Locum tenens pay held roughly steady in 2026, but the story varies a lot by specialty. Of the 33 specialties we studied, about one-third stayed the same, including:
- Cardiovascular/cardiothoracic surgery
- Dermatology
- General surgery
- Hospitalist
- Infectious disease
- Interventional cardiology
- Medical oncology
- Urology
- Vascular surgery
The following 18 specialties saw a change in pay range compared to last year. Pay is up in eight, down in nine, and mixed in one—a shift from 2025’s mostly-upward trend. Demand for these specialties stayed strong in most regions, even when rates cooled.
Not seeing your specialty listed? Check out our trends by specialty tool for all specialties
Of course, the hourly rate is only part of the picture. Agencies typically also cover the cost of housing, travel, and malpractice insurance. Actual pay varies by location, experience, and the market, so treat the ranges below as a starting point. Here are the 2026 locum tenens pay trends.
Anesthesiology (up)
Demand for anesthesiology remains high, with the Midwest and Southwest together accounting for more than half of current openings. Locum anesthesiologists are earning $300 – $425 per hour in 2026, compared with $300 – $400 per hour last year. Locum anesthesiology assignments average 60 to 120 days on a Monday–Friday (7am – 4pm) schedule.
Cardiology (up)
Locum cardiologists are earning $275 – $375 per hour in 2026, up from $250 – $350 per hour last year. Demand is high, especially in the Midwest and East. Assignment length depends on subspecialty; invasive cardiology contracts tend to run seven to eight days, while noninvasive roles often call for a week or more each month, on a Monday–Friday (8am – 5pm) schedule.
Critical care medicine (up)
Locum critical care physicians are earning $240 – $260 per hour in 2026, up from last year’s $220 – $250. Assignments average 20 days on a Monday–Friday (7am – 4pm) schedule. Demand is heavily concentrated in the Midwest, which accounts for about three-quarters of current openings.
Emergency medicine (mixed)
Locum emergency medicine physicians are earning $250 – $300 per hour this year, compared with $200 – $325 last year. The range narrowed as the low end climbed and the high end eased. It’s unclear why the range narrowed, but the good news is that physicians on the low end are making more than they did a year ago. Assignments typically run four to 12 shifts a month, in 12- or 24-hour blocks, for up to six months or longer. Demand for EM doctors remains high, however, with the Southwest alone accounting for nearly half of open locum jobs.
Dr. Moiz Qureshi, an emergency medicine physician who’s worked locum tenens for several years, says the higher earning potential from working locums has kept him focused on being an independent contractor. “The opportunity to make more money is always there,” he says. “If you choose to go down the locums pathway, you get compensated well for it.”
Family medicine (down)
Locum family medicine physicians are earning $120 – $135 per hour this year, down slightly from $120 – $145 last year. It’s likely just year-to-year variation rather than a broader pullback, and the low end is still higher than it was in 2024. Contracts typically run two to six months, with occasional call, on a Monday–Friday (8am – 5pm) schedule. Demand stays high, and the Southwest leads with more than a third of current openings.
Though family medicine pay trends are down this year, for Dr. Viktoria Hasselhof, a family medicine physician, locums has paid off well for her as a financial strategy.“Not having to pay rent, not having to pay for a car,” she says, “I was able to save a good chunk of money from my paycheck.”
Gastroenterology (down)
Locum gastroenterologists are earning $330 – $355 per hour in 2026, down from $335 – $425 last year, the widest pullback of any specialty we tracked. Medicare cut payments for GI procedures again this year, which is the likely driver. Assignments average two weeks, on either a Monday–Friday (8am – 5pm) schedule or a 7-on/7-off rotation. Demand for gastroenterologists is moderate, with the Midwest and Southwest together accounting for about two-thirds of current locum tenens job openings.
Internal medicine/hospitalist (down)
Locum internal medicine physicians are earning $120 – $130 per hour, compared with $120 – $145 last year. Medicare reimbursement for primary care has been shrinking for years, and that’s likely weighing on pay here too. Assignments average 60 days, with call rarely required, on a Monday–Friday (8am – 5pm) schedule. Demand remains high, led by the Southwest.
Neurological surgery (up)
Locum neurosurgeons are earning $350 – $475 per hour in 2026, up from $320 – $400 last year, the largest increase of any specialty we tracked. Assignments run either weekend blocks or longer-term contracts, built around 24-hour call coverage. Demand for neurological surgery is high and concentrated in the East, which accounts for about two-thirds of current locum job openings.
Neurology (up)
Locum neurologists are earning $225 – $325 per hour this year, up from $200 – $275 last year. Assignments average about a week at a time, on a Monday–Friday (8am – 5pm) schedule that includes call. Demand is high, led by the Midwest.
OB-GYN (down)
Locum OB-GYNs are earning $150 – $200 per hour in 2026, compared with $150 – $225 last year. It’s unclear why, though it’s likely just a shift in regional demand. Even so, demand for OB-GYNs is staying high, with the Midwest currently seeing the most open locum jobs. Assignments average three to six months, though shorter shift-based and weekend opportunities are common too, typically with Monday–Friday clinic hours and a 1:3 call rotation.
Orthopedic surgery (down)
Locum orthopedic surgeons are earning $180 – $225 per hour in 2026, down from $200 – $240 last year. This pay trend may have been a side effect of Medicare’s 2026 cut to payment rates for orthopedic procedures. Assignments typically run one to three months or longer, structured as 6-day stretches combining clinic duties, call, and surgery. Demand for orthopedics remains high, with the Midwest accounting for more than 40% of current locum job openings.
Otolaryngology (up)
Locum otolaryngologists are earning $200 – $250 per hour in 2026, up from $175 – $250 last year. Assignments run one to six months on a Monday–Friday (8am – 5pm) schedule. Demand for ENTs is high, and the West leads with more than 40% of current locum ENT jobs.
Pediatrics (down)
Locum pediatricians are earning $100 – $120 per hour in 2026, down from $105 – $130 last year. Pediatricians have long been the lowest-paid primary care specialty, largely because Medicaid, which covers many of their patients, pays less than other insurance. However, pediatric demand remains high, led by the West for locums. Assignments average about 20 days, though length varies with facility need, on a Monday–Friday clinic schedule with periodic call.
Plastic surgery (down)
Locum plastic surgeons are earning $200 – $225 per hour in 2026, down slightly from $220 – $250 last year. It’s unclear why, though it’s likely due to changing regional demand rather than a broader shift. Assignments average about a week, with round-the-clock call coverage built into the schedule. Demand for plastic surgeons is moderate, and, in the data we tracked, locum jobs are concentrated entirely in the Southwest.
Psychiatry (up)
Locum psychiatrists are earning $220 – $250 per hour in 2026, up from $185 – $220 last year. Assignments typically run six to 12 months on a Monday–Friday (8am – 5pm) schedule. Demand for psychiatrists is high, especially in the West.
Pulmonary critical care medicine (up)
Locum pulmonary critical care physicians are earning $240 – $260 per hour, up from last year’s $220 – $250. Demand for pulm-crit care is high, particularly in the Midwest. Assignments typically call for seven to 14 shifts per month over three to six months or longer, split between clinic hours (Monday–Friday, 9am – 5pm) and 12-hour ICU shifts.
Radiology (down)
Locum radiologists are earning $320 – $360 per hour in 2026, down slightly from $340 – $365 last year. Medicare cut payments for imaging again this year, which may have influenced the rate change. Additionally, radiology demand is moderate; the Midwest and Southwest each account for roughly a quarter of current locum radiologist openings. Assignments average one to three months, worked in two-week blocks, on a Monday–Friday (8am – 5pm) schedule with night and weekend call.
Urgent care (down)
Locum urgent care physicians are earning $120 – $130 per hour in 2026, down from $130 – $155 last year. Work ranges from occasional shifts to full-time, ongoing coverage, in eight- or 12-hour blocks that sometimes include weekends. Demand for urgent care coverage is still high, with locum jobs heavily concentrated in the Midwest, which accounts for about three-quarters of openings.
Not seeing your specialty? Go here: Pay trends by specialty
Frequently asked questions about locum tenens pay
How much do locum tenens physicians make in 2026?
It depends heavily on specialty: 2026 locum physician pay ranges from about $90 – $100 an hour for lower-paying specialties like optometry and pediatrics, to $450 – $500 an hour for specialties like anesthesiology, medical oncology, and neurological surgery. Location, experience, and current demand all move the number too.
How does locum tenens pay work?
Locum tenens pay is usually structured as an hourly or per diem rate, and most agencies also cover housing, travel, and malpractice insurance on top of that rate, so your total compensation is typically higher than the hourly number alone suggests.
How much do traveling doctors make?
It varies by specialty and assignment, but locum tenens pay (sometimes called “traveling doctor” pay) follows the same patterns. You can use our trends by specialty tool for details on your specialty.
Do locum doctors get paid more than permanent physicians?
Locum tenens pay is often higher on an hourly basis than a comparable permanent role, partly because it’s designed to offset the lack of long-term benefits like retirement matching or paid time off, and partly due to high demand. Actual comparisons vary by specialty, location, and the specifics of each contract.
Ready to see what you could earn?
Locum tenens pay moved in both directions this year, but demand held high across nearly every specialty we tracked. Click the button below if your specialty isn’t listed above.