank A and A+ according to Niche, a marketing research company that provides comprehensive data on U.S. schools. When combined, these benefits make San Antonio an excellent location for physicians to live affordably and comfortably.

A Welcoming Climate

There’s nothing quite like firing up the grill and inviting a few friends or neighbors over for great conversations, a barbecue, and drinks. For that, you’ll need equally agreeable weather, and you’ll have that right here in San Antonio.

We have a warmer climate than you’ll find in many other states. Summer temperatures range between 72 & 96 degrees, perfect for pool parties, backyard barbecues, outdoor adventures, and other summer activities. It’s also unlikely that you’ll need to worry about shoveling snow in the winter. San Antonio rarely receives snowfall, as our winter temperatures average between 40 & 67 degrees.

Abundant Cultural & Outdoor Attractions

With such a welcoming climate, you’ll find no end to things to do and places to see. Here are a few of the many things you should check out:

The River Walk

The San Antonio River Walk is the number one attraction in the state. Along the River Walk, you’ll enjoy parades and festivals, artisan shows, dining opportunities, dinner cruises, and more.

Spanish Missions

If you love history, there are five Spanish colonial missions, among other historical sites, to visit along the Mission Trails in San Antonio:

• San Antonio de Valero – the Alamo
• Concepcion
• San Jose
• San Juan
• Espada

Historical Sites

Aside from the Mission Trails, there are many other historical sites to visit:

• Acequias
• Ethel Wilson Harris House
• San Fernando Cathedral Parish Offices
• Mission San Jose Church National Historical Park
• Spanish Governors Palace
• Lone Star Brewery

The Nation's Largest Land Bridge

San Antonio is also home to the nation’s largest land bridge, the Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge. It connects the two sides of Phil Hardberger Park and serves as a crossing for visitors and wildlife.

The Botanical Garden

San Antonio Botanical Garden offers serenity, enchantment, and a calendar full of events the whole family can enjoy, from nature walks to storytime, Haiku, and plays, among other fun activities.

Sports

Texas is big on sports. It’s more of a lifestyle rather than a series of events if we’re being honest here. With that said, we have two arenas where you can enjoy a variety of sports games and other special events. The AT&T Center is the place to go to watch the home games for our basketball team, the San Antonio Spurs. Our other arena, the Alamodome, offers additional events, including football, Disney on Ice, boxing, and so much more. 

Welcome to San Antonio!

The people of San Antonio take pride in our wonderfully diverse culture and relaxed atmosphere. There are plenty of things to do and places to explore. We can’t wait for you to experience living and working in beautiful San Antonio, Texas.

Congratulations again on your residency match, and we wish you success on the next milestone of your career!