State by state The best and worst states for doctors in 2026 For the third year in a row, Montana leads WalletHub’s annual list, while New York comes in last. See where your state landed. March 30, 2026MondayApril 2026 issue Alexa Wilkerson Alexa Wilkerson is a multimedia content specialist at the AOA. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Contact Alexa Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Topics Best and worst statesbest states for doctorswallethub Key takeaways: In 2026, Montana, Indiana and Louisiana have been found to be the best states for practicing medicine, while Rhode Island, New Jersey and New York are the most difficult, according to WalletHub’s recently released list of the best and worst states for doctors. More details: To narrow down the list, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 19 key metrics that impact the practice of medicine, including the average annual wage of physicians, the number of hospitals per capita and the quality of the public hospital system. Each state received a score out of 100 for each metric; the various scores were then weighted to determine each state’s overall score and ranking in the list. Wisconsin, Missouri and Indiana were found to provide the highest wages (adjusted for cost of living), while the District of Columbia, Hawaii and New Jersey had the lowest wages. Source: WalletHub Each state's ranking for 2026 is displayed on WalletHub's interactive map. Competition for jobs is projected to be the highest in the District of Columbia, Rhode Island and New York by 2032, while Mississippi, Missouri and Louisiana are projected to be the least competitive states for physicians. When evaluating where to practice, Bruce Y. Lee, MD, MBA, professor of health policy and management at City University of New York School of Public Health, told WalletHub he recommends physicians consider the competitive landscape and the diversity of insurers in a given area. Related “Beware of any areas where there is one dominant healthcare system as it can then dictate your opportunities and practice … Similarly, beware of areas where there is one dominant insurer (especially if the insurer is connected to the dominant healthcare system) as it can then dictate your compensation,” he said. Below is WalletHub’s list of the best and worst states for doctors—1 being the best, 51 being the worst. Do you think your state’s ranking is accurate or fair? Please let us know in the comments. WalletHub’s best and worst states for doctors for 2026 Montana Indiana Louisiana South Dakota Minnesota North Dakota Missouri Nebraska Iowa Wisconsin Mississippi Utah Kansas South Carolina Idaho West Virginia Oklahoma Tennessee North Carolina Florida Alabama Georgia Arizona Arkansas Michigan Colorado Texas Maine Kentucky Nevada Virginia Ohio Washington Alaska Delaware Wyoming Massachusetts New Hampshire California Connecticut Pennsylvania Vermont Maryland Oregon New Mexico Illinois District of Columbia Hawaii Rhode Island New Jersey New York Related reading: AOF launches Project Future, a collaborative initiative to transform US healthcare Did you work in the service industry before becoming a physician? More in Profession Applications now open for positions on AOA bureaus, committees and councils Apply by Thursday, April 30. Physician, celebrate thyself: Ideas for recognizing yourself on National Doctors’ Day Self-care and self-celebration are not indulgences—they are essential for sustained excellence in a demanding and noble profession, writes Jeanne Sandella, DO. Previous articlePhysician, celebrate thyself: Ideas for recognizing yourself on National Doctors’ Day Next articleQ&A: How this combat veteran and lifestyle medicine physician is helping shape digital health
Applications now open for positions on AOA bureaus, committees and councils Apply by Thursday, April 30.
Physician, celebrate thyself: Ideas for recognizing yourself on National Doctors’ Day Self-care and self-celebration are not indulgences—they are essential for sustained excellence in a demanding and noble profession, writes Jeanne Sandella, DO.