Locum Physician Compensation in Virginia
Survey benchmarks by specialty and facility setting.
Virginia — 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 Virginia
Urban median hourly rate
| Specialty | Urban Median |
|---|---|
| Hematology-Oncology | $503/hr |
| Orthopedic Surgery | $502/hr |
| Gastroenterology | $427/hr |
| Radiology | $426/hr |
| Urology | $393/hr |
Virginia Market Overview
State income tax: 5.75% top marginal rate.
Virginia has a bifurcated physician market. Northern Virginia and the DC metro corridor have high physician density, elevated cost of living, and above-average locum rates. Richmond, anchored by VCU Health and Bon Secours, is a major academic market. Southwest Virginia — the coalfield counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, and Wise — and the rural Southside region have some of the most acute physician shortages in the Southeast, with high locum demand for primary care, emergency medicine, and behavioral health. Inova Health is the dominant Northern Virginia system.
Licensing: Virginia does not participate in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC). A separate Virginia medical license is required to practice in the state.