The following list features the five best and five worst states for physicians to practice, according to Medscape's "Best and Worst Places to Practice 2015."
Best states to practice
1. Tennessee
• Average physician compensation — $279,000
• Best cities — Franklin and Murfreesboro
• Second lowest cost of living in United States — 7.6 percent tax burden
• Per capita malpractice payouts — $8.96
2. Mississippi
• Average physician compensation — $275,000
• Best city — Oxford
• Low cost of living — low property taxes
• Low malpractice payouts
3. Oklahoma
• Average physician compensation — $304,000
• Best city — Tulsa
• Low cost of living — 8.5 percent state and local tax burden
4. Texas
• Best city — Tyler
• Low cost of living — no income tax
• Per capita malpractice payouts — $3.74
5. Wyoming
• Average physician compensation — $312,000
• Best city — Casper
• Low cost of living — no state income tax
• Physician shortage
Worst states to practice
1. New York
• Average physician compensation — $249,000
• Worst city — New York City
• High physician density — 345 practicing physicians per 100,000 residents
2. Rhode Island
• Average physician compensation — $217,000
• Worst city — Providence
• High cost of living — high overall tax burden
3. Maryland
• Worst city — Baltimore
• High cost of living
4. Massachusetts
• Average physician compensation — $23,000 below national average ($261,000?)
• Worst city — Chelsea
• High cost of living
5. Connecticut
• Average physician compensation
• Worst city — Hartford
• High cost of living — 45 percent higher than the U.S. average
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