Hospitalists keep inpatient units running smoothly, but rising shortages and burnout are straining healthcare facilities and providers. Locum tenens hospitalist opportunities offer a chance for providers to regain control.
They also come with a competitive hospitalist salary that may exceed that of a full-time provider. These flexible assignments let you decide when and where to work, without being tied down by long-term contracts.
You may be eyeing a seven-on-seven-off hospitalist locums lifestyle near home. Or perhaps you’re ready for a multi-month assignment in ski country. Whatever your path, the locum hospitalist lifestyle can be a welcome alternative to full-time positions.
Hospital medicine emerged in the early 1990s, when hospitals needed round-the-clock, on-site physicians to streamline inpatient care. By focusing exclusively on admitted patients, hospitalists shortened lengths of stay and boosted quality metrics, changes that helped the specialty grow into a cornerstone of acute care.
Approximately 50,000 hospitalists practice in the United States today, and the workforce has expanded by about 5% annually from 2018 to 2024. Burnout and retirements, however, are widening gaps, especially in rural and critical-access facilities.
The federal Health Resources and Services Administration warns of a projected physician shortfall of 187,000 by 2037, with hospitalists high on the “at-risk” list. Tighter supply often translates into higher pay, making today’s average locum tenens hospitalist salary more attractive than ever.
New data shows that full-time locum hospitalists can earn roughly $50,000 more per year than their permanently employed peers.
The average salary for a full-time hospitalist is $221,000 (roughly $106 per hour), with top earners reaching $380,000 or more.
According to estimates, the average full-time locum tenens hospitalist salary is approximately $328,000, or $158 per hour. Top locum physicians can earn up to $400,000 annually, depending on their skill level and the state.
The clinical list might stay the same, but your ZIP code doesn’t have to. Locum tenens opens doors to high-paying hospitalist opportunities in underserved areas, especially rural regions where staffing gaps persist. Here’s what makes hospitalist locums opportunities so compelling:
