10 Best States to Work in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2025

Physical medicine and rehabilitation is seeing a renaissance when it comes to job postings in 2025. This surge in need for physiatry specialists is in part due to the fact that the U.S. population is aging, but also due to a rise in physical disabilities that require mobility therapies.

What does this mean for PM&R locums? Well, it means you’re going to have a lot more choices when it comes to your next role. And our goal is to help you narrow that down a bit. 

There’s a bevy of info out there about how the industry is moving, from salaries and quality of living to malpractice. But a lot of it is spread out across multiple channels, studies and agencies. That’s why we’ve built on our series about the top states for specialist locum tenens roles this week with coverage of PM&R roles. 

We’ve broken down 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. That includes not only a deep dive into the numbers, but other critical factors like income taxes, things to do in your area, and provider demand to help you figure out how to get to exactly where you want to be.

Whether you’re looking for something just-for-now or to make a move towards a long term plan, we’ve got you covered.

Let’s dive into the top spots where physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists are building the careers they’ve always wanted.

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

Best States for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialists

• Texas
• Tennessee
• Florida
• Arizona
• Indiana
• Colorado
• North Carolina
• Georgia
• Utah
• Illinois
• How we chose the best states
• Find your next role

Texas

• Best for: Strong malpractice protections, no state income tax and a lot of opportunity.
• Average salary: ~$345-385,000
• Average hourly pay range: $165-185/hr
• Location quotient: 1.8 

The combination of high pay, no state income tax, a top-tier malpractice environment, and major medical centers is unbeatable. Texas’ malpractice protections are highly ranked, with both caps on non-economic damages and tort reform you’ll be able to minimize your risk exposure. With top health centers in Dallas Fort Worth and Houston, Texas is drawing providers into one of the largest medical complexes in the world.

The sky is quite literally the limit here when it comes to amenities as well. From the famed San Antonio River Walk, to the Space Center Museum and the Alamo, there’s lots to explore. 

Tennessee

• Best for: No state income tax, solid malpractice and amazing music and food.
• Average salary: ~$320-365,000
• Average hourly pay range: $160-180
• Location quotient: 1.5

Tennessee’s primary draw for providers is its lack of state income tax, fair malpractice cap, and Vanderbilt, it’s primary academic hub. But it also has major hospital and academic systems in Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga drawing locums providers. Overall, its affordability and amenities make it a powerhouse when you also factor in zero state income tax.

In terms of amenities, all you have to do is stop and listen to the music. From legendary Memphis Blues (and BBQ) to the heart of Country in Nashville (and also hot chicken- let’s be honest), there are plenty of once-in-a-lifetime entertainment opportunities to be found here. 

Florida

• Best for: High demand, high pay, no income tax.
• Average salary: $ 330-375,000
• Average hourly pay range: $160-180
• Location quotient: 1.6

The "no state income tax" benefit is once again a massive financial advantage that outweighs Florida’s less robust malpractice environment and high insurance costs. The high demand and great amenities also make Florida an attractive state for physicians looking for sunny breezes. The state boasts several major academic medical centers like Mayo Clinic (Jacksonville), Cleveland Clinic (Weston), and University of Miami for those looking for an academic position. Amenities include Disneyworld and Universal Studios, as well as the gorgeous shores of Miami Beach and many cultural events.

That being said, locums who move to Florida should keep in mind that insurance costs and housing costs continue to rise rapidly, impacting the overall affordability of the environment.

Arizona

• Best for: Growing hub with fair malpractice, high pay and excellent health centers.
• Average salary: ~$320-365,000
• Average hourly pay range: $155-175
• Location quotient: 1.4

The good news: Arizona is pretty solid on malpractice and high pay. The state has a cap on non-economic damages, but is not as strong on tort reform as some of the previously mentioned states. What the state does have is high pay, great amenities and high demand. Arizona has growing academic and medical hubs with the Mayo Clinic (Scottsdale), Banner Health, and the University of Arizona College of Medicine that provide a wide variety of settings for clinical practice.

And it’s undeniable that the Grand Canyon state has experiences you just can’t get anywhere else. World-class amenities and outdoor activities, golf, hiking, stunning national parks and a warm climate. And the best part? A top-notch food scene with options from just about everywhere. 

Indiana

• Best for: Small town life, stability, affordable cost-of-living
• Average salary: ~$310-355,000
• Average hourly pay range: $150-170
• Location quotient: 1.2

You might not think of the Midwest when you think about top cost-of-living and robust malpractice protections, but Indiana is up there. The state has one of the best malpractice environments in the nation with a total cap on damages (with some exceptions) of $1.25 million, creating a stable practice environment. It also has Indianapolis as a significant medical and academic hub with Indiana University Health and IU School of Medicine.

There is some great shopping in Indianapolis and amenities for pro-sports fans (especially football and IndyCar). But the top draw remains affordability, stability and small town life.

Colorado

• Best for: Nature lovers’ delight, strong medical systems, malpractice risk moderate
• Average pay: ~$320-365,000
• Average hourly pay range: $155-175
• Location quotient: 1.3

The overall outlook on Colorado? Sunny, with a chance of mountain breezes. Diverging from previous states, Colorado’s malpractice environment is a bit more complex. Yes, the state has tort reform but there’s no cap on economic damages, meaning physicians’ risk exposure is a little higher than the previous states. That being said, it does have a very solid medical system. The Denver metro area has several major systems including UCHealth, Centura, and the University of Colorado Hospital. 

Something to keep in mind: both pay and cost-of-living in Colorado are high. But for the savvy outdoor adventurer, there are some truly incredible experiences to be found in the Rockies and its many trails.

North Carolina

• Best for: Academic medicine, affordability and competitive pay.
• Average salary: $310-355,000
• Average hourly pay range: $150-170/hr
• Location quotient: 1.5

The Tar Heel state is another that falls into the moderate category for both pay and mitigating risk. While there is no hard cap on damages, North Carolina has implemented other tort reforms that have improved the environment. But perhaps the top reason to head down North is for the world-class medical and academic research centers. 

The Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham) is a premier academic hub with Duke, UNC, and Wake Forest. Strong health systems in Charlotte and Winston-Salem. Here you’ll find a great combination of cutting-edge medical hubs, competitive pay and moderate cost of living. You might just find yourself going there for your next role, but staying for the beach sunset vistas.

Georgia

• Best for: Moderate cost-of-living, great culture, solid medical systems.
• Average salary: $310-355,000
• Average hourly pay range: $150-170/hr
• Location quotient: 1.3

This one is a genuine peach. Georgia has competitive pay, moderate malpractice protections and culture experiences that can’t be found elsewhere. Physicians are choosing Georgia because it has a non-economic damage cap of $350,000, providing a reasonable level of protection for locums. Atlanta is a major healthcare hub with Emory University and the Shepherd Center, a nationally renowned rehabilitation hospital, and boasts a strong network of regional medical centers serving rural communities. Locums headed to Georgia can expect pay that’s above average and affordable cost-of-living.

Atlanta boasts some of the best restaurant and entertainment cultures in the region. If you enjoy parks, arts, sports and exciting family events, you might just need to get on that midnight train to Georgia.

Utah

• Best for: 
• Average salary: $300-345,000
• Average hourly pay range: $145-165/hr
• Location quotient: 1.1

The Beehive State isn’t just for the outdoorsy physician, it’s for the discerning locum seeking high-quality healthcare systems. Utah does indeed have a cap on non-economic damages, but it’s comparatively higher than other reform states. On the flip side, Intermountain Healthcare and University of Utah Health are central and well-respected systems renowned for patient care. 

While the Salt Lake City area has become significantly more expensive in recent years, other areas outside the metro remain fairly affordable. And add on top of that, you get access to some of the most amazing parks and natural wonders in the country. 

Illinois

• Best for: Incredible medical hubs and amenities, but pricey.
• Average salary: $330-385,000
• Average hourly pay range: $160-185
• Location quotient: 1.7

The Land of Lincoln truly is arguably one of the top 5 medical hubs in the nation and has dining and shopping that may be worthwhile for providers looking for a quality city or suburban lifestyle.

In Chicago, you’ll find the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (consistently ranked the #1 rehabilitation hospital in the U.S.), Northwestern Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, and the University of Chicago.

Downstate, strong academic centers like UI Health in Chicago and Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana (affiliated with the University of Illinois) hold excellent opportunities for both academic and clinical physicians. 

But locums should factor more expensive cost-of-living and the malpractice environment which has no caps into their decisionmaking.

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.

Find Your Next Locum Tenens Role

Your path to a more rewarding PM&R career starts with a strategic choice. You’re ready for better pay, more flexibility, and a location that fits your life and goals. We’re here to make it all happen for you. 

With opportunities across the U.S., from smaller practices to large medical campuses, we leverage our deep networks and understanding of your goals to connect you with the role that’s right for you.Great new roles are out there. Let us help you find them.