Pay, location & work-life context
Rheumatology Salary Map by State (2026)
Median rheumatology pay across 5 states from real job listings — switch views to adjust for cost of living or overlay burnout scores. Medians blend permanent salaries with annualized locums/contract rates. National median: $297,500.
Highest median
Minnesota
$458,084
Best real purchasing power
Minnesota
$464,489 adjusted
Best lifestyle score
New York
5.6/10 avg burnout score
Compare state markets
Choose a metric, then select a state to see its figures and available breakdown.
Tile positions are approximate, not geographic boundaries. Selection adds an outline without changing the metric color. Work-life scores describe listings, not surveyed clinician burnout.
Rheumatology pay by state
Sorted by median advertised pay. On smaller screens, scroll the table sideways to compare all metrics.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Take-home, COL-adj. | Work-life score | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $458,084 | $464,489 | $418,737 | 3.7/10 | 9 |
| California | $325,000 | $293,533 | $266,235 | 5.5/10 | 24 |
| Massachusetts | $297,500 | $281,305 | $267,240 | 4.3/10 | 6 |
| Illinois | $287,500 | $287,621 | $273,384 | 4.2/10 | 9 |
| New York | $270,000 | $250,183 | $233,045 | 5.6/10 | 8 |
Common questions
Which state pays rheumatology physicians the most?
Minnesota currently has the highest median rheumatology salary at $458,084, based on 9 real job listings.
Which state offers the best after-tax rheumatology pay?
Minnesota currently leads the take-home view at $418,737 — the state median after its state income tax (Tax Foundation state income tax rates (2025)), divided by the local cost-of-living index. No-income-tax states like Texas, Florida and Tennessee often outrank nominally higher-paying states here.
Why adjust rheumatology salaries for cost of living?
Prices differ across states. The adjusted view divides each state's pay benchmark by its regional price index (U.S. average = 100). Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (2024). This is a state-level comparison, not a personal budget or a city-level cost estimate. Missing price data is shown as unavailable.
Which state has the best rheumatology lifestyle scores?
New York currently has the highest average WeekdayDoc burnout score (5.6/10, higher is better) for rheumatology listings — a measure of call burden, weekend requirements, and schedule flexibility across postings.
More salary maps
See the full percentile breakdown on the Rheumatology salary page.