Nearly 80% of physicians currently working locum tenens are very or extremely likely to continue working locums, according to CHG Healthcare’s 2025 State of Locum Tenens Report. As the only temporary healthcare staffing segment to have grown each year since 2021, locum tenens remains an essential means for hospitals to offer coverage and for physicians to supplement their incomes and expand their skill sets.
Healthcare organizations hired more locum tenens physicians than expected in 2024
The state of locum tenens report found that while 56% of healthcare organizations expected to hire locum tenens providers at the same rate or increase it, 81% of organizations actually hired these providers and either maintained their rate of usage or increased it.
However, healthcare organizations are now incorporating locum tenens into their workforce strategies: Approximately 80% of facilities expect to maintain or increase locum tenens usage by 2025.
This data coincides with overall locum tenens trends. Since 2020, the number of physicians working locum tenens has increased, with about 57,000 doctors (8%) reporting they are currently accepting temporary assignments.
Locum tenens physicians make a positive impression
More than 60% of surveyed healthcare organizations said they had a somewhat positive or very positive impression of locum tenens physicians who worked in their facilities, an increase from 45% in 2023.
“People need to understand the importance of locum providers. They fulfill such a critical need. They come into an organization that they don't know, to work with people that they don't know, and not consistently. That's really hard to do, so they are really good physicians and very important,” says Marsilena (Marcy) Lechner, director of provider recruitment and support services at Stormont Vail Health in Topeka, Kansas. “People just kind of think, ‘Oh, gosh, we have to bring a locum in,’" but the locum is doing us a great service. We really appreciate it.”
Studies show that locum tenens physicians offer care equal to that of staff providers when considering metrics such as 30-day mortality rates, lengths of stay, 72-hour returns, admissions or transfers, and readmissions. In fact, one study found that the average length of stay for admitted hospital patients was one day shorter when a locum provider cared for them, leading to an adjusted average hospital cost savings of $1,339.
Most locum tenens physicians work close to home
While there is a misconception that locum tenens work requires extended travel, the data shows otherwise: About 58% of locum providers serve in their own communities. In comparison, 53% say they work in neighboring cities or states.
“One of my placements is literally about two miles away. The other one is about five miles away, and the third one is probably 10 to 15 miles away. Those have been pretty easy and really convenient,” says Dr. Michael Cormican, a trauma surgeon.
Additionally, 23% of locum tenens physicians work in neighboring regions of the country, while 29% take assignments nationwide. Nearly half (46%) of locum tenens physicians work in suburban areas, while 27% work in urban areas and 27% work in rural areas.
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Healthcare facilities are increasingly hiring locum tenens physicians to supplement their core staff
Locum tenens physicians are primarily placed to fill staffing gaps until the hospital finds a permanent candidate (67% of placements). However, backfilling has declined as the most critical reason for locum hiring, from 82% in 2023.
More healthcare organizations are now using locum tenens physicians to:
“To deliver on physicians' increasing expectations for schedule autonomy, provider organizations must embrace flexible scheduling and work models, such as part-time and telehealth-based work,” says Sarah Roller, managing director of the Physician and Medical Group Research Advisory Board. “Locums staffing may provide an opportunity to do this without disrupting patients' access to care."
Locum physicians are younger and generally return to full-time employment
The majority of locum tenens physicians (56%) begin taking temporary assignments within the first 10 years of their practice, while another 30% start working locum tenens within 11-20 years of practice.
As in years past, most physicians (47%) work locum tenens to supplement their core income or due to an appealing salary (30%). However, 29% say they prefer this employment because it allows them to control their own schedule, and 26% work locum tenens while searching for a full-time position.
Once physicians begin locum tenens work, they tend to continue doing so. The average locum tenens provider has six years of locum tenens experience, and 15% of providers have 10 years or more of experience.
Economic uncertainty is leading more physicians to work locum tenens
Physicians today earn about 33% less than they did a generation ago when adjusted for inflation, according to the American Medical Association. Nearly half (45%) of physicians surveyed said they were very concerned or extremely concerned about the current economic climate impacting their careers, and 64% were more concerned about the economic climate than they were a year ago.
Amidst economic uncertainty, more physicians are taking on locum tenens work. Those already taking temporary assignments plan to increase the number of locum tenens days they work (48%). Approximately 15% of physicians who are not already working locum tenens say they plan to supplement their income in this way, while 8% intend to switch from permanent roles to full-time locum tenens work.
Curious how locum tenens works? Read our locum tenens newcomer's guide for physicians
Advanced practice providers are filling more locum tenens roles, and telehealth interest is increasing
Though they make up just 15% of overall locum tenens providers, advanced practice provider (APP) professions are growing at twice the rate as physician professions. About 28,000 advanced practice providers (primarily CRNAs) work locum tenens currently, and 39% of healthcare organizations say they plan to hire more APP locum tenens providers in the coming year.
Another emerging trend from the State of Locum Tenens report is telehealth. About 47% of locum tenens physicians said they were very or extremely interested in working in locum tenens telehealth, though only 20% of physicians said telehealth locum tenens assignments were available to them. However, nearly two-thirds of physicians who offered these assignments accepted them, suggesting that physicians are very likely to take these opportunities when available.
“While some health systems have embraced virtual care as a cost-effective way to expand access, others have hesitated due to concerns about reimbursement and technology infrastructure. This data highlights strong provider interest in telehealth, suggesting that systems can unlock new candidate pools by further investing in virtual care capabilities,” says Matt Brown, vice president of CHG Healthcare Advisory Services.
Locum tenens remains a thriving industry, enabling healthcare organizations to meet their staffing needs in more proactive and strategic ways. It also allows both physicians and advanced practice providers to have more flexibility, earn a competitive salary, and provide care to patients who would otherwise not receive it.
To learn more, read the full 2025 State of Locum Tenens Report