Physician assistant Locum jobs fill critical gaps in emergency departments, operating rooms, hospital medicine teams, and specialty clinics nationwide. In 2026, locum PAs typically earn $95–$140 per hour depending on specialty, with emergency medicine and surgical first-assist roles among the highest-demand placements. Facilities value PA-C locums for faster credentialing relative to physician recruitment and strong mid-acuity coverage in EDs and inpatient units.
Top PA Locum Settings and Pay (2026)
| Setting | Typical Hourly Range | Key Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Medicine | $100–$140/hr | ACLS, ED experience, state PA license |
| Surgical First-Assist | $105–$145/hr | OR privileges, specialty alignment |
| Hospitalist / Inpatient | $95–$130/hr | Recent inpatient experience, IM collaboration |
| Urgent Care | $90–$120/hr | Broad primary acuity, procedure comfort |
| Orthopedics / Hospital OR | $100–$135/hr | First-assist logs, specialty references |
Browse PA locum jobs and physician assistant placements.
Why Demand for Locum PAs Is Growing
Physician shortages and ED boarding crises push hospitals to expand PA and NP staffing models. Locum PAs provide surge capacity without long employment commitments.
- Emergency departments: Fast-track and mid-acuity zones staffed by experienced PA-Cs
- Hospital medicine: Day and night rounding support on collaborative teams
- Surgery: First-assist coverage during physician vacations or recruitment gaps
- Rural hospitals: Broad-scope PA roles with tele-supervision where permitted
Active markets include Texas, Florida, and California.
Licensing and Supervision Rules
PA locum clinicians must hold active state licensure and NCCPA-maintained certification. Supervision requirements vary: some states mandate written practice agreements with on-site or tele-available physicians; others grant broader autonomy in hospital settings. Credentialing committees review your procedure logs—especially for surgical first-assist—and malpractice history.
AZ Locums coordinates hospital privileging, tracks state board applications, and aligns supervision paperwork before your start date. Review licensing and credentialing FAQ entries for PA-specific timelines.
Surgical First-Assist Locum
Surgical PA locums require alignment between your case experience and the facility’s active surgeons. Orthopedic, general surgery, and cardiovascular programs frequently request locum first-assist for 2–8 week blocks. Confirm:
- Which surgeons you will assist and expected weekly case volume
- Call and weekend OR obligations
- Instrument sterilization and vendor credentialing requirements
- Whether robotics experience is mandatory
PA Locum Compensation Beyond Hourly Pay
As with physician locums, evaluate the full package:
- Malpractice with tail coverage for the assignment
- Pre-paid travel, housing, and ground transportation
- Overtime and holiday rate structures
- Guaranteed hours versus pure per-shift pay
- Orientation pay for training days before clinical shifts
See our travel and housing guide for standard agency benefits.
Emergency Medicine PA Locums: Shift Structures
ED PA locums typically work 10- or 12-hour shifts alongside physician coverage. Fast-track zones handle lower-acuity complaints; main ED tracks require broader procedural skills. Urban departments may staff PAs overnight with tele-physician backup; rural sites expect broader independent management within state scope. Rates rise when PAs cover solo overnight zones or high-volume trauma receiving areas—confirm physician backup protocols in writing.
Compare Texas and Florida ED PA openings on the job board for the strongest winter and spring volume.
Hospitalist and Specialty Clinic PA Roles
Hospitalist PA locums round on observation units, assist with discharge planning, and manage chronic disease exacerbations under collaborative protocols. Dermatology, cardiology, and orthopedics clinics hire locum PAs for seasonal patient backlog—often weekday-only schedules attractive to clinicians avoiding overnight call. Match your specialty certification to clinic expectations before credentialing begins.
Starting Your PA Locum Career
- Update NCCPA certification and state licenses.
- Prepare a skills checklist with procedure counts for surgical roles.
- Define geographic preferences and call tolerance.
- Search open PA assignments and speak with a dedicated recruiter.
Contact AZ Locums for emergency, surgical, and hospitalist PA opportunities.
Credentialing Timelines and Reference Management
PA locum credentialing requires current NCCPA certification, state licensure, and two to three clinical references reachable during business hours. Surgical PAs should prepare case logs by CPT category for OR committee review. Alert references before submitting applications so hospital verification calls do not surprise busy preceptors. A centralized CV with procedure counts updated quarterly accelerates every new privileging packet.
Malpractice history questions on hospital applications are standard—disclose claims transparently with narrative context. Agencies advocate for clinicians when incidents are closed without finding or within policy limits. Read malpractice FAQ entries before your first locum PA contract.
PA locums exploring multiple states should prioritize maintaining NCCPA certification and unrestricted licenses in at least two high-volume markets—Texas and Florida are common starting pairs with complementary seasonal demand. Surgical PAs should photograph de-identified case logs quarterly so privileging packets stay current without last-minute chart pulls.
Urgent care PA locums should verify imaging and lab send-out protocols, suturing supply availability, and tele-physician backup for complex cases—operational readiness affects shift efficiency as much as clinical skill on day one.
Hospital medicine PAs should ask whether locum contracts include procedure ownership for paracentesis, thoracentesis, or central lines—or whether physicians retain those tasks exclusively.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do locum physician assistants make?
Locum PAs in 2026 typically earn $95–$140/hr, with surgical first-assist and emergency roles at the top of the range.
Can PAs work Locum in the OR?
Yes. Surgical first-assist is a major PA locum category requiring OR privileges and specialty-matched experience.
Do PA locum jobs require a supervising physician on site?
Depends on state law and hospital policy. Some inpatient settings use tele-supervision; EDs may require physician presence per bylaws.
How long does PA locum credentialing take?
With active licensure, 3–6 weeks is typical for hospital privileging. New state licenses add several weeks.
Are PA locum contracts W-2 or 1099?
Most agency placements use structured contractor or locums employment models with agency-handled malpractice and scheduling—confirm tax treatment per contract.
