Locum Physician Compensation in Louisiana
Survey benchmarks by specialty and facility setting. Compact state — multi-state license eligible.
Louisiana — 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 Louisiana
Urban median hourly rate
| Specialty | Urban Median |
|---|---|
| General Surgery | $519/hr |
| Dermatology | $437/hr |
| Gastroenterology | $432/hr |
| Pain Management | $429/hr |
| Cardiology | $386/hr |
Louisiana Market Overview
State income tax: 3% top marginal rate. Louisiana has a low state tax burden, making effective take-home competitive with no-tax states.
Louisiana's physician market is anchored by LSU Health and Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans, along with Ochsner Health's large regional network. Rural Louisiana — particularly the rural parishes of northern and central Louisiana and the Acadiana region — has extensive physician shortages, with many communities dependent on locum physicians for baseline healthcare coverage. Post-hurricane infrastructure challenges have affected physician retention in the state. Rates are moderate, with rural and shortage-area premiums common.
Licensing: Louisiana participates in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC). A compact license held in another state can be used in Louisiana without a separate LA license application.