10 best, worst states for physician competition

Montana has the best job opportunities for physicians, according to a report by personal finance website WalletHub.

The "Best and Worst States for Doctors" list for 2024 compared all 50 states and Washington, D.C., across 19 key metrics including the average annual wage of physicians, the number of hospitals per capita and the quality of the public hospital system.

To rank the states with the most opportunity and competition, WalletHub weighed factors including average monthly starting salaries, the insured population rate and the share of medical residents retained. The full methodology can be found here. 

Here are the 10 highest-ranked states for physician opportunity and competition in 2024:

1. Montana
2. South Dakota
3. Louisiana
4. Indiana 
5. Wisconsin
6. Iowa
7. Idaho
8. Kentucky
9. Alabama
10. North Dakota

Here are the 10 lowest-ranked states:

1. Rhode Island
2. New Jersey
3. Hawaii
4. Alaska
5. Massachusetts
6. Washington, D.C.
7. Oregon
8. New Mexico
9. Virginia
10. California