In today’s evolving healthcare landscape, physicians and advanced practitioners have more options than ever. One of the most common career decisions? Whether to pursue a traditional permanent hospital job or take the flexible route through locum tenens work.
Both paths offer value — but depending on your priorities, one may align better with your lifestyle, financial goals, and personal well-being.
Work-Life Balance
Permanent roles often come with long-term commitments, on-call duties, and administrative responsibilities. While they offer stability, they can also lead to burnout. Locum tenens allows for breaks between assignments, giving you more time to travel, rest, or pursue personal passions.
Compensation
While permanent jobs may include benefits like health insurance and retirement plans, locum tenens usually pays more per shift. Agencies often cover travel and housing costs, and some locums providers report earning more annually with fewer hours worked.
Flexibility
Locums gives you control over where and when you work. Want to spend the winter near the beach? Prefer working in rural communities? With locum tenens, you're not tied to one location or hospital system.
Professional Growth
Permanent positions can provide opportunities for leadership roles and department advancement. Locums, however, exposes you to diverse patient populations, EMR systems, and clinical practices — helping you sharpen your skills in a variety of settings.
Stability and Benefits
If you’re looking for consistent income and benefits like PTO, health insurance, or tuition reimbursement, a permanent role may be a better fit. Locum tenens workers are independent contractors and typically handle their own insurance, retirement savings, and taxes.
Networking and Freedom
Locums allows you to build relationships across multiple institutions, which can lead to future opportunities. It also frees you from office politics, hospital politics, and long-term contracts.
Conclusion
There's no one-size-fits-all answer. If you're early in your career, exploring locum tenens can provide flexibility and income as you find your long-term fit. If you crave stability and structure, a permanent job may suit you best.
Whatever you choose, Odyssey Locums is here to help you navigate your options and connect with meaningful, rewarding work that fits your lifestyle.