10 best and worst states for doctors in 2024

While doctors are usually on the receiving end of high salaries and prestige, the job itself can be incredibly demanding, if not harmful to their well-being — but some states do offer better work environments than others.

Personal finance resource WalletHub ranked the best and worst states for doctors based on factors like annual wages, quality of hospital systems, burnout rates, malpractice insurance rates and hospital safety. Each state was scored out of 100, with the highest score going to Montana at just over 70 points. Montana has one of the best hospital systems in the country, with over 80% of patients scoring the hospital a nine out of 10, as well as one of the highest incomes for gynecologists and doctors. 

A few of the worst states on the list included Hawaii and Rhode Island, which each had some of lowest wages in the country for medical professionals, along with the highest malpractice award payouts. 

For future doctors, they might want to consider which parts of the U.S. will hold the most promise for them, says Cassandra Happe, an analyst at WalletHub.

Read more: 4 in 10 employees grade their benefits a 'C' or lower

"It is recommended that you conduct a thorough research on various factors beyond salary before choosing a state to work in as a medical professional," Happe says. "You should look for states that offer supportive residency programs, opportunities for professional growth, manageable malpractice insurance costs, and favorable work environments to ensure long-term satisfaction and success in your medical career."

Notably, even the best states on the list had just a C-grade for their score, underlining how burdened and overworked the healthcare industry is overall. Still, Happe stresses the importance of understanding how social and environmental factors, like projected elderly population and rate of insured workers, may impact local hospital systems and their appeal for future staff.  

Here are the 10 best and worst states for doctors, according to WalletHub.