What is a Hospitalist Physician?
A hospitalist salary is based on demand, state, experience, and specialty! They are paid a great wage because of their invaluable care in the hospital system. From the admission to the discharge, a hospitalist is a physician who exclusively takes care of patients within a hospital. Hospitalists are skilled in diagnosing and treating a wide range of medical conditions, managing acute illnesses, and providing immediate medical attention. Like primary care doctors, they can order diagnostic tests like x-rays, blood work, and urinalysis. Hospitalists work closely with other members of a hospital care team to provide excellent patient care. By focusing on inpatient care, hospitalists contribute to improved transition of care and clinical outcomes.
Median Salary for Hospitalists
Physicians get paid well for their expertise as a hospitalist. The median salary for a hospitalist is $247,990 per year according to Salary.com. Salary can range from as low as $190,840 to as high as $310,885. The range in pay depends on your experience in the field and the state you are practicing in. This estimate is without any incentive or bonus pay.
Top 5 Highest Paying States for Physicians
The top five highest paying states for a physicians are surprisingly spread out throughout the United States. The highest paying state for a physicians was Wisconsin, paying $397,000/year according to Becker’s survey of 10,000 physicians across 29 specialties.
- Wisconsin – $397,000
- Indiana – $372,000
- Georgia – $363,000
- Connecticut – $362,000
- Missouri – $361,000
Keep in mind when looking at pay for a specific job, you must also consider the cost of living for those states as well.
Lowest Paying States for Physicians
Now that we know the highest paying states, let’s dive into the lowest paying states. The lowest paying state for physician’s is Maryland according to Becker’s.
- Maryland – $306,000
- Colorado – $327,000
- Virginia – $330,000
- Massachusetts – $331,000
- Arizona – $334,000
Keep in mind these numbers account for physicians across 26 different specialties (including hospitalists). When looking at the best job for you, make sure you factor in the cost of living in the state.
Salary Outlook for Hospitalists
The salary outlook for a hospitalist physician is promising. Hospitalist salary has been on the rise over the last decade ranging from an increase of 4%-10% year over year according to hospitalist.org. This is an average increase of $18,526.60 in salary per year. This can be attributed to the emerging recognition of the value hospitalists bring to a hospital system and the shortage of hospitalists in the industry.
Hospitalist Salary Per State
Hospitalist salary varies on the state you are practicing in. The top 15 states on this list had an annual salary that was above the national average according to ZipRecruiter. The increase in wages makes relocating as a hospitalist an attractive idea. If you are focused on increasing your annual wage, locum tenen opportunities might be a great path to explore too. Below is a list of states and the annual wages for hospitalists.
| State | Annual Salary |
| New York | $341,655 |
| New Jersey | $295,192 |
| Wisconsin | $293,319 |
| Nevada | $290,829 |
| Wyoming | $290,785 |
| Massachusetts | $290,306 |
| Indiana | $286,887 |
| Arizona | $286,794 |
| New Hampshire | $286,605 |
| Pennsylvania | $285,744 |
| Oregon | $284,583 |
| Minnesota | $282,760 |
| Washington | $282,554 |
| Georgia | $281,921 |
| Hawaii | $280,786 |
| Montana | $275,147 |
| Alaska | $275,071 |
| Iowa | $271,703 |
| Rhode Island | $268,801 |
| South Dakota | $268,193 |
| North Dakota | $267,991 |
| Connecticut | $267,920 |
| New Mexico | $265,709 |
| California | $263,875 |
| Ohio | $263,407 |
| Tennessee | $257,827 |
| Illinois | $257,264 |
| Utah | $257,015 |
| Vermont | $252,634 |
| Virginia | $252,121 |
| Maryland | $251,919 |
| Mississippi | $248,361 |
| Delaware | $248,270 |
| Colorado | $247,644 |
| West Virginia | $246,213 |
| Alabama | $242,364 |
| Florida | $242,103 |
| Maine | $241,597 |
| Oklahoma | $239,534 |
| South Carolina | $238,863 |
| Kansas | $238,729 |
| Michigan | $236,894 |
| Louisiana | $235,762 |
| Missouri | $235,273 |
| Texas | $233,965 |
| Nebraska | $228,458 |
| Idaho | $227,091 |
| Kentucky | $220,105 |
| North Carolina | $218,092 |
| Arkansas | $216,295 |
Average Incentive Bonus for Hospitalist
On top of an annual salary, physicians get incentive bonuses annually based on productivity in the hospital and the overall care of patients. Hospitalists who specializes in pediatrics averaged about $29,637 in bonuses and incentives in 2022 according to Today’s Hospitalists, this was roughly 12% of their salary. On the other side of the coin, hospitalists that focused on adult care received a higher bonus of $43,896 on average per year. This is roughly 14% of their annual income. Other factors like patient volume, work duties, and specific specialties also attributed to a rise in incentive bonuses. For example, hospitalists that worked closely in the ICU received nearly 15% of the income in bonuses and incentives.
Hospitalist Locum Tenen Opportunities
There are different avenues you can take when you are a hospitalist. Hospitalist physicians can focus on academics, work for a hospital system, and work as a locum tenen. Each has it’s own pros and cons. Locum tenen is a career path where a physician works a few shifts, to a few months at a facility helping fill a gap they have in care. Some physicians work locum tenen shifts to supplement their full-time job. Others only work locum tenen contracts as a way to gain flexibility and work-life balance into their life.
Whether you work a few shifts or many contracts, you can be sure you will be paid well for your time as a locum tenen physician. On average, a locum tenen hospitalists makes $32.45 more an hour than their permanent doctor counterparts according to comphealth. They also make around $140-190 as an hourly wage.
