How much does a emergency medicine physician make?
The median emergency medicine physician in the United States earns $335,550 per year, about $161.32 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all emergency medicine physicians earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 29-1214.
Emergency medicine physician salary range
Pay for emergency medicine physicians spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $103,610 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $495,910. The average (mean) wage is $317,480, close to the median.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $103,610 | $49.81 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $184,830 | $88.86 | |
| Median (50th) | $335,550 | $161.32 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $418,890 | $201.39 | |
| 90th percentile | $495,910 | $238.42 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for emergency medicine physicians (SOC 29-1214), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Emergency medicine physician salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Emergency medicine physicians earn the most in Rhode Island at $512,730 a year, and the least in Utah at $140,370. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $512,730 | 290 |
| West Virginia | $491,230 | 300 |
| Missouri | $456,280 | N/A |
| Alaska | $452,620 | 190 |
| Maryland | $451,620 | 550 |
| Vermont | $430,820 | 130 |
| Iowa | $429,050 | 290 |
| Connecticut | $418,940 | 470 |
| Michigan | $417,760 | 910 |
| New Mexico | $405,130 | 340 |
| South Dakota | $393,870 | 170 |
| North Dakota | $392,890 | 150 |
| Minnesota | $390,940 | 990 |
| Washington | $380,870 | N/A |
| Ohio | $377,480 | 1,170 |
| Nebraska | $371,880 | 390 |
| Massachusetts | $356,230 | 890 |
| Oklahoma | $348,540 | 60 |
| Indiana | $347,060 | 1,170 |
| South Carolina | $341,960 | 80 |
| North Carolina | $339,350 | 710 |
| District of Columbia | $318,200 | 120 |
| Texas | $316,830 | 780 |
| New Jersey | $315,340 | 500 |
| New York | $301,690 | 3,980 |
| Mississippi | $252,960 | 450 |
| Alabama | $239,200+ | 90 |
| Arizona | $239,200+ | N/A |
| Arkansas | $239,200+ | 60 |
| Colorado | $239,200+ | 780 |
| Hawaii | $239,200+ | 110 |
| Illinois | $239,200+ | 1,220 |
| Louisiana | $239,200+ | 470 |
| Maine | $239,200+ | 280 |
| Montana | $239,200+ | 140 |
| New Hampshire | $239,200+ | 310 |
| Oregon | $239,200+ | 890 |
| Pennsylvania | $239,200+ | 570 |
| Virginia | $239,200+ | 920 |
| Wisconsin | $239,200+ | 1,260 |
| Wyoming | $239,200+ | N/A |
| Idaho | $221,430 | 380 |
| Georgia | $219,010 | N/A |
| Florida | $204,990 | 2,060 |
| Kentucky | $169,390 | 620 |
| Utah | $140,370 | 140 |
State median wages for emergency medicine physicians (SOC 29-1214), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for emergency medicine physicians
The BLS projects employment of emergency medicine physicians to grow 3.2% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 34,900 jobs in 2025 moving toward 36,100 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 900 openings a year for emergency medicine physicians. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an emergency medicine physician
The typical entry-level education for emergency medicine physicians is a doctoral or professional degree, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete an internship or residency to reach full competency.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an emergency medicine physician earns
Specialty, work setting, shift differentials, certifications, and region drive the numbers. Hospitals, surgical settings, and high cost metros pay above clinics and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Rhode Island, $512,730) and the lowest (Utah, $140,370) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 32,880 people work as emergency medicine physicians in the United States. At $335,550 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Emergency medicine physician salary FAQ
How much does an emergency medicine physician make an hour?
The median hourly wage for an emergency medicine physician is $161.32. The middle half of emergency medicine physicians earn between $88.86 and $201.39 per hour.
What is the highest emergency medicine physician salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of emergency medicine physicians earn more than $495,910 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an emergency medicine physician make a year?
The median annual salary for an emergency medicine physician is $335,550. The average (mean) wage is $317,480, close to the median.
Is being an emergency medicine physician a well paid job?
At $335,550 a year, an emergency medicine physician earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 32,880 people work as emergency medicine physicians in the United States.
Which state pays emergency medicine physicians the most?
Rhode Island has the highest median salary for emergency medicine physicians at $512,730 a year. West Virginia ($491,230) and Missouri ($456,280) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being an emergency medicine physician a good career?
Employment of emergency medicine physicians is projected to grow 3.2% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 900 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an emergency medicine physician?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for emergency medicine physicians as a doctoral or professional degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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