What Is a wRVU?
A wRVU, or work relative value unit, measures the physician's own effort in a service: time, skill, judgment, and stress. It is the work part of an RVU, and it is the number most employed physicians are paid and measured on.
wRVU definition
Every CPT code has a work RVU set by CMS. It reflects how much time the service takes before, during, and after the encounter, plus the technical skill, mental effort, and risk involved. Overhead and insurance are left out because they are covered by the other two parts of the total RVU.
Because wRVUs only count the physician's work, they are the same whether a service is done in an office or a hospital. That makes them a fair way to compare productivity between physicians, clinics, and settings.
2026 wRVU values for common codes
| CPT code | Service | Work RVU | Total RVU |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99213 | Established office visit, low complexity | 1.30 | 2.85 |
| 99214 | Established office visit, moderate complexity | 1.92 | 4.06 |
| 99215 | Established office visit, high complexity | 2.80 | 5.76 |
| 99232 | Subsequent hospital care, moderate | 1.59 | 2.11 |
| 45378 | Diagnostic colonoscopy | 3.18 | 11.32 |
| 27447 | Total knee replacement | 19.11 | 34.71 |
Values are 2026 national CMS figures, with non-facility totals. See the most-billed codes in your field on most common CPT codes.
How wRVUs affect your pay
Most productivity-based contracts use one of these models:
- Straight production: you earn a set dollar rate for every wRVU you generate.
- Base plus bonus: a guaranteed salary, plus a bonus for each wRVU above a yearly target.
- Tiered rates: the dollar rate per wRVU rises once you pass certain volume thresholds.
Pay = wRVUs × your dollar rate per wRVU
For example, at $55 per wRVU, a day with twenty 99214 visits (20 × 1.92 = 38.4 wRVUs) is worth about $2,112. Try your own numbers in the RVU calculator.
What changes your wRVU credit
- Modifiers: for example, -50 (bilateral) usually pays 150%, -51 (multiple procedures) reduces later procedures to 50%, and assistant-at-surgery modifiers pay a small fraction.
- Global periods: many surgical codes include follow-up visits for 10 or 90 days, so those visits add no extra wRVUs.
- Yearly CMS updates: values change each January. See 2026 RVU changes.
- Your contract: some employers use an older CMS year or their own adjustments, so their totals may differ from current values.
Why track your own wRVUs
Employer reports often arrive weeks late, and missed charges are rarely caught. Keeping your own log lets you see your pace toward your target, estimate your next paycheck, and spot gaps before reconciliation. The RVU logger lets you record a shift in seconds, and the daily logging guide covers good habits.
Common questions
What does wRVU stand for?
wRVU stands for work relative value unit. It is the part of an RVU that measures the physician's own work on a service.
Is a wRVU the same as an RVU?
No. A wRVU is one of three parts of the total RVU. The other two cover practice expense and malpractice insurance. wRVUs make up roughly half of the total on average.
How much is a wRVU worth?
It depends on your contract. Employers set their own dollar rate per wRVU, which varies a lot by specialty and region. Compare your expected volume with the specialty benchmarks on wRVU Tracker.
How many wRVUs does a physician generate per year?
It varies widely by specialty. Primary care physicians often fall around 4,000 to 5,500 wRVUs a year, while many procedural specialties are much higher. Check the benchmark for your specialty to see where you stand.
How do I calculate my wRVUs?
Multiply each CPT code's work RVU by the number of times you billed it, apply any modifier adjustments, and add up the results. The free RVU calculator on wRVU Tracker does this for you.
Keep learning
- What is an RVU? — All three RVU components and the payment formula
- RVU calculator — Add up wRVUs and estimated pay for any codes
- RVU logger — Track your wRVUs shift by shift
- Specialty benchmarks — See typical wRVU volume for your field
- How to calculate RVUs — Formulas and worked examples
- Daily logging guide — Habits that keep your totals accurate