Locum Tenens Providers salary guide

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Published BLS wages for this family. BLS OEWS May 2025.

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What does a locum tenens provider cover on site?

A locum tenens provider steps into scheduled patient care, call, and handoffs. On shift, they review the booked list, check charts, write orders, and speak with your staff. We ask which services they will cover, and which decisions stay with your medical director or attending.

Which specialties need the most review before a start?

Different assignments need different review. An anesthesiologist may cover cases, blocks, and pre-op checks. A radiologist may read studies from another site. A psychiatrist or primary care physician may work with scheduled visits, call, or telehealth. We ask what the day looks like before you approve coverage.

Who should make scope calls during the assignment?

You should set the clinical scope before anyone starts. We ask who can admit, discharge, round, order tests, and sign certain documents. For advanced practice roles, we also ask who supervises, what is delegated, and what needs physician sign-off. That keeps the workday clear for both sides.

What details matter before we present a candidate?

We look at setting, schedule, patient mix, shift length, call, and weekend work. We also ask about charting tools, support staff, and handoff timing. For locum work, we confirm travel, licensing, credentialing, and malpractice coverage before anyone begins. We arrange locum tenens, travel and contract coverage on request. Credentialing, licensing and malpractice coverage are confirmed per engagement before anyone starts.

How do locum rates relate to the workday?

The rate should match the work asked for, not only the title. Overnight call, weekend coverage, procedure work, telehealth, and short-notice starts all change the search. We review the schedule and the setting first, then discuss the market for that exact assignment.

What should you expect after the offer is accepted?

After acceptance, the work shifts to onboarding details. Your team confirms schedule, contact points, badge access, EMR training, and first-day reporting. We stay in contact on timing and open items. If the search is permanent, we use a standard direct hire process. We offer a candidate replacement guarantee on standard search agreements.

What else should you ask about this edition?

How do we judge whether the locum provider can handle our schedule?

Start with the actual shift pattern. Tell us if you need day coverage, nights, weekends, call, or block time. That lets us present people who can work the hours you need, not just the title.

What should we ask about telepsychiatry or teleradiology coverage?

Ask where the work is done, how the handoff happens, and who receives urgent findings or safety concerns. You should also decide who owns follow-up and documentation review. Those points keep remote coverage aligned with your on-site team.

Who confirms malpractice, licensing, and credentialing for a locum start?

Those items are confirmed per engagement before start. We ask for the state, the site, and the practice details early so the file can move in the right order. Your team still decides when the clinician is cleared to work.

Can one locum provider cover both clinic and hospital work?

Sometimes, but only if your setting and scope allow it. We ask about rounding, procedures, call, and patient volume for each location. If the work changes across sites, we separate those duties before we present anyone.