NJ Ranked Among Worst States For Doctors: Report

NEW JERSEY — National Doctors' Day is March 30, and all health care professionals have faced unprecedented challenges in the last two years. WalletHub compiled a new ranking to see which states were the best — and worst — for doctors to live and work in.

New Jersey has been ranked as the 5th worst state for doctors.

The new WalletHub report highlighted how doctors are one of the most important professions, particularly during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Doctors are among the highest-paid and most educated professionals in the U.S., with general physicians having a median salary equal to or greater than $208,000 per year.

WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 19 key metrics to compile the ranking. The data set included everything from the average annual wage of physicians to the quality of the state's public hospital system.

New Jersey was ranked 42nd for its average annual wage of physicians which was also determined based on the cost of living within the state.

The Garden State ranked last or the number of hospitals in the state, 36th for the average monthly starting salary of physicians and 47th for malpractice award payout amount per capita.

However, New Jersey was higher on the list for the insured population rate which was ranked 25th.

New Jersey's overall score was 45.67, ranking 47th out of 51 states, ahead of Delaware. It received a score of 29 for opportunity and competition and a score of 51 for the medical environment.

At the top of the list was South Dakota with a total score of 69.37, Minnesota with a score of 67.82, and Wisconsin with a score of 67.42. The complete list of rankings can be found at WalletHub.