Locum Physician Compensation in Arkansas
Survey benchmarks by specialty and facility setting.
Arkansas — Benchmark Rates by Specialty
Median hourly rates in $/hr. Region: South.
| Specialty | Urban Hospital — MedianUrban Median | Rural / Critical Access — MedianRural Median |
|---|---|---|
| Anesthesiology | $354/hr | $408/hr |
| Cardiology | $361/hr | $314/hr |
| Dermatology | $379/hr | $330/hr |
| Emergency Medicine | $278/hr | $301/hr |
| Family Medicine | $144/hr | $166/hr |
| Gastroenterology | $440/hr | $461/hr |
| General Surgery | $430/hr | $374/hr |
| Hematology-Oncology | $433/hr | $453/hr |
| Hospitalist | $215/hr | $249/hr |
| Internal Medicine | $152/hr | $171/hr |
| Neonatology | $208/hr | $249/hr |
| Neurology | $305/hr | $337/hr |
| Obstetrics & Gynecology | $274/hr | $309/hr |
| Orthopedic Surgery | $498/hr | $433/hr |
| Otolaryngology (ENT) | $394/hr | $412/hr |
| Pain Management | $361/hr | $378/hr |
| Pathology | $371/hr | $323/hr |
| Pediatrics | $156/hr | $171/hr |
| Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation | $194/hr | $202/hr |
| Psychiatry | $204/hr | $252/hr |
| Radiology | $396/hr | $344/hr |
| Urology | $434/hr | $455/hr |
Highest-Paying Specialties in Arkansas
Urban median hourly rate
| Specialty | Urban Median |
|---|---|
| Orthopedic Surgery | $563/hr |
| General Surgery | $440/hr |
| Hematology-Oncology | $434/hr |
| Gastroenterology | $432/hr |
| Urology | $422/hr |
Arkansas Market Overview
State income tax: 3.9% top marginal rate.
Arkansas has one of the highest proportions of rural population in the US, with large areas of the Delta, Ozarks, and southern counties lacking adequate physician coverage. UAMS Medical Center in Little Rock anchors the academic market, but critical access hospitals across the state rely heavily on locum physicians for emergency, hospitalist, and primary care coverage. Rates reflect a low cost-of-living base with meaningful shortage premiums in underserved regions.
Licensing: Arkansas does not participate in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC). A separate Arkansas medical license is required to practice in the state.