These are the best – and worst – states to be a doctor in the US
The level of education required to become a doctor in the United States necessitates an investment of both time and money.
After eight years of undergraduate and postgraduate studies, 75 percent of medical school graduates in 2018 are carrying student loan debt. And half of those in debt owe $200,000 or more.
Even though physicians are among the highest paid professionals in the labor force, paying off that much debt is no small task. As the average compensation of general practitioners varies by state, where medical school graduates choose to practice can affect how long it will take them to pay off their student debt.
As in other professions, for doctors, compensation is just one of many factors to consider when deciding where to work. Hospitals across the country are not necessarily equally desirable work environments. As determined by measures such as average emergency room wait times, readmission rates and mortality rates, the efficacy and efficiency of hospitals varies considerably across the country.
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To identify the best and worst states for doctors, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed several measures meant to gauge of the quality of the system in which doctors work. We included in our analysis the average salary of general practitioners as a proxy for salaries of physicians as a broad group. In addition to general practitioner salary, our index includes average emergency room wait time, the share of patients readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of treatment – often an indication of hospital error – and the share of patients who die of certain conditions within 30 days of treatment. States are ranked from best to worst.
50. Maryland
• Average general practitioner salary: $209,420 (25th lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 53 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: N/A
• Average hospital mortality rate: N/A
49. New Mexico
• Average general practitioner salary: $160,780 (the lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 23 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.3 percent (19th lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.6 percent (14th highest)
48. Missouri
• Average general practitioner salary: $172,940 (2nd lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 20 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.9 percent (11th highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.1 percent (23rd lowest)
47. Rhode Island
• Average general practitioner salary: $178,230 (3rd lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 31 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.9 percent (12th highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 12.4 percent (7th lowest)
46. New York
• Average general practitioner salary: $186,460 (4th lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 21 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 16.3 percent (3rd highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 12.6 percent (10th lowest)
45. Tennessee
• Average general practitioner salary: $188,550 (5th lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 17 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.8 percent (14th highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.6 percent (17th highest)
44. Georgia
• Average general practitioner salary: $189,980 (7th lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 26 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.5 percent (21st highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.2 percent (25th lowest)
43. Nevada
• Average general practitioner salary: $197,500 (13th lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 15 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 16.0 percent (9th highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.9 percent (7th highest)
42. Michigan
• Average general practitioner salary: $191,260 (9th lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 19 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 16.3 percent (5th highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 12.3 percent (4th lowest
41. Vermont
• Average general practitioner salary: $197,120 (12th lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 23 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.4 percent (22nd lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.5 percent (19th highest)
40. North Carolina
• Average general practitioner salary: $201,500 (18th lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 26 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.3 percent (20th lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.6 percent (15th highest)
39. Delaware
• Average general practitioner salary: $190,020 (8th lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 35 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.5 percent (24th highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 11.7 percent (2nd lowest)
38. Arkansas
• Average general practitioner salary: $222,460 (12th highest)
• Average ER wait time: 23 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 16.1 percent (6th highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 14.3 percent (the highest)
37. Mississippi
• Average general practitioner salary: $218,640 (19th highest)
• Average ER wait time: 23 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 16.4 percent (2nd highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.6 percent (18th highest)
36. California
• Average general practitioner salary: $196,180 (11th lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 23 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.5 percent (23rd highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 12.9 percent (18th lowest)
35. Alabama
• Average general practitioner salary: $208,400 (23rd lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 26 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.5 percent (22nd highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.4 percent (20th highest)
34. Maine
• Average general practitioner salary: $198,210 (15th lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 23 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.1 percent (14th lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.3 percent (24th highest)
33. Connecticut
• Average general practitioner salary: $203,640 (19th lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 25 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 16.0 percent (8th highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 12.5 percent (8th lowest)
32. West Virginia
• Average general practitioner salary: $204,280 (20th lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 23 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 16.0 percent (10th highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 12.6 percent (11th lowest)
31. Montana
• Average general practitioner salary: $189,490 (6th lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 15 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 14.6 percent (4th lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.7 percent (13th highest)
30. Hawaii
• Average general practitioner salary: $194,760 (10th lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 20 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 14.3 percent (the lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 14.0 percent (4th highest)
29. Arizona
• Average general practitioner salary: $198,530 (17th lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 26 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.1 percent (13th lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 12.8 percent (16th lowest)
28. Virginia
• Average general practitioner salary: $205,920 (22nd lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 18 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.8 percent (15th highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.1 percent (22nd lowest)
27. Oregon
• Average general practitioner salary: $213,840 (25th highest)
• Average ER wait time: 27 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.1 percent (12th lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.9 percent (5th highest)
26. Indiana
• Average general practitioner salary: $198,080 (14th lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 17 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.3 percent (18th lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 12.9 percent (19th lowest)
25. Kentucky
• Average general practitioner salary: $214,830 (24th highest)
• Average ER wait time: 22 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.9 percent (13th highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.1 percent (21st lowest)
24. Florida
• Average general practitioner salary: $215,300 (23rd highest)
• Average ER wait time: 19 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 16.3 percent (4th highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 12.7 percent (12th lowest)
23. Ohio
• Average general practitioner salary: $198,230 (16th lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 16 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.5 percent (20th highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 12.3 percent (5th lowest)
22. Texas
• Average general practitioner salary: $204,660 (21st lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 20 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.4 percent (21st lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 12.7 percent (13th lowest)
21. New Jersey
• Average general practitioner salary: $216,880 (21st highest)
• Average ER wait time: 25 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 16.1 percent (7th highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 12.3 percent (3rd lowest)
20. Wyoming
• Average general practitioner salary: $219,690 (16th highest)
• Average ER wait time: 16 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.5 percent (25th lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.8 percent (9th highest)
19. Massachusetts
• Average general practitioner salary: $224,710 (9th highest)
• Average ER wait time: 35 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 16.4 percent (the highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 11.7 percent (the lowest)
18. Utah
• Average general practitioner salary: $208,640 (24th lowest)
• Average ER wait time: 13 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 14.6 percent (6th lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 14.1 percent (2nd highest)
17. Pennsylvania
• Average general practitioner salary: $216,800 (22nd highest)
• Average ER wait time: 21 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.7 percent (16th highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 12.8 percent (14th lowest)
16. Illinois
• Average general practitioner salary: $220,290 (15th highest)
• Average ER wait time: 23 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.7 percent (17th highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 12.5 percent (9th lowest)
15. Alaska
• Average general practitioner salary: $223,090 (11th highest)
• Average ER wait time: 27 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 14.5 percent (3rd lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.9 percent (6th highest)
14. Louisiana
• Average general practitioner salary: $218,480 (20th highest)
• Average ER wait time: 19 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.5 percent (18th highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 12.8 percent (15th lowest)
13. South Carolina
• Average general practitioner salary: $234,420 (4th highest)
• Average ER wait time: 29 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.4 percent (24th lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.4 percent (21st highest)
12. Oklahoma
• Average general practitioner salary: $223,760 (10th highest)
• Average ER wait time: 17 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.4 percent (23rd lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.4 percent (22nd highest)
11. North Dakota
• Average general practitioner salary: $224,820 (8th highest)
• Average ER wait time: 17 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.1 percent (11th lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.8 percent (11th highest)
10. Washington
• Average general practitioner salary: $230,330 (5th highest)
• Average ER wait time: 24 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 14.8 percent (8th lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 14.0 percent (3rd highest)
9. Kansas
• Average general practitioner salary: $227,140 (6th highest)
• Average ER wait time: 16 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.3 percent (17th lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.6 percent (16th highest)
8. Nebraska
• Average general practitioner salary: $227,020 (7th highest)
• Average ER wait time: 19 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.0 percent (10th lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.7 percent (12th highest)
7. Minnesota
• Average general practitioner salary: $219,360 (17th highest)
• Average ER wait time: 18 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.2 percent (16th lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 12.8 percent (17th lowest)
6. Idaho
• Average general practitioner salary: $220,550 (14th highest)
• Average ER wait time: 18 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 14.5 percent (2nd lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.8 percent (10th highest)
5. Colorado
• Average general practitioner salary: $222,240 (13th highest)
• Average ER wait time: 13 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 14.7 percent (7th lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.4 percent (23rd highest)
4. Iowa
• Average general practitioner salary: $241,760 (3rd highest)
• Average ER wait time: 19 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.2 percent (15th lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.8 percent (8th highest)
3. South Dakota
• Average general practitioner salary: $218,810 (18th highest)
• Average ER wait time: 14 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 14.6 percent (5th lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.0 percent (20th lowest)
2. Wisconsin
• Average general practitioner salary: $242,340 (2nd highest)
• Average ER wait time: 16 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 14.9 percent (9th lowest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 13.1 percent (24th lowest)
1. New Hampshire
• Average general practitioner salary: $258,670 (the highest)
• Average ER wait time: 25 minutes
• Hospital patients readmitted in under 30 days: 15.5 percent (19th highest)
• Average hospital mortality rate: 12.3 percent (6th lowest)
24/7 Wall Street is a Paste BN content partner offering financial news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of Paste BN.