This year’s compensation report continues to reflect the total lack of standardization in the specialty, further proving the supply-demand status of the market. Jobs in highly desirable lifestyle areas feature significantly lower incomes because those employers don’t need to use dollars as a draw. The following numbers are based on 1,632 clinical hours per year and include incentive bonuses and RVUs where applicable. The annual incomes include a basic benefits package worth $25K. Sign-on bonuses, loan assistance, and other perks are not included. Rankings are based on state averages, not the sporadic highs.

The Southeast leads the country in compensation, with all state income averages near or topping $200 per hour. Louisiana is back in the top 10 for the first time since Hurricane Katrina!

ALABAMA: Average of $196 per hr./$344K annually, high of $291 per hr./$500K annually in Southeast
ARKANSAS: Average of $201 per hr./$352K annually, high of $225 per hr./$392K annually
FLORIDA: Average of $205 per hr./$359K annually, high of $291 per hr./$500K annually in Southwest Coast
GEORGIA: Average of $220 per hr./$384K annually, high of $250 per hr./$432K annually, $430K+ annually in Atlanta
LOUISIANA: Average of $214 per hr./$374K annually, high of $250 per hr./$432K annually
MISSISSIPPI: Average of $250 per hr./$432K annually, high of $300 per hr./$515K annually on Gulf Coast
NORTH CAROLINA: Average of $210 per hr./$367K annually, high of $225 per hr./$392K annually
SOUTH CAROLINA: Average of $200 per hr./$351K annually, high of $291 per hr./$500K annually
TENNESSEE: Average of $200 per hr./$351K annually, high of $260 per hr./$440K annually

The Midwest is closing in (despite dodgy numbers in closed-mouthed Ohio) due to the boom state of North Dakota and increases throughout the region.

ILLINOIS: Average of $214 per hr./$374K annually, high of $291 per hr./$500K annually, $325K annually in Chicago
INDIANA: Average of $197 per hr./$346K annually, high of $260 per hr./$450K annually
IOWA: Average of $194 per hr./$340K annually, high of $272 per hr./$468K annually
KANSAS: Average of $200 per hr./$351K annually, no significant highs
KENTUCKY: Average of $200 per hr./$351K annually, high of $230 per hr./$394K annually
MICHIGAN: Average of $175 per hr./$310K annually, high of $192 per hr./$338K annually, $340K annually in Upper realm
MINNESOTA: Average of $175 per hr./$310K annually, high of $200 per hr./$351K annually
MISSOURI: Average of $210 per hr./$367K annually, high of $300 per hr./$515K annually, $275 per hr. in St. Louis
NEBRASKA: Average of $200 per hr./$351K annually, no significant highs
NORTH DAKOTA: Average of $208 per hr./$365K annually, high of $291 per hr./$500K annually
OHIO: Average of $186 per hr./$328K annually, no significant highs
SOUTH DAKOTA: N/A
WISCONSIN: Average of $223 per hr./$390K annually, high of $300 per hr./$515K annually, $300K annually in Madison/Milwaukee

Texas, New Mexico, and California drive the high dollars in the Western region, with dramatic lows in Colorado, Arizona, and Hawaii.

ARIZONA: Average of $160 per hr./$286K annually, high of $225 per hr./$392K annually in Kingman, $250K annually in Phoenix
CALIFORNIA: Average of $220 per hr./$384K, high of $291 per hr./$500K annually, $500K annually in Los Angeles
COLORADO: Average of $150 per hr./$269K annually, no significant highs
HAWAII: Average of $140 per hr./$253K annually, no significant highs
NEVADA: Average of $195 per hr./$343K annually in Las Vegas, no significant highs
NEW MEXICO: Average of $224 per hr./$390K annually, high of $308 per hr./$525K annually in Roswell/Carlsbad area
OKLAHOMA: Average of $210 per hr./$367K annually, high of $220 per hr./$367K annually
TEXAS: Average of $242 per hr./$419K annually, high of $300 per hr./$515K annually, $450K annually in Houston and Dallas, $380K annually in San Antonio and Austin
UTAH: N/A

The Middle Atlantic states experienced about a 10 percent earnings hike but primarily in Pennsylvania, with other states staying mostly the same.

DELAWARE: Average of $180 per hr./$318K annually, no significant highs
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Average of $132 per hr./$240K annually, no significant highs
MARYLAND: Average of $155 per hr./$278K annually, high of $200 per hr./$351K annually in Cumberland region
NEW JERSEY: Average of $180 per hr./$318K annually, high of $200 per hr./$351K annually
PENNSYLVANIA: Average of $200 per hr./$351K annually, high of $230 per hr./$400K annually, $375K annually in Pittsburgh, $300K annually in Philadelphia
VIRGINIA: Average of $194 per hr./$341K annually, high of $256 per hr./$442K annually
WEST VIRGINIA: Average of $175 per hr./$310K annually, no significant highs

The Northeastern states also remain predominately the same, with increases in New Hampshire and New York.

CONNECTICUT: Average of $175 per hr./$310K annually, no significant highs
MAINE: Average of $150 per hr./$271K annually, no significant highs
MASSACHUSETTS: Average of $170 per hr./$302K annually, high of $225 per hr./$392K annually, $150–$179 per hr. in Boston
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Average of $180 per hr./$318K annually, no significant highs
NEW YORK: Average of $168 per hr./$299K annually, high of $225 per hr./$392K annually, $270K annually in New York City
RHODE ISLAND: Average of $155 per hr./$278K annually, no significant highs
VERMONT: Average of $180 per hr./$318K annually, no significant highs

Nothing seems to change in the Pacific Northwest, land of low incomes and high mountains.

ALASKA: Average of $140 per hr./$253K annually, no significant highs (or jobs for that matter)
IDAHO: Average of $135 per hr./$245K annually, no significant highs (or jobs for that matter)
MONTANA: Average of $175 per hr./$310K annually, no significant highs (or jobs for that matter)
OREGON: Average of $176 per hr./$312K annually, no significant highs (or jobs for that matter)
WASHINGTON: Average of $185 per hr./ $296K annually, high of $250 per hr./$400K annually
WYOMING: Average of $185 per hr./$327K annually, high of $230 per hr./$400K annually

Trends

• The percentage of jobs open to primary care–boarded physicians is 37 percent, up 6 percent from last year.
• Sign-on bonuses are increasing, with the average at $25K and the high at $50K; most do not include relocation. It is difficult to pinpoint the percentage of employers that offer sign-ons, but it is around 75 percent.
• The good news is that emergency physician incomes are up 10 percent across the board from last year.
• The benchmark of $200 per hour continues to prevail, spreading into the Middle Atlantic but remaining elusive in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest.
• Regional averages show the Southeast still leads in highest average compensation but is followed closely by the Midwest and Western states.

Top 10 States for Compensation

1. Mississippi
2. Texas
3. New Mexico
4. Wisconsin
5. California
6. Georgia
7. Illinois
8. Louisiana
9. Oklahoma
10. Missouri

Bottom 10 States for Compensation

1. District of Columbia
2. Idaho
3. Hawaii
4. Colorado
5. Maine
6. Washington
7. Maryland
8. Arizona
9. New York
10. Massachusetts