Key Points
- Certain U.S. states and regions have higher demand for locum tenens physicians and advanced practitioners due to ongoing staffing shortages. Â
- Rural and underserved areas often offer longer locum tenens assignments to support continuity of care. Â
- Metro areas and seasonal destinations typically offer shorter‑term locum tenens opportunities. Â
- Understanding top locum tenens locations helps clinicians target assignments that match their career and lifestyle goals.
Certain geographic locations in the United States stand out for locum tenens opportunities. Some regions face acute shortages of physicians and advanced practitioners, while others offer enticing pay or amenities that draw locums professionals. Understanding the top locations helps clinicians target assignments where they are needed the most, or where the perks are greatest. Â
Top Locations for Locum Tenens Demand
Average Assignment Duration
One of the benefits of locum tenens work is the flexibility in assignment length. Assignments can range widely in duration depending on the facility’s need. In the top geographic locations, a mix of short-term and long-term assignments are available.
1-3 Months
In major metro areas, you often see shorter placements (from a few weeks to three months) to cover temporary gaps like sabbaticals, personal leaves, or peak cold/flu season. Â
6-12 Months
Facilities in rural or underserved areas may request longer commitments (from six to 12 months) to minimize disruption, given how difficult it is to recruit permanent providers. Â
Seasonal Surges
Regions with seasonal populations, such as Colorado ski towns or Florida beach resorts, may want coverage just for those winter or summer surges. Â
Future Outlook
Several trends indicate that locum tenens will continue to play a vital role in the U.S. healthcare system, especially in top geographic areas.
Rising Demand: The Association of American Medical Colleges projects a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034. This means locum tenens physicians and advanced practitioners will be even more critical to fill gaps.Â
Continued Growth of Telehealth: Top shortage areas, such as behavioral health in rural and underserved areas, are increasingly served by locums providers in telehealth positions. This trend could potentially ease the geographic disparity by virtually transporting provider capacity to where it’s needed.
Strategic Locums Staffing Models: Locum tenens is becoming an integral component for many healthcare systems. Aligning hiring practices with long-term goals, like stabilizing departments and expanding services, can lead to better outcomes for facilities and patients.
