Orthopedic Surgery Locum Tenens Rates
The national urban median for Orthopedic Surgery locum work is $440/hr. The middle 50% of benchmarked rates spans $389–$501/hr.
Orthopedic Surgery Locum Rate Benchmarks
Locum market rates, 2026.
P25
$389/hr
Median
$440/hr
P75
$501/hr
P90
$560/hr
Based on BLS OEWS public data and CMS geographic adjustments, processed through the LocumRates model.
Orthopedic Surgery Rates by Region and Setting
| Region | Setting | P25 | Median | P75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | Urban Hospital | $383/hr | $433/hr | $494/hr |
| Rural Critical Access Rural / CAH | $333/hr | $377/hr | $430/hr | |
| Midwest | Urban Hospital | $404/hr | $457/hr | $521/hr |
| Rural Critical Access Rural / CAH | $351/hr | $398/hr | $453/hr | |
| South | Urban Hospital | $440/hr | $498/hr | $568/hr |
| Rural Critical Access Rural / CAH | $383/hr | $433/hr | $494/hr | |
| Southeast | Urban Hospital | $396/hr | $448/hr | $510/hr |
| Rural Critical Access Rural / CAH | $344/hr | $389/hr | $444/hr | |
| West | Urban Hospital | $372/hr | $421/hr | $480/hr |
| Rural Critical Access Rural / CAH | $324/hr | $366/hr | $417/hr | |
| Southwest | Urban Hospital | $450/hr | $510/hr | $581/hr |
| Rural Critical Access Rural / CAH | $392/hr | $443/hr | $505/hr |
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Orthopedic Surgery Locum Market Overview
Orthopedic Surgery is a high-demand locum specialty with active markets across urban hospital systems and rural critical access facilities. Rates reflect regional variation in physician supply, cost of living, and facility type. Rural settings consistently command a premium due to persistent staffing shortages.
- Highest-rate surgical locum specialty — subspecialty skills command significant premiums
- Sports medicine and arthroscopy is the highest-volume urban assignment type
- Spine surgery locum coverage is a constrained market with premium rates and limited competition
- Rural CAH orthopedic coverage includes fracture care, urgent consults, and basic arthroscopy
Get the full Orthopedic Surgery toolkit — 50-state rate tables, exact recruiter
scripts, contract protection, credentialing, and a first-offer-to-final-shift playbook.
What Affects Orthopedic Surgery Locum Pay
Urban Hospital
- Block scheduling (7+ consecutive days) typically yields a higher daily rate than per-diem
- Subspecialty training or procedural skills beyond the base requirement command a premium
- Overnight and weekend availability is undersubscribed — use this to negotiate higher rates
- Existing hospital credentialing that transfers reduces facility onboarding cost — leverage it
Rural Critical Access
- Rural facilities operate in a sellers market for Orthopedic Surgery coverage — most will meet your rate
- Travel, housing, and malpractice tail are standard inclusions — always confirm in writing
- Solo coverage capability is required and commands a significant premium
- Long-term relationships with rural facilities (6+ months) can yield rate escalators
Orthopedic Surgery Contract Terms to Review
Items to review carefully before signing
- OR block time not guaranteed — confirm minimum cases or block hours per week in writing
- Trauma call rate not separated from base hourly — 24-hour trauma call is a distinct line item
- Implant and hardware cost pass-through not addressed — clarify who bears implant costs and whether this affects case selection
- Scope of surgical coverage undefined — confirm whether you cover hand, spine, pediatric ortho, or only general ortho/trauma
- Malpractice tail not included — confirm who pays, policy limits, and whether tail covers surgical complications
- Equipment availability not confirmed — verify arthroscopic and robotic equipment availability before committing
Orthopedic 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.
$99 one-time.
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