5 reasons locum tenens is a great side gig for doctors

Locum tenens assignments aren’t just for physicians looking for a full-time career change. Many physicians take on part-time locums assignments as a side gig alongside their full-time jobs for a variety of reasons — like supplementing their income and gaining new clinical experience. Here’s how locum tenens can be a great side hustle for doctors looking to add to their careers.

1. Supplementing income while building a practice

Dr. Amy Wecker, Infectious Disease Specialist

Dr. Wecker previously worked for a large group covering four major hospitals. The arduous commute and demanding schedule made it difficult to maintain the balance she wanted in her career and personal life, prompting her to make a change.

“I really loved the hospitals and my work as an infectious disease doctor, but it was so much. I felt like it was really pulling my life out of balance,” says Dr. Wecker. “I realized I wanted to open my practice because I didn’t want to abandon my patients. HIV is really my passion, and I have long-standing patients who travel a great distance to see me." 

To help supplement her income during this transition to private practice, she took on locums assignments. These short-term roles provided financial stability while she focused on growing her practice.

“What I think is really amazing is if you want to start your own practice, you can have it grow without worrying about money,” says Dr. Wecker. “It was really so perfect because I would go to my locums assignment and work twelve days, and then I would come home for two weeks and have my practice. The schedule even afforded me some free time, which was nice.”

2. Earning extra income close to home

Dr. John Thieszen, Hospitalist

As a military-trained physician, Dr. Thieszen was looking for a way to make extra money without taking on a second full-time job. Locum tenens was the perfect side gig for this doctor: it allowed him to work weekend shifts at a hospital close to home, earning additional income while maintaining his primary commitment to military service.

“When I started, I was with the military and needed some extra income on the weekends. That worked out great, and then I just kept it up through the years,” says Dr. Thieszen. “Even though my other jobs have changed, doing some locums has kind of remained a constant.”

Dr. Thieszen’s experience highlights that locum tenens doesn’t always require extensive travel — it can be a local, flexible option for physicians.

Local side hustles for doctors: How to work locums close to home

3. Picking up occasional shifts for extra earnings

Dr. Blaine Cashmore, General Surgeon

For Dr. Cashmore, working locum tenens is a simple way to earn additional income while maintaining his full-time position. He picks up occasional locums shifts locally as a convenient way to boost income without making a significant career shift.

“I think it’s enjoyable to see how things are done at other places, to meet new people, and kind of see whether the grass is greener on the other side without having to extend yourself to something like actually looking for another job,” says Dr. Cashmore. “And as far as the money part, I always look at it as, if I do this for this weekend, then we can splurge on something we hadn’t planned on doing. We don’t have to wonder, “Well, should we really do this? Is it worth the money?” Instead, we can think of it as, “Let’s go ahead and buy something because we have extra money.”

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4. Staying clinically active

Dr. Val Jones, Physiatrist (PM&R)

The path through medicine has been anything but conventional for Dr. Jones. Shortly after completing her residency, she was offered a role as a medical director for a startup healthcare company. While the experience was exciting, she missed direct patient care. She searched for side gigs for doctors, and that’s when she found locum tenens. Seeking part-time clinical opportunities, she took on her first locums assignment nearly a decade ago — and she hasn’t looked back.

“Getting exposed to different hospital systems, different patient populations, and peers in different specialties and subspecialties have broadened my knowledge and made me better at what I do,” says Dr. Jones. “Being a locum physician can improve your skills and make you a better physician at whatever you do short term or long term.”

The flexibility of locum tenens allows Dr. Jones to stay engaged in hands-on medicine while maintaining a dynamic corporate healthcare career.

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5. Gaining broader clinical experience

Dr. Tom Willson, Otolaryngologist

Dr. Willson, an otolaryngologist subspecialized in rhinology and cranial base surgery, found that locum tenens offered a unique and fulfilling professional advantage: variety.

Because his full-time role is highly specialized, he doesn’t often see the full spectrum of cases. Taking on side jobs allows him to treat a broader range of patients and conditions, helping him maintain and sharpen his skills.

“Locums gives me that opportunity to do some of the things I don’t do as regularly and keep my skills sharp,” says Dr. Willson.

The advantages of side gigs for doctors

Whether you're looking for supplemental income or professional growth, locum tenens offers physicians a way to customize their careers. With flexible opportunities close to home or across the country, doctors can find assignments that fit their unique needs and goals.

Want to learn more about side hustles for doctors? Give us a call at 800.453.3030 or view today's locum tenens job opportunities.