Whether you’re a resident trying to decide where to settle down or a seasoned physician looking for a new place to work, it can be helpful to see what doctors in other states earn — and whether it’s worth relocating.
Physicians Practice recently looked all 50 states and the District of Columbia to determine which regions had the greatest outlook for physicians. Using factors like the cost of living, tax climate, residency retention rate and physician density, they ranked the best and worst states for practicing medicine.
Here are a few findings from their report:
West is best for landing a new job
Three of the highest-ranking states for low physician density are in the western region of the United States. Mississippi, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada and Arkansas have the lowest number of active physicians.
On the other hand, states with the highest physician density dotted the East coast. Rhode Island, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts and the District of Columbia made the bottom five.
Less-populated states pay significantly less in malpractice claims
Five states with a population of 1.6 million or less — all but one west of the Mississippi River — had fewer malpractice claims and thus paid much less to settle claims each year.
States with the lowest malpractice paid losses, in order, were:
- North Dakota ($2.8 million)
- Hawaii ($3.1 million)
- Vermont ($5 million)
- Idaho ($6.3 million)
- Wyoming ($6.7 million)
Rounding out the bottom five were Florida ($225 million), Illinois ($229 million), California ($234 million), Pennsylvania ($338 million) and New York ($636 million).
Southern states have the lowest cost of living
If you’re looking for the most affordable groceries, housing and transportation, it’s time to head south. Four of the five states ranking lowest for cost of living are in the South: Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Alabama. Indiana is second in terms of affordability.
Your dollar stretches less in coastal states. New York, California, Massachusetts, District of Columbia and Hawaii have the highest cost of living.
Learn more about the best and worst states for medical practice in the Physicians Practice infographic below!
