Locum Physician Compensation in North Carolina
Survey benchmarks by specialty and facility setting. Compact state — multi-state license eligible.
North Carolina — Benchmark Rates by Specialty
Median hourly rates in $/hr. Region: Southeast.
| Specialty | Urban Hospital — MedianUrban Median | Rural / Critical Access — MedianRural Median |
|---|---|---|
| Anesthesiology | $350/hr | $404/hr |
| Cardiology | $367/hr | $319/hr |
| Dermatology | $336/hr | $292/hr |
| Emergency Medicine | $260/hr | $282/hr |
| Family Medicine | $146/hr | $169/hr |
| Gastroenterology | $433/hr | $453/hr |
| General Surgery | $371/hr | $323/hr |
| Hematology-Oncology | $449/hr | $469/hr |
| Hospitalist | $201/hr | $232/hr |
| Internal Medicine | $157/hr | $176/hr |
| Neonatology | $217/hr | $259/hr |
| Neurology | $298/hr | $328/hr |
| Obstetrics & Gynecology | $268/hr | $302/hr |
| Orthopedic Surgery | $448/hr | $389/hr |
| Otolaryngology (ENT) | $400/hr | $419/hr |
| Pain Management | $376/hr | $393/hr |
| Pathology | $355/hr | $309/hr |
| Pediatrics | $153/hr | $169/hr |
| Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation | $201/hr | $211/hr |
| Psychiatry | $189/hr | $233/hr |
| Radiology | $413/hr | $359/hr |
| Urology | $392/hr | $410/hr |
Highest-Paying Specialties in North Carolina
Urban median hourly rate
| Specialty | Urban Median |
|---|---|
| Orthopedic Surgery | $415/hr |
| Radiology | $398/hr |
| Gastroenterology | $396/hr |
| General Surgery | $380/hr |
| Cardiology | $347/hr |
North Carolina Market Overview
State income tax: 4.25% top marginal rate.
North Carolina has one of the fastest-growing physician markets in the Southeast. The Research Triangle anchors a dense academic medical market with Duke Health, UNC Health, and WakeMed, while Atrium Health serves Charlotte. Despite this concentration, rural eastern North Carolina — a large, low-income agricultural region — and the western mountain counties have significant physician shortages, particularly for primary care, OB/GYN, and psychiatry. Population growth across the Piedmont Triad and Triangle is expanding locum demand in suburban markets as well.
Licensing: North Carolina participates in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), effective January 2026. A compact license held in another state can be used in North Carolina without a separate NC license application.