WeekdayDoc · Year in review
State of Clinician Hiring 2026
What 465,783 job postings from 21,546 employers say about how physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians were hired in 2026: which specialties employers wanted most, what they advertised in pay, how much work was remote or free of call and weekends, how often they offered bonuses, and whether advertised pay moved. Every figure states its denominator and method.
Preliminary: covers postings through 2026-10-27. The final 2026 report is computed in January and frozen.
Postings analysed
465,783
clinician job postings from 21,546 employers across 61 sources, 2026-01-01 to 2026-10-27
Median advertised physician pay
$340k
median across 10,615 employer-role votes (each employer's median advertised maximum for permanent roles)
Median advertised NP pay
$153k
median across 5,955 employer-role votes; PAs $159k (1,987 votes)
Sign-on bonuses most common
CRNAs · 34.9%
share of 2026 postings stating a sign-on bonus; physicians 22.0%, NPs 15.1%
Most remote profession
Psychologists · 30.0%
share of postings marked remote or telehealth; physicians 12.3%, NPs 12.1%
Slowest profession to fill
Physicians · 45 days
median lifespan of closed postings opened at least 60 days before the computation
By profession
Pay = median across employers of each employer's median advertised maximum for permanent roles. Schedule and bonus columns = share of postings stating the fact. Days = median lifespan of closed postings.
| Profession | Postings | Openings | Employers | Median pay | Remote | No call | No weekends | No nights | Sign-on | Loan repay | Days to close |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical therapists | 63,112 | 23,997 | 3,714 | $102k | 2.2% | 29.9% | 36.3% | 8.0% | 23.1% | 17.3% | 40 |
| Physicians | 59,204 | 37,842 | 5,515 | $340k | 12.3% | 32.2% | 40.6% | 13.3% | 22.0% | 11.5% | 45 |
| Nurse practitioners | 45,143 | 22,845 | 4,963 | $153k | 12.1% | 37.8% | 44.8% | 14.8% | 15.1% | 7.2% | 39 |
| Counselors & therapists | 43,057 | 22,426 | 5,375 | $75k | 23.1% | 41.2% | 49.4% | 12.0% | 13.7% | 13.0% | 36 |
| Occupational therapists | 29,787 | 13,641 | 3,231 | $101k | 3.6% | 29.4% | 34.3% | 8.8% | 12.4% | 8.1% | 37 |
| Pharmacists | 28,800 | 14,024 | 2,290 | $161k | 5.9% | 22.0% | 26.4% | 6.7% | 12.0% | 11.0% | 39 |
| Registered nurses | 26,546 | 14,920 | 3,622 | $106k | 7.3% | 24.8% | 37.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% | 4.0% | 32 |
| Social workers | 24,320 | 12,877 | 3,761 | $85k | 16.6% | 32.5% | 43.5% | 12.4% | 9.6% | 5.1% | 35 |
| Speech-language pathologists | 22,465 | 9,412 | 2,705 | $100k | 5.0% | 33.2% | 36.9% | 8.1% | 10.1% | 6.6% | 38 |
| Physician assistants | 11,663 | 6,520 | 1,844 | $159k | 4.5% | 29.9% | 37.3% | 13.9% | 15.2% | 6.5% | 44 |
| Dentists & dental teams | 11,466 | 5,547 | 1,440 | $260k | 0.4% | 13.0% | 27.2% | 7.9% | 23.8% | 5.3% | 29 |
| Psychologists | 7,982 | 4,653 | 1,730 | $125k | 30.0% | 46.0% | 58.5% | 13.2% | 16.2% | 6.9% | 39 |
| CRNAs | 1,991 | 1,270 | 353 | $277k | 0.1% | 29.2% | 26.1% | 15.0% | 34.9% | 12.5% | 32 |
Physicians: specialties in 2026
| Specialty | Share of openings | Postings | Employers | Median pay | Sign-on | Days to close |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine | 10.42% | 5,895 | 1096 | $299k | 20.8% | 47 |
| Psychiatry | 9.84% | 5,237 | 1005 | $345k | 24.0% | 45 |
| Internal Medicine | 6.33% | 3,167 | 709 | $301k | 21.5% | 45 |
| General Medicine | 5.16% | 2,119 | 934 | $285k | 1.5% | 39 |
| Primary Care | 5.07% | 3,199 | 574 | $300k | 30.1% | 49 |
| Surgery | 4.89% | 1,944 | 381 | $350k | 21.6% | 45 |
| Hospital Medicine | 4.67% | 2,769 | 434 | $314k | 23.4% | 49 |
| Pediatrics | 3.88% | 1,722 | 525 | $270k | 15.9% | 51 |
| Radiology | 3.67% | 1,749 | 327 | $604k | 22.0% | 64 |
| OB/GYN | 3.43% | 1,620 | 337 | $389k | 28.0% | 49 |
| Emergency Medicine | 2.83% | 1,954 | 269 | $373k | 36.1% | 63 |
| Oncology | 2.80% | 1,286 | 324 | $510k | 17.2% | 54 |
| Neurology | 2.45% | 1,089 | 331 | $387k | 18.9% | 56 |
| Cardiology | 2.39% | 1,111 | 303 | $558k | 25.0% | 53 |
| Anesthesiology | 2.21% | 1,349 | 206 | $550k | 33.9% | 50 |
| Dermatology | 2.02% | 778 | 224 | $550k | 27.2% | 49 |
| Gastroenterology | 1.60% | 809 | 238 | $607k | 20.3% | 48 |
| Orthopedic Surgery | 1.52% | 744 | 200 | $700k | 19.2% | 45 |
| Urgent Care | 1.32% | 827 | 163 | $304k | 27.9% | 55 |
| Endocrinology | 1.23% | 551 | 201 | $319k | 20.3% | 55 |
| Pathology | 1.21% | 590 | 207 | $335k | 8.5% | 56 |
| Critical Care Medicine | 1.11% | 579 | 184 | $480k | 21.2% | 56 |
| Urology | 1.11% | 505 | 165 | $610k | 27.3% | 64 |
| Geriatrics | 1.01% | 426 | 139 | $317k | 13.8% | 45 |
| Medical Affairs | 0.96% | 483 | 140 | $340k | 25.9% | 39 |
Nurse practitioners: specialties in 2026
| Specialty | Share of openings | Postings | Employers | Median pay | Sign-on | Days to close |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Care | 14.80% | 6,080 | 1418 | $150k | 8.4% | 39 |
| Family Medicine | 14.62% | 6,760 | 1259 | $153k | 19.9% | 39 |
| Psychiatry | 13.49% | 5,576 | 1297 | $156k | 14.0% | 37 |
| Urgent Care | 3.63% | 2,391 | 348 | $155k | 32.2% | 33 |
| Geriatrics | 3.27% | 1,517 | 217 | $160k | 26.4% | 32 |
| Cardiology | 2.45% | 962 | 271 | $160k | 10.0% | 45 |
| Surgery | 2.20% | 963 | 226 | $173k | 9.9% | 45 |
| Nurse Midwifery | 2.17% | 841 | 314 | $150k | 12.7% | 37 |
| Hospital Medicine | 2.13% | 915 | 276 | $157k | 11.0% | 43 |
| Oncology | 2.02% | 894 | 237 | $161k | 11.1% | 37 |
| Pediatrics | 1.99% | 679 | 297 | $150k | 9.3% | 38 |
| Internal Medicine | 1.93% | 711 | 235 | $159k | 22.6% | 43 |
| Palliative Care | 1.87% | 847 | 205 | $150k | 5.0% | 35 |
| Addiction Medicine | 1.83% | 685 | 191 | $150k | 3.8% | 30 |
| Occupational Medicine | 1.52% | 502 | 118 | $150k | 19.1% | 38 |
| Hospice and Palliative Medicine | 1.28% | 464 | 128 | $138k | 1.9% | 29 |
| Emergency Medicine | 1.26% | 662 | 155 | $158k | 37.8% | 45 |
| Wound Care | 1.12% | 459 | 100 | $150k | 14.4% | 39 |
| Gastroenterology | 1.11% | 466 | 172 | $155k | 10.5% | 41 |
| Neurology | 1.08% | 379 | 168 | $156k | 8.4% | 44 |
| Dermatology | 1.03% | 408 | 108 | $154k | 15.0% | 36 |
| OB/GYN | 1.00% | 353 | 161 | $156k | 6.2% | 44 |
| Obstetrics & Gynecology | 0.98% | 316 | 152 | $150k | 13.3% | 45 |
| Orthopedic Surgery | 0.96% | 363 | 157 | $156k | 11.0% | 46 |
| Nephrology | 0.87% | 328 | 68 | $150k | 16.2% | 37 |
Physician assistants: specialties in 2026
| Specialty | Share of openings | Postings | Employers | Median pay | Sign-on | Days to close |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Care | 13.92% | 1,485 | 533 | $150k | 12.3% | 45 |
| Surgery | 10.50% | 1,052 | 270 | $175k | 6.9% | 43 |
| Family Medicine | 10.01% | 1,400 | 374 | $150k | 21.6% | 45 |
| Orthopedic Surgery | 7.82% | 775 | 277 | $160k | 8.8% | 49 |
| Urgent Care | 4.91% | 882 | 165 | $162k | 24.9% | 29 |
| Cardiology | 2.88% | 270 | 119 | $165k | 9.3% | 45 |
| Occupational Medicine | 2.81% | 339 | 56 | $164k | 30.1% | 41 |
| Emergency Medicine | 2.58% | 302 | 97 | $160k | 20.5% | 44 |
| Oncology | 2.45% | 206 | 97 | $174k | 8.3% | 48 |
| Hospital Medicine | 2.38% | 239 | 100 | $174k | 6.3% | 47 |
| Internal Medicine | 1.69% | 174 | 81 | $156k | 16.7% | 50 |
| Dermatology | 1.65% | 167 | 65 | $150k | 15.6% | 43 |
| OB/GYN | 1.59% | 142 | 73 | $157k | 2.1% | 35 |
| Urology | 1.55% | 131 | 81 | $164k | 9.9% | 54 |
| Psychiatry | 1.54% | 149 | 73 | $142k | 22.1% | 47 |
| Gastroenterology | 1.40% | 131 | 76 | $151k | 6.1% | 61 |
| Radiology | 1.38% | 132 | 54 | $165k | 15.2% | 36 |
| Neurology | 1.37% | 124 | 68 | $167k | 4.0% | 37 |
| Otolaryngology | 1.30% | 109 | 64 | $153k | 11.9% | 31 |
| Geriatrics | 1.28% | 196 | 33 | $153k | 41.8% | 32 |
| Pediatrics | 1.21% | 100 | 65 | $156k | 6.0% | 29 |
| Critical Care Medicine | 1.14% | 108 | 51 | $192k | 1.9% | 41 |
| Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation | 0.96% | 106 | 26 | $155k | 48.1% | 46 |
| Wound Care | 0.80% | 116 | 21 | — | 11.2% | 38 |
By state
| State | Openings | Remote | Physician median pay | NP median pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | 13,911 | 9.0% | $350k | $180k |
| TX | 11,421 | 6.0% | $350k | $145k |
| NY | 9,792 | 7.8% | $300k | $159k |
| FL | 9,409 | 5.2% | $325k | $150k |
| PA | 7,835 | 7.6% | $400k | $142k |
| IL | 7,237 | 7.7% | $373k | $140k |
| OH | 6,760 | 5.9% | $342k | $150k |
| VA | 5,697 | 7.0% | $350k | $155k |
| NC | 5,675 | 9.2% | $300k | $145k |
| GA | 5,585 | 6.7% | $325k | $150k |
| MA | 5,482 | 10.1% | $327k | $164k |
| MI | 4,873 | 7.3% | $303k | $140k |
| NJ | 4,676 | 8.4% | $350k | $150k |
| WA | 4,444 | 9.1% | $350k | $167k |
| AZ | 4,424 | 8.1% | $350k | $155k |
| CO | 4,135 | 7.6% | $320k | $145k |
| MN | 3,921 | 8.6% | $395k | $157k |
| TN | 3,822 | 7.3% | $348k | $144k |
| MD | 3,732 | 12.8% | $349k | $150k |
| MO | 3,618 | 6.4% | $350k | $164k |
| WI | 3,354 | 6.3% | $350k | $155k |
| IN | 3,353 | 7.4% | $354k | $130k |
| SC | 3,262 | 5.4% | $350k | $146k |
| CT | 2,767 | 6.3% | $375k | $163k |
| OR | 2,643 | 9.2% | $342k | $164k |
| KY | 2,380 | 6.1% | $300k | $140k |
| OK | 2,352 | 4.2% | $375k | $145k |
| LA | 2,199 | 6.2% | $375k | $160k |
| IA | 2,146 | 5.4% | $328k | $150k |
| AL | 2,013 | 5.1% | $350k | $150k |
| KS | 1,786 | 9.1% | $375k | $156k |
| UT | 1,623 | 9.0% | $480k | $155k |
| AR | 1,447 | 5.5% | $375k | $155k |
| NM | 1,442 | 13.4% | $320k | $136k |
| NV | 1,424 | 9.1% | $375k | $158k |
| MS | 1,356 | 5.2% | $350k | $146k |
| WV | 1,341 | 5.2% | $350k | $140k |
| NH | 1,196 | 8.3% | $392k | $162k |
| NE | 1,160 | 6.6% | $350k | $153k |
| ME | 923 | 6.3% | $335k | $154k |
| DE | 875 | 17.4% | $385k | $142k |
| ID | 873 | 7.9% | $329k | $164k |
| MT | 857 | 6.6% | $356k | $139k |
| RI | 840 | 16.3% | $300k | $162k |
| SD | 710 | 4.2% | $300k | $169k |
| ND | 609 | 5.2% | $361k | $161k |
| DC | 599 | 19.3% | $305k | $142k |
| VT | 591 | 8.4% | $303k | $140k |
| AK | 558 | 6.1% | $374k | $177k |
| HI | 464 | 11.5% | $270k | $155k |
| WY | 356 | 10.1% | $210k | $145k |
Employers posting the most openings
| Employer | Openings | Postings | Main profession | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Confidential Employer | 2,828 | 5,957 | Counselors & therapists | 50 |
| UnitedHealth Group | 2,135 | 3,612 | Nurse practitioners | 52 |
| FOX Rehabilitation | 1,587 | 3,500 | Physical therapists | 40 |
| Trinity Health | 1,558 | 2,547 | Registered nurses | 29 |
| CVS Health | 1,517 | 7,251 | Pharmacists | 51 |
| UHS | 1,412 | 3,393 | Counselors & therapists | 42 |
| American Addiction Centers | 1,222 | 2,529 | Registered nurses | 19 |
| Sutter Health | 989 | 1,744 | Physicians | 11 |
| Lifepoint Health | 980 | 2,022 | Occupational therapists | 37 |
| WVU Medicine | 951 | 1,379 | Physicians | 15 |
| Adelphi Staffing | 890 | 1,135 | Physicians | 48 |
| BAYADA Home Health Care | 849 | 2,502 | Physical therapists | 23 |
| LifeStance Health | 828 | 6,771 | Counselors & therapists | 37 |
| Intermountain Health | 807 | 1,276 | Physicians | 17 |
| Ascension | 796 | 1,308 | Physicians | 16 |
| Northwestern Memorial Healthcare | 796 | 1,992 | Nurse practitioners | 1 |
| Mass General Brigham | 792 | 1,335 | Physicians | 4 |
| Vohra Physicians | 705 | 1,548 | Physicians | 28 |
| Prisma Health | 666 | 1,211 | Physicians | 8 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 662 | 1,490 | Nurse practitioners | 10 |
| Tenet Healthcare | 659 | 1,416 | respiratory_therapist | 13 |
| Concentra | 640 | 1,490 | Physicians | 43 |
| Sanford Health | 635 | 1,135 | Physicians | 11 |
| Commonwealth Medical Services | 614 | 1,104 | Physicians | 49 |
| Ivy Rehab | 613 | 1,705 | Physical therapists | 20 |
Did advertised pay move?
Roles re-posted by the same employer, same specialty and title, at least 90 days apart — one vote per employer.
| Profession | Employers with re-posts | Median change in advertised max | Raised 2%+ | Cut 2%+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse practitioners | 238 | 0.0% | 23% | 18% |
| Physicians | 216 | 0.0% | 23% | 12% |
| Physician assistants | 71 | 0.0% | 30% | 14% |
| Pharmacists | 63 | 0.0% | 30% | 8% |
| Registered nurses | 27 | 0.0% | 33% | 15% |
What job seekers on WeekdayDoc looked for
Views measure the WeekdayDoc audience, not the market. Views share vs postings share shows where our audience's attention ran ahead of, or behind, the supply of openings.
| Profession | Share of postings | Share of job views on WeekdayDoc |
|---|---|---|
| Physical therapists | 16.8% | 8.7% |
| Physicians | 15.8% | 23.5% |
| Nurse practitioners | 12.0% | 13.8% |
| Counselors & therapists | 11.5% | 10.2% |
| Occupational therapists | 7.9% | 4.3% |
| Pharmacists | 7.7% | 11.0% |
| Registered nurses | 7.1% | 7.4% |
| Social workers | 6.5% | 5.8% |
| Speech-language pathologists | 6.0% | 3.5% |
| Physician assistants | 3.1% | 7.0% |
| Dentists & dental teams | 3.1% | 1.1% |
| Psychologists | 2.1% | 3.4% |
| CRNAs | 0.5% | 0.3% |
Among clinicians enrolled in Get Discovered (small, self-selected group): Nurse practitioners (14) — 7% require no call, 7% no weekends, 7% remote only; Physicians (9) — 0% require no call, 0% no weekends, 0% remote only; Registered nurses (3) — 0% require no call, 33% no weekends, 33% remote only; Psychologists (2) — 0% require no call, 0% no weekends, 0% remote only.
Questions this report answers
Which physician specialties had the most job openings in 2026?
By share of distinct openings inside a fixed panel of 39 sources (each weighted equally): 1. Family Medicine (10.42% of openings), 2. Psychiatry (9.84% of openings), 3. Internal Medicine (6.33% of openings), 4. General Medicine (5.16% of openings), 5. Primary Care (5.07% of openings) (preliminary: data through 2026-10-27).
Which nurse practitioner specialties were most in demand in 2026?
1. Primary Care (14.80% of openings), 2. Family Medicine (14.62% of openings), 3. Psychiatry (13.49% of openings), 4. Urgent Care (3.63% of openings), 5. Geriatrics (3.27% of openings) (preliminary: data through 2026-10-27). Shares count distinct openings (employer + title + state), not duplicate listings.
Which physician assistant specialties were most in demand in 2026?
1. Primary Care (13.92% of openings), 2. Surgery (10.50% of openings), 3. Family Medicine (10.01% of openings), 4. Orthopedic Surgery (7.82% of openings), 5. Urgent Care (4.91% of openings) (preliminary: data through 2026-10-27).
What was the median advertised physician salary in 2026?
$340k, the median across 10,615 employer-role votes — each employer's median advertised maximum for permanent (non-locum) roles, within physician plausibility bounds. Highest-paying physician specialties by the same measure: Orthopedic Surgery $700k, Urology $610k, Gastroenterology $607k, Radiology $604k, Cardiology $558k.
What was the median advertised nurse practitioner salary in 2026?
$153k across 5,955 employer-role votes. Highest-paying NP specialties: Surgery $173k, Oncology $161k, Geriatrics $160k, Cardiology $160k, Internal Medicine $159k.
What share of clinician jobs were remote in 2026?
Physical therapists 2.2%, Physicians 12.3%, Nurse practitioners 12.1%, Counselors & therapists 23.1%, Occupational therapists 3.6%, Pharmacists 5.9%, Registered nurses 7.3%, Social workers 16.6%, Speech-language pathologists 5.0%, Physician assistants 4.5%, Dentists & dental teams 0.4%, Psychologists 30.0%, CRNAs 0.1%. "Remote" = the posting is marked remote or telehealth.
How common were no-call and no-weekend jobs in 2026?
Postings stating no call: Physical therapists 29.9%, Physicians 32.2%, Nurse practitioners 37.8%, Counselors & therapists 41.2%, Occupational therapists 29.4%, Pharmacists 22.0%. No weekends: Physical therapists 36.3%, Physicians 40.6%, Nurse practitioners 44.8%, Counselors & therapists 49.4%, Occupational therapists 34.3%, Pharmacists 26.4%. Unstated schedules are counted as not stated, not as having call.
How common were sign-on bonuses and loan repayment in 2026?
Physical therapists: sign-on 23.1%, loan repayment 17.3%; Physicians: sign-on 22.0%, loan repayment 11.5%; Nurse practitioners: sign-on 15.1%, loan repayment 7.2%; Counselors & therapists: sign-on 13.7%, loan repayment 13.0%; Occupational therapists: sign-on 12.4%, loan repayment 8.1%; Pharmacists: sign-on 12.0%, loan repayment 11.0%; Registered nurses: sign-on 11.6%, loan repayment 4.0%; Social workers: sign-on 9.6%, loan repayment 5.1%; Speech-language pathologists: sign-on 10.1%, loan repayment 6.6%; Physician assistants: sign-on 15.2%, loan repayment 6.5%; Dentists & dental teams: sign-on 23.8%, loan repayment 5.3%; Psychologists: sign-on 16.2%, loan repayment 6.9%; CRNAs: sign-on 34.9%, loan repayment 12.5%. "Stated" means the posting mentions it; amounts are often not given.
Did advertised pay rise in 2026?
Nurse practitioners: of 238 employers re-posting the same role 90+ days apart, 23% raised the advertised maximum by 2%+, 18% cut it, median change 0.0%; Physicians: of 216 employers re-posting the same role 90+ days apart, 23% raised the advertised maximum by 2%+, 12% cut it, median change 0.0%; Physician assistants: of 71 employers re-posting the same role 90+ days apart, 30% raised the advertised maximum by 2%+, 14% cut it, median change 0.0%; Pharmacists: of 63 employers re-posting the same role 90+ days apart, 30% raised the advertised maximum by 2%+, 8% cut it, median change 0.0%; Registered nurses: of 27 employers re-posting the same role 90+ days apart, 33% raised the advertised maximum by 2%+, 15% cut it, median change 0.0%. One vote per employer.
Which states had the most clinician job openings in 2026?
CA (13,911), TX (11,421), NY (9,792), FL (9,409), PA (7,835), IL (7,237), OH (6,760), VA (5,697), NC (5,675), GA (5,585) — distinct openings in the source panel.
Which employers posted the most clinician jobs in 2026?
Confidential Employer (2,828 openings, 50 states), UnitedHealth Group (2,135 openings, 52 states), FOX Rehabilitation (1,587 openings, 40 states), Trinity Health (1,558 openings, 29 states), CVS Health (1,517 openings, 51 states), UHS (1,412 openings, 42 states), American Addiction Centers (1,222 openings, 19 states), Sutter Health (989 openings, 11 states), Lifepoint Health (980 openings, 37 states), WVU Medicine (951 openings, 15 states).
How was this report produced?
From WeekdayDoc's live posting index: Postings collected from 2026-01-01 to 2026-10-27. Shares are source-weighted and count distinct openings (employer + title + state); pay is the median across employers of each employer's median advertised maximum for permanent roles, inside role-specific plausibility bounds. Job-seeker figures describe WeekdayDoc's own audience and are labelled as such. Full method: https://www.weekdaydoc.com/hiring-index/methodology. Cite as "WeekdayDoc State of Clinician Hiring 2026" with a link; data CC BY 4.0.
Method and citation
Postings collected from 2026-01-01 to 2026-10-27. Shares are source-weighted and count distinct openings (employer + title + state); pay is the median across employers of each employer's median advertised maximum for permanent roles, inside role-specific plausibility bounds. Panel: 39 sources posting in ≥ 9 months of the year. Full methodology.
Cite as: WeekdayDoc State of Clinician Hiring 2026 — https://www.weekdaydoc.com/hiring-index/year-in-review/2026 · Download CSV. Data CC BY 4.0.