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Emergency medicine physician: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$335,550median pay per year, or $161.32 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $103,610lowest 10% earn less
  2. $184,83025th percentile
  3. $335,550median
  4. $418,89075th percentile
  5. $495,910top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Emergency medicine physicians had a median pay of $335,550 a year in May 2025[1], far above the $50,980 median for all occupations[2]. The path in takes a doctoral or professional degree plus internship or residency training[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+3.2%[5]
Openings per year
900[6]
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree[3]

How much do emergency medicine physicians make?

The median wage for emergency medicine physicians was $335,550 a year, or $161.32 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of them earned more than that and half earned less[1]. The average was $317,480 a year, or $152.64 an hour[7].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $103,610 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $184,830[4]. The 75th percentile was $418,890 and the 90th percentile was $495,910[4]. In hourly terms, those four boundaries were $49.81, $88.86, $201.39 and $238.42[8]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

For comparison, the median for all US occupations was $50,980[2]. The median for this job sits well above it[1][2].

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not count nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits to employers[10]. In the projections data, 3.7% of emergency medicine physicians were self-employed in 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

Rhode Island had the highest state median at $512,730[12]. West Virginia came next at $491,230, followed by Missouri at $456,280[12]. Utah had the lowest listed median at $140,370[12]. Some states, such as Illinois and Wisconsin, appear only as $239,200 or more[12].

California had the most jobs at 4,420, followed by New York at 3,980 and Florida at 2,060[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Providence-Warwick, RI-MA had the highest median at $476,890[14]. Rochester, MN followed at $462,850, then Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH at $454,760[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, 3,070, with a median of $289,440[15].

Show median pay in 45 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Rhode Island[12]$512,730290
West Virginia$491,230300
Missouri$456,280n/a
Alaska$452,620190
Maryland$451,620550
Vermont$430,820130
Iowa$429,050290
Connecticut$418,940470
Michigan$417,760910
New Mexico$405,130340
South Dakota$393,870170
North Dakota$392,890150
Minnesota$390,940990
Washington$380,870n/a
Ohio$377,4801,170
Nebraska$371,880390
Massachusetts$356,230890
Oklahoma$348,54060
Indiana$347,0601,170
South Carolina$341,96080
North Carolina$339,350710
District of Columbia$318,200120
Texas$316,830780
New Jersey$315,340500
New York$301,6903,980
Mississippi$252,960450
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$221,430380
Georgia$219,010n/a
Florida$204,9902,060
Kentucky$169,390620
Utah$140,370140

How to become an emergency medicine physician

The training details below come from a profile that covers physicians and surgeons as a wider group[16]. BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education, with no work experience in a related job needed[3].

Every state requires physicians to be licensed, and the rules vary by state[21]. To qualify, a candidate needs a degree from an accredited medical school and completed residency training[21]. Licensure also involves passing standardized national exams[22]. Certification by a specialty board is optional, though it may improve job opportunities[23].

In an ONET survey of 29 workers, 62% said post-doctoral training is required and 34% said a doctoral degree[24]. ONET puts the job in Job Zone Five, which it labels extensive preparation needed[25].

What emergency medicine physicians do

O*NET describes the job as making quick medical decisions to prevent death or further disability, and stabilizing patients[26]. Common tasks include:

They may also direct the other emergency staff in an emergency department[26].

Where they work

This section describes physicians and surgeons as a wider group[16]. They work in clinical settings such as offices and hospitals, and in nonclinical ones such as government agencies, nonprofits and insurance companies[28]. In clinical settings they may be part of a group practice or a larger healthcare organization[29].

The work can mean long periods on their feet[30]. Full-time work is typical, and some physicians work more than 40 hours a week[31]. Long shifts, irregular or overnight hours and being on call are common in this wider group[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of emergency medicine physicians to grow 3.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 34,900 to 36,100 jobs[5]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[32]. So growth is a little slower than average.

BLS expects about 900 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs that come open when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 1.8% of workers leave the labor force and 0.4% move to a different occupation[33].

The projection counts include self-employed workers[5]. The OEWS count of about 32,880 jobs does not[34].

Is it a good fit?

The pay data show a very high median and a wide spread from the lowest to the highest earners[1][4]. The cost is a long road, since the job needs a doctoral or professional degree and internship or residency training[3]. Medical school alone adds 4 years after a bachelor's degree[17]. Projected growth is close to the all-occupations rate, and the 900 yearly openings include people leaving or switching jobs, not only new positions[5][32][6]. The wider physician profile also notes long shifts and overnight or on-call hours[31].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an emergency medicine physician make an hour?
The median was $161.32 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $152.64[1][7].
How long does it take to become an emergency medicine physician?
After a bachelor's degree, medical school takes an additional 4 years[17]. Residency for physicians typically runs 3 to 9 years depending on the specialty, and BLS does not give a figure for this one specialty[20].
What degree do you need to be an emergency medicine physician?
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree, plus internship or residency training[3]. Physicians typically hold an M.D. or a D.O.[18].
What is the highest paying state for emergency medicine physicians?
Rhode Island had the highest median at $512,730, then West Virginia at $491,230[12].
Are emergency medicine physicians in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 3.2% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 900 openings a year[5][32][6].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Emergency Medicine Physicians in the US was $335,550 per year and $161.32 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Emergency Medicine Physicians: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Internship/residency. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Emergency Medicine Physicians: 10th percentile $103,610, 25th percentile $184,830, 75th percentile $418,890, 90th percentile $495,910. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Emergency Medicine Physicians is projected to grow 3.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 34,900 to 36,100 jobs (a change of +1,100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 900 openings for Emergency Medicine Physicians are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Emergency Medicine Physicians was $317,480 per year and $152.64 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Emergency Medicine Physicians: 10th percentile $49.81, 25th percentile $88.86, 75th percentile $201.39, 90th percentile $238.42. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS Employment Projections: 3.7% of Emergency Medicine Physicians were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  12. Median annual wage for Emergency Medicine Physicians in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Emergency Medicine Physicians jobs: California 4,420; New York 3,980; Florida 2,060; Wisconsin 1,260; Illinois 1,220. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Emergency Medicine Physicians (areas with at least 100 jobs): Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $476,890; Rochester, MN $462,850; Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $454,760; Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $447,750; Rochester, NY $440,340; Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $418,940; Albuquerque, NM $405,130; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $380,800. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Emergency Medicine Physicians jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 3,070 (median $289,440); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 960 (median $239,200 or more); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 770 (median $239,200 or more); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 620 (median $356,230); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 550 (median $367,120); Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 520 (median $447,750). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Physicians and Surgeons" covers Emergency Medicine Physicians together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET 29-1214.00 survey of workers (29 respondents), education level they say is required: Post-Doctoral Training 62%, Doctoral Degree 34% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET 29-1214.00: Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET description of Emergency Medicine Physicians. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET task list for Emergency Medicine Physicians. O*NET OnLine
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Emergency Medicine Physicians: 1.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 0.4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 32,880 people were employed as Emergency Medicine Physicians in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.