Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Locum Compensation Benchmarks
Based on BLS OEWS public data and CMS geographic adjustment factors, processed through a locum-adjusted model, calibrated and validated against publicly posted rates and observations.
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation — National Benchmark
Locum market rates, 2026.
P25
$172/hr
Median
$186/hr
P75
$200/hr
P90
$217/hr
Regional Estimates
| Region | Setting | P25 | Median | P75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | Urban Hospital | $170/hr | $184/hr | $198/hr |
| Rural Critical Access Rural / CAH | $178/hr | $192/hr | $207/hr | |
| Midwest | Urban Hospital | $186/hr | $201/hr | $216/hr |
| Rural Critical Access Rural / CAH | $195/hr | $210/hr | $226/hr | |
| South | Urban Hospital | $179/hr | $194/hr | $209/hr |
| Rural Critical Access Rural / CAH | $188/hr | $202/hr | $218/hr | |
| Southeast | Urban Hospital | $187/hr | $201/hr | $217/hr |
| Rural Critical Access Rural / CAH | $196/hr | $211/hr | $228/hr | |
| West | Urban Hospital | $194/hr | $210/hr | $226/hr |
| Rural Critical Access Rural / CAH | $203/hr | $219/hr | $236/hr | |
| Southwest | Urban Hospital | $182/hr | $197/hr | $212/hr |
| Rural Critical Access Rural / CAH | $191/hr | $206/hr | $222/hr |
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Market Overview
PM&R locum demand is growing rapidly driven by inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) and long-term acute care (LTAC) requirements for daily physician oversight. The CMS requirement for a physiatrist to lead IRF care has created a predictable demand base. Acute inpatient rehab is the dominant locum segment.
- CMS IRF requirement for daily physiatrist oversight creates predictable, structural locum demand
- Inpatient rehabilitation documentation expertise (FIM scoring, IRF-PAI) is the key differentiator
- LTAC and SNF coverage is a lower-rate but high-volume alternative for physicians avoiding inpatient rehab
- Spinal cord injury and TBI experience opens top-tier inpatient rehab hospital assignments nationally
Get the full Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation negotiation toolkit — 50-state rate tables,
word-for-word recruiter scripts, and contract red flag checklist.
Get the Toolkit — $99 →Key Leverage Points
Urban Hospital
- Inpatient rehabilitation experience with IRF documentation requirements is the key differentiator
- Spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury experience opens top-tier rehab hospital assignments
- EMG/nerve conduction interpretation capability adds value beyond inpatient coverage
- Amputee rehabilitation experience is in chronic shortage at most VA and IRF settings
Rural Critical Access
- Rural IRFs often have only one physiatrist — coverage gaps create strong negotiating leverage
- Swing bed and skilled nursing facility medical director roles supplement IRF coverage income
- General acute rehabilitation breadth (stroke, ortho, cardiac) is required at rural sites
- Travel and housing are standard; rural IRFs often offer long-term block arrangements
Contract Review Checklist
Items to review carefully before signing
- Patient census not defined — IRF medical directors can carry 20–40 patients depending on facility
- On-call expectations after hours not specified — IRF call is often more demanding than expected
- Documentation requirements not disclosed — IRF compliance documentation can add 2+ hours daily
- Non-physician provider supervision scope not defined — many IRFs rely heavily on NPs
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Negotiation Toolkit
Word-for-word scripts for every recruiter objection, 50-state rate tables at P25/50/75/90,
leverage points by credential and shift type, and a contract red flag checklist.
$99 one-time.
Get the Toolkit — $99 →