Midwest ranks highest in pay, lowest in burnout

The Midwest may be the best place for physicians to practice, according to data measuring physician income and burnout.

Based on data collected in May 2016 by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, physicians in New Hampshire had the highest annual average wage at $272,820, followed by Wyoming ($259,940), and Minnesota ($253,440). The states where physicians earned the least were New York ($177,330), Kentucky ($176,330), and Nebraska ($163,730). Overall, the average annual wage for physicians was $205,560.

Medscape ranked the best cities for physicians to avoid burnout and stress and the top four are located in the Midwest: Minneapolis, Minnesota; Madison, Wisconsin; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Des Moines, Iowa. The ranking was based on several factors believed to contribute to burnout, including the rates of medical board actions and malpractice lawsuits, physician density, income, insurance coverage, divorce rates, and cost of living. Rounding out the top 10 cities are Burlington, Vermont; Manchester, Hampshire; Boston; Fargo, North Dakota; Portland, Maine; and Overland Park, Kansas. The worst cities were New Orleans, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, and Tulsa.

Sources: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medscape