Locum Physician Compensation in Iowa
Survey benchmarks by specialty and facility setting. Compact state — multi-state license eligible.
Iowa — Benchmark Rates by Specialty
Median hourly rates in $/hr. Region: Midwest.
| Specialty | Urban Hospital — MedianUrban Median | Rural / Critical Access — MedianRural Median |
|---|---|---|
| Anesthesiology | $342/hr | $395/hr |
| Cardiology | $333/hr | $289/hr |
| Dermatology | $345/hr | $300/hr |
| Emergency Medicine | $274/hr | $297/hr |
| Family Medicine | $143/hr | $165/hr |
| Gastroenterology | $382/hr | $400/hr |
| General Surgery | $399/hr | $347/hr |
| Hematology-Oncology | $401/hr | $420/hr |
| Hospitalist | $192/hr | $222/hr |
| Internal Medicine | $155/hr | $175/hr |
| Neonatology | $216/hr | $258/hr |
| Neurology | $301/hr | $332/hr |
| Obstetrics & Gynecology | $279/hr | $315/hr |
| Orthopedic Surgery | $457/hr | $398/hr |
| Otolaryngology (ENT) | $331/hr | $346/hr |
| Pain Management | $374/hr | $391/hr |
| Pathology | $378/hr | $329/hr |
| Pediatrics | $155/hr | $171/hr |
| Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation | $201/hr | $210/hr |
| Psychiatry | $227/hr | $280/hr |
| Radiology | $398/hr | $346/hr |
| Urology | $374/hr | $391/hr |
Highest-Paying Specialties in Iowa
Urban median hourly rate
| Specialty | Urban Median |
|---|---|
| Hematology-Oncology | $510/hr |
| Orthopedic Surgery | $501/hr |
| Otolaryngology (ENT) | $460/hr |
| Radiology | $448/hr |
| Urology | $402/hr |
Iowa Market Overview
State income tax: 3.8% top marginal rate.
Iowa is a heavily agricultural state with a physician market anchored by the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City and UnityPoint Health across multiple cities. The vast majority of the state's geography is rural, with many counties having one or no practicing physicians in certain specialties. This creates steady locum demand for emergency medicine, hospitalist, and primary care across the state's critical access hospital network. Rates are modest by national standards but rural shortage premiums are consistent.
Licensing: Iowa participates in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC). A compact license held in another state can be used in Iowa without a separate IA license application.