Vlad Dzhashi, MD
Are you trying to compare your potential locum tenens salary with that of your current job?
You came to the right place.
We’ve created four different calculators that will help you to estimate your annual salary while working locums. Read on as I describe four common pay rate types and list specialties that get each type of salary structure.
This information is based on the my experience helping hundreds physicians, APPs and CRNAs to find locum tenens jobs in recent years.
Locums salary with hourly rate
This is the simplest type of pay structure for locum tenens physicians and APPs. You work shifts with a predermined number of hours per shift.
Most commonly this type of pay structure is used for locums:
- Hospitalists
- Emergency medicine
- Critical care
- Urgent care
- Primary care (FM, IM, Pediatrics)
- Most outpatient providers who don’t take the call
- Pathology
- Diagnostic Radiology
- Radiation Oncology
Hourly rate calculator
Estimate annual locum tenens salary using hourly pay structure.
This estimate assumes the same number of shifts is worked each month for 12 months.
Locums salary with base Call rate and hourly Call-Back rate
Locum tenens salary for doctors and APPs who are on this pay rate structure is the hardest to predict and calculate. Mostly due to the fact that their call can be a hit or miss, in other words number of hours actually seeing patients, doing procedures and taking consults can vary significantly.
The rate consists of three things:
1 – the base or fixed daily (sometimes nightly) amount per each shift
2 – An hourly call-back rate
3 – A number of actual worked hours that day
Your total shift compensation is calculated as follows:
- Base rate + (hourly callback rate × number of hours worked)
Gratis hours – what the heck is that?:
The gratis hours means that a provider is paid a fixed daily rate that already includes a certain number of hours of work. Those included hours are called gratis hours because you do not receive extra hourly pay for them—they are covered by the daily rate.
Think of it like this:
- Daily rate = guaranteed payment for being available and working up to a certain number of hours.
- Gratis hours = the number of work hours included in that daily rate.
- Call-back rate = extra hourly pay only after you exceed the included (gratis) hours.
You may wonder what counts as actual “billable work”. Typically all activities that are related to the patient care:
- Seeing patients
- performing procedures and surgeries
- taking phone consults from ED and other specialties
- discussing plan with nurses etc.
Example: Contract Terms The doctor was available for the day, but no patients required care. Total pay: $3,000 The doctor works a total of 3 hours. Total pay: $3,000 The doctor works a total of 8 hours. Extra pay: Total pay: $4,200
Scenario 1: Doctor works 0 hours – e.g. no patient contact, but they are on-call
Scenario 2: Doctor works 3 hours
Scenario 3: Doctor works 8 hours
- Surgery and subspecialties
- ENT
- Neurosurgery
- Obgyn
- Anesthesiology
- Interventional radiology
- Neuro-Interventional radiology
- Gastroenterology
- Cardiology (especially interventional)
Call Rate + Call-Back Calculator
Estimate annual locum tenens salary using base call rate and hourly call-back pay.
This estimate assumes the same number of shifts and call-back hours are worked each month for 12 months.
Locums Salary with All-inclusive rate
This locums pay structure is not very common but I’ve seen it used by the facilities that would like to remove the guessing game from the equation. By setting their rate and including all worked hours in a shift they always know the maximum rate they will end up paying to the provider.
This “fixed” locums pay rate is typically for 24 hours but i’ve seen it applied to the night call as well.
Most commonly this is used for specialties that take the call and when daily patient volume fluctuate significantly e.g.
- Gastroenterology
- Urology
- Ob hospitalists
All-Inclusive rate calculator
Estimate annual locum tenens salary based on an all-inclusive shift rate.
This estimate assumes the same number of shifts is worked each month for 12 months.
Locums Salary with Hourly rate and call
Certain specialties often combine regular clinic and occasional night call. For example they may work 8a-5p Monday through Friday, but they’re also contracted to periodically take night call.
This may be one week of call per month or several nights of call dispersed across their monthly schedule.
This type of pay rate is very common:
- Medical suspecilaties like cardiology, hematology-oncology, pulmonology, endocrinology
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- PMR
- Radiation Oncology
- Pathology
Hourly Rate + Call Pay Calculator
Estimate annual locum tenens salary using regular clinical hours, beeper fees, and hourly call-back pay.
Regular Hours
Call Compensation
This estimate assumes the same regular schedule, call schedule, and call-back hours each month for 12 months.
Want to learn about current market locums rates and salary for your specialty?
Market rates are constantly changing based on demand, location, seasonality, and specialty. That means there’s no single “correct” locum tenens salary. If you’re wondering what physicians in your specialty are actually getting paid right now, don’t guess—reach out here. I’m happy to give you a realistic idea of what you can expect in today’s market.
If you’re looking for a locum tenens assignment, my agency is built around one goal: giving the highest rates possible to our physicians, APPs and CRNAs. You can learn more about what we do and send your request here. We’d love to help you find your next assignment!
And if you’re making the jump from a permanent position to locum tenens, even better. We have a special offer for first-time locums providers that can get you highly competitive rates. If you’re thinking about making the switch, let’s chat.