2026 Locum Tenens Physician Report Reveals 41% of Physicians Now Have Locums Experience – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pexels)
Physicians in the United States are moving away from the traditional model of a single, lifelong practice at a notable pace. A new report from Weatherby Healthcare shows that locum tenens assignments have become a mainstream option rather than a temporary stopgap. The findings point to broader changes in how doctors manage their careers in response to burnout, debt, and administrative demands.
Steady Rise in Participation Over the Past Decade
The share of physicians currently working locum tenens assignments has climbed from 5 percent to 14 percent in ten years. At the same time, 41 percent of all physicians now report having some experience with this type of work, a figure that has doubled since 2016. These numbers reflect a clear shift toward more flexible arrangements that allow doctors to maintain clinical involvement without the full weight of permanent practice obligations.
Weatherby Healthcare President Mike DePaolis noted that locums work does not compete with a physician’s career but instead extends it. The report frames this growth as a response to systemic issues, including declining reimbursements and heavier administrative loads that have made fixed practices less sustainable for many clinicians.
Motivations Differ by Career Stage
Doctors turn to locum tenens for reasons that align closely with where they stand in their professional lives. Early-career physicians, who make up 62 percent of those who begin locums work in their first decade, often use the model to manage high student debt or to test different practice settings before committing long term. Mid-career doctors, described in the report as a generation under pressure, seek relief from burnout through greater scheduling control.
Late-career physicians increasingly view locums as a way to remain active in patient care while reducing hours and administrative duties. Rather than retiring outright, 63 percent prefer this gradual transition. The report also notes that physicians overall face an 82 percent higher risk of burnout than other professionals, with mid-career doctors reporting a 48 percent improvement in well-being once they start locum assignments.
Key findings at a glance:
- 14 percent of physicians currently work locum tenens, up from 5 percent a decade ago.
- 41 percent have locums experience overall.
- Median medical school debt stands at $215,000.
- Medicare payments have fallen 33 percent since 2001 when adjusted for inflation.
Financial Pressures and Changing Reimbursement Realities
Debt and payment trends remain central drivers. With median medical school debt at $215,000 and new federal loan limits under H.R. 1 adding further constraints, many early-career physicians see locums work as a route to higher immediate earnings. Fixed practices face additional strain from Medicare physician payments that have declined 33 percent since 2001 after inflation adjustments.
Locum assignments allow clinicians to sidestep some overhead costs that permanent settings can no longer easily absorb. The report presents these economic factors as part of a larger pattern in which physicians seek arrangements that better match current reimbursement levels and regulatory demands.
Positive Views From Colleagues, Administrators, and Patients
Concerns about continuity or quality appear overstated. Sixty-two percent of colleagues and 54 percent of administrators at assignment sites hold favorable opinions of locum physicians. Patients frequently express appreciation because locums coverage shortens wait times for appointments from months to days in many cases.
The report concludes that locum tenens has moved from fringe status to a respected career path supported by professional peers. This acceptance suggests the model will continue to play a larger role as physicians balance clinical work with personal and financial priorities.
