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10/21/2025

10 Best States for Psychiatrists to Work in 2026

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Right now, psychiatry is in high demand across the U.S. as the national provider shortage deepens. That means locum physicians are seeing new roles come up left and right, with the potential to move to new locations or even start their own practice.

That being said, there’s a lot of information out there– and not all of it is helpful when strategizing for big career moves. That’s why we’re building on our series about the top states for specialist locum tenens roles with coverage of psychiatry. 

This guide provides the pay, cost-of-living, quality-of-life and risk management data you need to make an informed decision about how and where to move. We’ve done a deep dive into the numbers, but also factored in intangibles like amenities, income taxes, and provider demand to help you figure out how to keep things moving.

Maybe you're looking for a change of scene, a more affordable locale, or alignment with your clinical or academic career goals. We know you'll find a state on this list that goes the distance.

Let’s dive into the top spots where psychiatrists are building the careers they’ve always wanted.

A note on data: Employment rates, location quotients, and salaries come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Salaries are based on full time employment data. Locums work may be higher. 

Best States for Psychiatrists

Ohio

Ohio has the highest number of academic medical centers of any state in the U.S. (18 AMCs), which gives plenty of opportunity for academic medicine, sub‑specialization, research, and collaboration. Ohio is a powerhouse for psychiatric career growth, anchored by nationally recognized hospital systems and prolific academic centers. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and the Cleveland Clinic offer top-tier psychiatric care, research, and subspecialty training in areas like neuromodulation and consultation-liaison psychiatry. Major academic opportunities abound at institutions like the University of Cincinnati, home to a leading addiction psychiatry program, and Case Western Reserve University affiliated with University Hospitals and the MetroHealth System, providing diverse clinical environments and robust research funding, particularly in mood disorders and community mental health.

The cost of living is relatively moderate, and salaries are decent enough to save on and be able to afford all of the creature comforts. In addition to the three C’s, Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati, you’ll have access to a great mix of outdoor adventures in state parks and really solid shopping and food. 

  • Best for:Overall, good balance of pay, job market, academic access, and living costs.
  • Average salary: ~$216,453 in major metro areas
  • Average hourly pay: $210/hr
  • Location quotient: 1.4 
  • Psychiatry Locum Tenens Jobs in Ohio
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Indiana

Indiana comes in at #2 in part because of the extensive need for mental health support across the Midwest, but also because of its favorable tax enviroment. Indiana’s psychiatric landscape is dominated by the integrated academic and clinical strength of the Indiana University School of Medicine, the largest medical school in the U.S., which operates the statewide Eskenazi Health system and the IU Health Neuroscience Center.

Psychiatrists have access to unparalleled research opportunities through the Stark Neurosciences Research Institute and the Larue D. Carter Memorial Hospital, a state-funded facility focused on serious mental illness. The state also benefits from the extensive VA Northern Indiana Health Care System, offering federal employment and academic affiliation opportunities in veteran mental health.

  • Best for: Balanced quality of life, high demand, academic systems in metro areas.
  • Average salary: ~$277,600
  • Average hourly pay: $194-210/hr
  • Location quotient: 1.45
  • Psychiatry Locum Tenens Jobs in Indiana 
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North Dakota

The annual pay for locums in North Dakota just can’t be beat. The state is well known for it’s very high pay, especially when adjusted for cost of living. This is in part due to its low population density and demand for mental healthcare specialists. While rural, North Dakota offers unique and high-impact opportunities within critical access systems and a leading academic center. The University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences in Grand Forks is central, providing training, research in rural and frontier psychiatry, and telemedicine innovation. The state’s largest provider, Sanford Health, headquartered in Fargo, integrates behavioral health across its vast network and supports research initiatives. Additionally, psychiatrists can engage in essential public-sector work through the North Dakota State Hospital in Jamestown and the Fargo VA Health Care System, which serves a large regional veteran population.

Low population density may be a downside for some, but if you’re a nature lover, this might just be the state for you. Majestic views and gorgeous trails in Theodore Roosevelt National Park are a major draw for hikers, campers and sightseers alike.

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Missouri

Missouri strikes an interesting balance between high pay and insulation from risk. Locums here can expect high incomes, lower cost of living, and decent medical infrastructure in cities like St. Louis and Kansas City. Missouri provides a balanced mix of major academic medical centers and renowned private psychiatric institutions. The Washington University in St. Louis Department of Psychiatry is consistently top-ranked for NIH funding, driving cutting-edge research in genetics and neuroimaging. In Kansas City, the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) and Truman Medical Centers/University Health offer strong community psychiatry and residency programs. The state is also home to iconic specialty hospitals like the Menninger Clinic in Houston, affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine, and the Barnes-Jewish Hospital network, creating diverse practice and academic pathways.

In terms of amenities, if you like sightseeing Missouri boasts the St. Louis Arch, an incredible Zoo and Botanical Garden, and jazz and food scenes that can’t be beat. Visit for the locums roles, stay for the BBQ.

Montana

Montana breaks away from the crowd because of its affordable housing. This state has a significantly lower cost of living and provides a more relaxed pace for locums work. It also boasts high demand for psychiatrists especially in lower areas. The state's academic hub is the WWAMI Medical Education Program at Montana State University, in partnership with the University of Washington, training psychiatrists with a focus on rural mental health. Major hospital systems include Billings Clinic, with a integrated behavioral health department and teaching opportunities, and Intermountain Health (formerly SCL Health), which provides a network for telepsychiatry and collaborative care models. Public sector and research opportunities exist through the Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs and the VA Montana Healthcare System based at Fort Harrison.

The primary trade offs? Montana is distinctive because it primarily caters toward rural and remote providers. The state has fewer big academic institutions than the coasts or Midwest, and less dense specialist peer networks. This may also mean fewer amenities, depending on the city. But if you’re looking for some of the most gorgeous views in the U.S., or proximity to Yellowstone National Park, we think you’ll find something worth staying for here.

  • Best for: Rural and remote providers, solid pay and very affordable housing, for the nature lovers.
  • Average salary: ~$273,900
  • Average hourly pay: $190-210/hr
  • Location quotient: 1.1
  • Psychiatry Locum Tenens Jobs in Montana 

Utah

Utah has a really solid selection of traits from across the pay and affordability spectrum, as well as a fairly positive risk environment. Utah stands out for its integration of behavioral health into large, efficient healthcare systems and strong academic research. The Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI) at the University of Utah offers specialized clinical, research, and public advocacy roles in behavioral health. Additionally, the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System provides academic affiliation and opportunities in veteran mental health, complementing the state's collaborative care initiatives.

Cost of living in Utah is only just starting to rise, but it’s still more affordable than most coastal states and certainly has less competition despite demand. For those who love the outdoor life, it also is one of the best options on this list when it comes to camping, sightseeing, rafting and rock climbing and other outdoor activities.

  • Best for: Less saturated market, solid pay, COL and fair malpractice environment.
  • Average pay: ~$215,980
  • Average hourly pay: $200-230/hr 
  • Location quotient: 1.35
  • Psychiatry Locum Tenens Jobs in Utah 

Minnesota

The North Star state has quite a bit to boast about when it comes to locums. Minnesota has strong medical infrastructure that includes academic institutions and research hubs for the locum looking to make big career moves. But beyond that, it’s the quality of life that sets this state apart. Locums will find good salaries and reasonable cost of living (depending on metro vs rural areas). Minnesota is a national leader in healthcare quality and psychiatric innovation, home to world-renowned institutions. The Mayo Clinic in Rochester offers unparalleled subspecialty practice and research in areas like neuropsychiatry and psychosomatic medicine. In the Twin Cities, the University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry boasts strong research in child/adolescent psychiatry and addiction, while Hennepin Healthcare is a nationally modeled site for emergency and community psychiatry.

In terms of amenities, you’ll also find amazing shopping in Minnesota (thanks Mall of America), very good food from a range of culinary backgrounds, and a strong museum culture with lots of family friendly activities.

Texas

Ah yes, everything really is bigger here- including the medical centers. Texas has many academic medical centers (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin) if that’s the way you’re looking to move in locums. Malpractice cultures in the Lone Star state vary by region, so you’ll need to do your homework here. The Texas Medical Center in Houston is the world’s largest, featuring the Baylor College of Medicine and the Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, alongside the UTHealth Houston and the MD Anderson Cancer Center’s psycho-oncology program. In Dallas, the UT Southwestern Medical Center is a research leader, while San Antonio boasts the UT Health San Antonio and the South Texas VA. The state’s large population and numerous public mental health systems ensure high demand and diverse opportunities across practice settings.

However, parts of Texas have high population density or congestion, and some cities have high housing costs. Also, pay tends to vary widely depending on the region.

  • Best for: Big-city demand, academic hubs, central U.S. access
  • Average salary: ~$389,000
  • Average hourly pay: $210-250/hr
  • Location quotient: 1.35
  • Psychiatry Locum Tenens Jobs in Texas 
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Louisiana

Often imitated but never duplicated, Louisiana offers many cultural amenities, low cost of living and very high salaries for psychiatrists relative to many parts of the U.S. This reflects the high demand for psychiatry as well as mental healthcare in general in the state. Louisiana’s psychiatric practice is deeply intertwined with its unique public health challenges and historic academic centers. Tulane University School of Medicine and LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans are key drivers of training and research, particularly in disaster psychiatry, addiction, and health disparities, often in partnership with the University Medical Center New Orleans. The state’s Office of Behavioral Health oversees a network of regional facilities, including the Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System, offering public-sector careers. The Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System also provides significant academic and clinical roles in a region with high need.

That being said, there are trade‑offs locums will want to be aware of: risk of severe weather events, less infrastructure in rural areas, and fewer peer networks in some subspecialties. 

California

The Sunshine State might seem surprising at 10 because California has very high raw salaries, excellent academic institutions, strong hospitals, and many amenities. But, as many already know, cost of living is very high including taxes, housing and transportation. California’s psychiatric landscape is vast and varied, featuring premier academic institutions, innovative public mental health initiatives, and leading industry in digital health and biotechnology. Top-tier departments at Stanford University, UCSF, UCLA, and UC San Diego offer prolific research in neuroscience, health equity, and novel therapeutics, often linked to major medical centers like SFGH and the Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute. Large systems like Kaiser Permanente (with its integrated model) and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (the largest U.S. public system) provide immense clinical and administrative scope, alongside opportunities in pharmaceutical and tech sectors.

With amazing amenities, and a wide range of practice areas from metro to rural to remote, this state does quite literally have something for everyone. If lifestyle and prestige are a career priority for you, California might be the place you’ll want to land next.

  • Best for: Balanced cost of living, access to Midwest hospitals, stable demand.
  • Average salary: ~$288,270
  • Average hourly pay: $300/hr, 
  • Location quotient (metro): 1.6
  • Psychiatry Locum Tenens Jobs in California 

How We Chose the Best States for Locum Tenens

Curating a list of the top states for locum tenens physicians requires balancing quantitative data with qualitative factors that impact career satisfaction and quality of life. Our method focused on four key pillars:

  1. Compensation & Job Market: We analyzed average salaries, hourly wages, and employment data to identify states where locum tenens are competitively compensated. Location quotients helped determine market saturation—whether a state has higher demand (quotient >1) or fewer opportunities (quotient <1) relative to national averages.
  2. Hospital Systems & Academic Opportunities: States with nationally ranked medical schools scored higher, as these institutions offer career growth, research opportunities, and cutting-edge practice environments.
  3. Quality of Life & Cost of Living: We considered taxes, housing affordability, and lifestyle perks (e.g., outdoor recreation, urban amenities). States with no income tax (Florida) or high salary-to-cost-of-living ratios (Wisconsin, Ohio) gained an edge.
  4. Legislation & Practice Environment: Malpractice climates, physician-friendly tort reforms, and state healthcare policies were factored in. 

Salary and employment numbers were critical to our understanding of the state of the job market, but we also incorporated insights from physician recruiters and regional trends (e.g., aging populations in rural areas and competitive metropolitan environments) to ensure our recommendations reflect real-world desirability. The result is a carefully assembled list designed to both reflect current patterns and support you as you make decisions about your locum tenens journey.

Let Us Help You Find Your Next Locum Tenens Role

Ready for a new direction in your psychiatry career—one with higher earning potential, more freedom, and a better work-life balance? At Era, we specialize in connecting talented locums with outstanding roles nationwide.

From prestigious academic institutions to dynamic community-based settings, we’ll match you with opportunities tailored to your professional and personal priorities. Competitive compensation, flexible arrangements, and dedicated support come standard.

The right fit for your next chapter could be just around the corner.

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