5 reasons to consider holiday locum tenens jobs
July 29, 2025
Whether you’re craving snow, or trying to escape it, holiday locum tenens jobs can be just the change you’re looking for. From pay to personal development, there are many benefits for physicians who are open to taking holiday locum tenens assignments. Here are five reasons to give it a try.
1. High pay potential
The money you can earn working locum tenens is almost always higher than regular pay. Locum tenens pay potential depends in part on your specialty and the needs of the facility, but physicians who take holiday assignments often find the pay differential is a big one.
Emergency medicine physician Holly Williams works locum tenens full time and gets paid well enough that she doesn’t need to work as many shifts as she is currently working.
I’m definitely making more money than I actually need, which is nice because we’re putting it away and able to get on top of the student loans and all of that.
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Whether you’re looking to put a little extra money aside or saving for the next big trip on your bucket list, the higher rates you can earn working locums can be a great way to add to your cash flow.
Pediatrician Dr. Trevor Cabrera worked locum tenens to pay off medical school debt faster right out of residency.
Locum tenens allowed me to pay off over $100,000 in student loans within a year.
Regardless of what you’re looking for, your recruiter can help you find holiday jobs with the right pay structure to suit your needs.
2. Schedule flexibility
The high demand for holiday locum tenens jobs often gives physicians the negotiating power to choose the schedule that works best for them.
The flexibility of locums makes it easy for hospitalist Dr. John Thieszen to plan his schedule to suit his needs.
I can be gone for three days or a week or two weeks, then I can come home and have that real concentrated family time. Consolidating my work schedule into chunks has allowed us some amazing flexibility.
Your recruiter can help you set limits on your hours, days, or other assignment particulars, so you can work when and how much you want to. Holiday assignments don’t always require travel either. You can often find holiday locums jobs right in your own community.
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3. Clinical skill development
Even if you only take occasional assignments, working locums can be a practical strategy to keep your clinical skills sharp and broaden your experience.
Otolaryngologist Dr. Tom Willson enjoys working locum tenens in addition to his full-time job for the opportunity to do procedures that he doesn’t get to see regularly in his subspecialty.
As a subspecialist, my scope of what I see in otolaryngology is pretty narrow on a day-to-day basis. Holiday locum tenens jobs help me maintain a broad skill set in general otolaryngology.
Many of our locum providers say that regular exposure to new facilities and patient groups has helped them expand their clinical and communication skills. Holiday locum tenens jobs are a great way to explore different aspects of your practice without the long-term commitment.
4. Helping where you’re needed most
The relief you bring to a facility by taking a locums assignment can make a huge difference to the local staff who could use a break during the holidays.
Holiday locum tenens jobs are a great way to give back to your own community or help in an underserved rural location. Psychiatrist Dr. Heather Cumbo seeks out the jobs in areas that have the most need.
Most of the places where I go and do my assignments are in rural communities. It’s gratifying to take care of people who otherwise would not have any mental healthcare.
So, if you want to make a difference for other providers and patients alike, holiday locum tenens jobs can be an easy way to give back in a meaningful way.
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5. A healthy break from routine
It’s tough to take care of others if you’re not taking care of yourself. The demands of medical life can make it easy to neglect taking time for yourself. Friends and family are great, but sometimes holiday expectations can add to your stress rather than reduce it.
Taking a holiday assignment out of town can help you to have some time just for yourself. Family medicine physician Dr. Colin Zhu says working locum tenens has allowed him to take more time for himself. “Self-care was not something that was taught in medical school. Neither was there time to care for yourself in medical school or residency training. If you are not careful, that can easily transfer over to your professional career,” he says.
Whether you’re a full-time locum or just interested in an occasional locum tenens assignment on the side, holiday assignments can be an effective way to keep your professional and financial goals on track and maybe even take a little time for yourself.
Want to learn more about holiday locum tenens jobs? Give us a call at 800.453.3030 or view today’s locum tenens opportunities.
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