Negotiation Toolkits
Know before you sign.
The recruiter who called you this morning has been doing this every day for years. They know what the hospital is billing for your services. They know what the last physician in your position accepted. This is how you close that gap.
What's in every toolkit
- 50-state rate tables — national, regional, and all-state percentiles for your specialty and setting
- Negotiation scripts — word-for-word language for below-market opens, "this is non-negotiable," time pressure, and renewal renegotiation
- Market intelligence — what's driving demand right now, where leverage is highest, which credentials command premiums
- Contract review checklist — 12 clauses to negotiate before signing, malpractice tail terms, housing and travel standards
- Take-home math — net income after state taxes, self-employment structure, and retirement contributions
- Quick Reference Card — your benchmark, opening script, and pre-signing checklist on one page
Instant PDF download. One-time purchase. No subscription.
Available specialties
Highest median hourly rate of any locum specialty — national range $300–400/hr in 2025
Interventional cardiology commands the highest rates of any medical subspecialty
One of the highest-rate outpatient locum specialties — persistent national shortage relative to population need
One of the top 3 locum markets nationally — open positions in all 50 states year-round
Broadest geographic coverage of any primary care specialty — openings in all 50 states
Primarily procedure-focused — most locum GI assignments are endoscopy suite coverage days
Rural critical access surgical coverage is among the fastest-growing locum categories nationally
One of the highest-paying locum specialties nationally — national urban median above $390/hr
Largest locum market by headcount — virtually every hospital system uses locum hospitalists
Outpatient IM locum market covers FQHCs, VA, multispecialty groups, and rural clinics
Highest-rate critical care locum specialty — Level III/IV NICU night float commands top rates
Acute stroke coverage is the dominant demand driver — Joint Commission certification requirements create predictable need
Fastest-growing locum surgical specialty — rural obstetric desert crisis drives acute demand
Highest-rate surgical locum specialty — subspecialty skills command significant premiums
General ENT breadth enables coverage at both rural CAH and community hospital settings
Interventional capability (ESI, RFA, spinal cord stimulation) is the primary rate differentiator
Telepathology has enabled remote sign-out at most sites — location flexibility is unmatched
Seasonal demand peaks October–March (RSV, influenza season) drive the strongest premiums
CMS IRF requirement for daily physiatrist oversight creates predictable, structural locum demand
Most severe national shortage of any specialty — rural facilities will meet your stated rate
Teleradiology enables remote coverage — many radiologists cover multiple sites from one location
Combined surgical + clinic coverage in rural assignments generates strong daily rates
New here? Start with the free evaluator to see where your offer stands.