Traveling physicians, often working locum tenens assignments, move between hospitals, clinics, and sometimes countries to deliver care where it is most needed.
- Flexibility: Assignments can last from weeks to months and may be part-time or full-time
- Income: On average, locum tenens physicians earn about $32 more per hour than their permanent counterparts
- License Requirements: Multi-state licensing is often streamlined through the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), now active in 42 states plus D.C. and Guam as of 2025
- Key Decision: Balancing between a nomadic lifestyle and keeping a home base comes down to personal and family priorities
What Does it Mean to Be a Traveling Physician?
A traveling physician practices in different locations rather than being tied to a single hospital or clinic. Assignments typically range from a few weeks to several months. Nearly any physician specialty can pursue this path, but demand is highest in areas experiencing physician shortages.
Traveling doctors maintain their medical specialty, whether as hospitalists, internists, or surgeons – while choosing when and where to work.
Are Traveling Physicians the Same as Locum Tenens Physicians?
Not necessarily. “Locum tenens” refers to temporary assignments where doctors fill in for others. Traveling physicians are a subset of locum tenens who take assignments in multiple locations, sometimes across states or countries.
Some locum tenens doctors stay local with occasional shifts. Traveling physicians specifically embrace a mobile lifestyle.
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Most Traveling Physicians Are Independent Contractors
Travel doctors typically operate as independent contractors. This means:
- No single employer
- Responsibility for managing taxes and personal expenses
- Securing their own insurance (health, disability, malpractice, life)
This arrangement grants independence but requires solid financial and administrative planning.
Pros and Cons of Being a Traveling Physician
Pros
- Better work-life balance and schedule flexibility
- Opportunity to live and work in varied locations
- Exposure to diverse clinical settings
- Less administrative burden, more focus on patient care
Cons
- Must purchase and maintain insurance coverage
- Quarterly tax responsibilities
- Fewer long-term work guarantees
- Potential complexities in housing and logistics for longer contracts
How Much Do Traveling Physicians Make?
On average, locum tenens doctors earn significantly more per hour, often around $32 more than employed physicians.
Specific figures:
- Internal medicine locum doctors earn about $136/hour compared to $96/hour for permanent internal medicine physicians.
- As of August 2025, the national average for a locum tenens doctor is approximately $137/hour, or $285,500/year
- Family medicine locums earn $115–$140/hour; hospitalists average $150–$190/hour; general surgeons earn $1,400–$1,800/day
Pay varies based on specialty, location, and demand trends. Underserved areas often pay more to attract physicians.
Check Out: The Locum Tenens Physician Assistant Guide
How to Become a Traveling Physician
Obtain Multi-State Licenses
- Use the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) for faster licensing in 42 states, D.C., and Guam as of 2025
Secure Your Own Insurance
- Health, disability (own-occupation), life, and occurrence-based malpractice policies are essential
Work with Locum Tenens Agencies
- Staffing firms can help with credentialing, travel, lodging, and matching assignments
Consider Your Home Base
- Maintaining a primary residence allows for stability and meeting physician mortgage qualifications, though locum doctors often need two years of tax returns to qualify
Key Takeaways
Traveling physicians enjoy autonomy, flexible schedules, higher hourly earnings, and the thrill of diverse work environments. In 2025, many earn significantly more than permanent physicians, and licensing is more streamlined through IMLC. However, the traveling lifestyle demands strong financial planning, self-reliance for insurance, and careful logistics for housing and taxes. For physicians who value variety and independence, this path can be very rewarding, but it may not suit those seeking long-term stability or community roots.
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No. Traveling doctors are a subset of locum tenens but not all locum tenens doctors travel
On average, traveling physicians make around $32 more per hour than permanently employed counterparts
No. As independent contractors, they must provide their own health, disability, life, and malpractice insurance.
Most use locum tenens staffing agencies, although some secure contracts independently.
Hospitalists, anesthesiologists, psychiatrists, and emergency physicians are consistently in high demand.
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