Locum Physician Compensation in Wisconsin
Survey benchmarks by specialty and facility setting. Compact state — multi-state license eligible.
Wisconsin — Benchmark Rates by Specialty
Median hourly rates in $/hr. Region: Midwest.
| Specialty | Urban Hospital — MedianUrban Median | Rural / Critical Access — MedianRural Median |
|---|---|---|
| Anesthesiology | $342/hr | $395/hr |
| Cardiology | $333/hr | $289/hr |
| Dermatology | $345/hr | $300/hr |
| Emergency Medicine | $274/hr | $297/hr |
| Family Medicine | $143/hr | $165/hr |
| Gastroenterology | $382/hr | $400/hr |
| General Surgery | $399/hr | $347/hr |
| Hematology-Oncology | $401/hr | $420/hr |
| Hospitalist | $192/hr | $222/hr |
| Internal Medicine | $155/hr | $175/hr |
| Neonatology | $216/hr | $258/hr |
| Neurology | $301/hr | $332/hr |
| Obstetrics & Gynecology | $279/hr | $315/hr |
| Orthopedic Surgery | $457/hr | $398/hr |
| Otolaryngology (ENT) | $331/hr | $346/hr |
| Pain Management | $374/hr | $391/hr |
| Pathology | $378/hr | $329/hr |
| Pediatrics | $155/hr | $171/hr |
| Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation | $201/hr | $210/hr |
| Psychiatry | $227/hr | $280/hr |
| Radiology | $398/hr | $346/hr |
| Urology | $374/hr | $391/hr |
Highest-Paying Specialties in Wisconsin
Urban median hourly rate
| Specialty | Urban Median |
|---|---|
| General Surgery | $457/hr |
| Orthopedic Surgery | $428/hr |
| Hematology-Oncology | $423/hr |
| Pain Management | $416/hr |
| Radiology | $383/hr |
Wisconsin Market Overview
State income tax: 7.65% top marginal rate.
Wisconsin has a strong physician market anchored by UW Health in Madison and Froedtert Health and Advocate Aurora in the Milwaukee metro. The Northwoods — a vast lake district covering northern Wisconsin — has limited physician coverage, with many communities relying on locum physicians for emergency, primary care, and hospitalist services during tourist-heavy summer seasons and year-round. Rural western and central Wisconsin agricultural communities also have persistent shortage areas. Wisconsin's cost of living is moderate, with rates competitive for the upper Midwest.
Licensing: Wisconsin participates in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC). A compact license held in another state can be used in Wisconsin without a separate WI license application.