Hospitals all over the United States suffer from staffing shortages. While they need many healthcare professionals, hospitalist physicians are prepared to care for any patients during their stay.
Scope of Practice
Hospitalist physicians are similar to primary care doctors, in that they diagnose and treat a wide variety of illnesses. The main difference is that they work solely within a hospital and handle inpatient care. They typically complete their residency or courses in general internal medicine, pediatrics, neurology, and family medicine.
There aren’t many limitations or regulations for hospitalist physicians. However, there may be restrictions on the scope of practice for hospitalist physician assistants (PAs) or nurse practitioners (NPs). This is usually through supervision agreements, prescriptive authority, and signature requirements for various procedures.
Hospitalist Salary by State
The average salary for hospitalist physicians has increased over time. A compensation report from Medscape in 2023 estimates that hospitalists earn an average of $314K a year. This includes hospitalist primary care physicians and other hospitalist specialists.
For more information on hospitalist salaries, read our hospitalist salary guide to learn more. Yet this number can vary greatly by state. ZipRecruiter highlights the states that have the highest salary.
Top Paying States for Hospitalist Physicians
- New York at $336,364 a year
- Pennsylvania at $308,004 a year
- New Hampshire at $301,184 a year
- New Jersey at $296,618 a year
- Wyoming at $293,415 a year
Cost of Living
Hospitalist physicians looking for work should consider the cost of living in each of these states. The high salaries they offer may not be enough when compared to how much it costs to live comfortably in these states.
The highest paying state, New York, has a cost of living 25.1% higher than the national average. While this doesn’t seem high, it includes the housing costs which is 73.3% higher than average. The other costs such as groceries and health are only slightly higher. But the unaffordability of housing may make it difficult for hospitalists to live there.
The next state, Pennsylvania, has a cost of living 1% lower than the national average. Overall, the cost of living is fairly close to the national average. Groceries are 0.9% higher, housing is 10.1% lower, and utilities cost 5.9% more than average.
New Hampshire is more expensive than Pennsylvania with a cost of living 15% higher than average. The greatest expenses are health costs (20.6% higher), transportation (13.6% higher), and utilities (30.2% higher). Yet the housing costs are only 9.8% higher than the national average.
New Jersey is similar with a cost of living 14.1% higher than the national average. Most of the costs are only slightly higher than average, but housing for the state is 36.8% higher than average, thus increasing the cost of living.
The last state is Wyoming, with a cost of living 7.2% lower than average. Housing expenses are much cheaper in Wyoming at 19.3% lower, along with utilities which are 14.3% lower. The only aspect of the state that is above the average are groceries, which are only 2% higher.
Even though these states pay a lot for hospitalists, the cost of living can greatly outweigh the salary. New York, New Hampshire, and New Jersey appear attractive, but hospitalist physicians should consider their living situation first.
States with a Shortage of Hospitalists
Unfortunately, the states that need hospitalists the most are not the top paying ones. According to Becker’s Hospital Review, 19% of all hospitals in the U.S. experienced critical staffing shortages in 2022.
The state that was the worst was Vermont, where 52.94% of hospitals reported critical staffing shortages. The average salary for a hospitalist in Vermont is $271,062. But it also has a cost of living at 14.9% above the national average. This shortage was the worst during the COVID-19 pandemic, so the statistics may have changed since then.
The next state with the worst shortages is New Mexico, with 48.21% of hospitals reporting shortages. New Mexico’s average salary for hospitalists is slightly higher at $279,646 a year. The cost of living is 5.8% lower than the national average. Every aspect of the state is less expensive than the average.
The third state with the worst hospital shortage at 46.67% was Rhode Island. But the salary for hospitalists is lower at $266,568 a year. This lower salary could make it difficult to live in the state as the cost of living is 10.5% higher than average. A major consideration is the housing cost, which is 14.6% higher than average as well.
The seventh state at 32.26% is Wyoming. Which is the fifth highest paying state as well, so Wyoming is a prime candidate for hospitalists. These shortages can also translate to higher chances of employment, as hospitals are more desperate and require more staff.
Get Started with Wellhart
Ready to find your next locum tenens assignment as a hospitalist? Check out our job board to find open positions right for you. If you’d like to learn more about hospitalist physicians, read our guide on how to become a licensed hospitalist.
This article was written by Desirae Sin