General Surgery Locum Tenens Rates
The national urban median for General Surgery locum work is $350/hr. The middle 50% of benchmarked rates spans $302–$408/hr.
General Surgery Locum Rate Benchmarks
Locum market rates, 2026.
P25
$302/hr
Median
$350/hr
P75
$408/hr
P90
$464/hr
Based on BLS OEWS public data and CMS geographic adjustments, processed through the LocumRates model.
General Surgery Rates by Region and Setting
| Region | Setting | P25 | Median | P75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | Urban Hospital | $294/hr | $341/hr | $397/hr |
| Rural Critical Access Rural / CAH | $256/hr | $296/hr | $346/hr | |
| Midwest | Urban Hospital | $344/hr | $399/hr | $465/hr |
| Rural Critical Access Rural / CAH | $299/hr | $347/hr | $405/hr | |
| South | Urban Hospital | $371/hr | $430/hr | $502/hr |
| Rural Critical Access Rural / CAH | $323/hr | $374/hr | $437/hr | |
| Southeast | Urban Hospital | $320/hr | $371/hr | $432/hr |
| Rural Critical Access Rural / CAH | $278/hr | $323/hr | $376/hr | |
| West | Urban Hospital | $278/hr | $322/hr | $375/hr |
| Rural Critical Access Rural / CAH | $242/hr | $280/hr | $326/hr | |
| Southwest | Urban Hospital | $343/hr | $397/hr | $463/hr |
| Rural Critical Access Rural / CAH | $298/hr | $346/hr | $403/hr |
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General Surgery Locum Market Overview
General Surgery is among the highest-revenue locum specialties — a rural surgeon generates $1–2.7 million in annual hospital revenue (ACS, 2024), and surgical cases represent a substantial share of total hospital revenue. Rural critical access surgical coverage is one of the fastest-growing locum categories nationally, driven by the inability of small hospitals to sustain full-time employed surgeons. Endoscopy capability (EGD, colonoscopy) is increasingly required at CAH assignments and meaningfully expands the available assignment pool.
- Rural critical access surgical coverage is among the fastest-growing locum categories nationally
- Laparoscopic and robotic surgery capability is expected at most urban assignments
- Trauma surgery crossover (ATLS) expands rural CAH eligibility and rate ceiling significantly
- Endoscopy capability (colonoscopy, EGD) opens additional procedure revenue at rural sites
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What Affects General Surgery Locum Pay
Urban Hospital
- Robotic surgery certification (da Vinci) is standard at most urban assignments — confirm equipment availability before committing
- Trauma activation capability (ATLS) opens surgical trauma coverage at Level II/III centers
- Endoscopy (EGD and colonoscopy) is often bundled into urban GS assignments — confirm procedure volume and rate
- Block scheduling (7+ consecutive days) typically commands a higher daily rate than per-diem; negotiate before the schedule is set
Rural Critical Access
- A rural surgeon generates $1–2.7M in annual hospital revenue (ACS, 2024) — your leverage is structural, not incidental
- Endoscopy capability is a near-requirement at rural CAH assignments and should be priced separately from base surgical coverage
- 24-hour call coverage ($3,800–5,500/day) is the highest-leverage line item to negotiate at rural sites
- Travel, housing, and malpractice tail are standard inclusions — confirm all three in writing before accepting
General Surgery Contract Terms to Review
Items to review carefully before signing
- OR block time not guaranteed — confirm minimum case volume or block hours in writing
- Scope of surgical coverage undefined — clarify whether you cover trauma, OB C-sections, or only elective general surgery
- 24-hour call rate not separated from base hourly — negotiate call as a distinct line item
- Malpractice tail not included — confirm who pays, policy limits, and whether tail survives termination
- Endoscopy scope bundled at base surgical rate — if covering endoscopy, price it separately
- Credentialing timeline not tied to rate start — delays before first shift cost you money
General Surgery Negotiation Toolkit
Exact recruiter scripts, 50-state rate tables at P25/50/75/90, specialty leverage,
contract and malpractice protection, credentialing, and first-shift guidance.
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