Average Emergency Medicine Physicians Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Emergency Medicine Physicians is $335,550 per year. The middle 50% earn between $184,830 and $418,890, with 32,880 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates . Data covers 47 states and 78 metro areas.
Pay distribution
Here is how Emergency Medicine Physicians pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $103,610
- 25th
- $184,830
- Median
- $335,550
- 75th
- $418,890
- 90th
- $495,910
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
Emergency Medicine Physicians are among the highest-paid occupations tracked by BLS, well into the top decile of US wages.
Pay varies significantly across workers. Seniority, employer size, and specialization all move the needle, so it is normal for two emergency medicine physicians at different points in their careers to earn very different salaries.
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for emergency medicine physicians from 2024 to 2034. Growth is roughly in line with the US average of about 4% across all occupations.
- Projected growth
- +2.7%
- 1,000 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 1,000
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave.
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
Entry into this field typically requires a doctoral or professional degree, which helps explain the high wage level and relatively narrow candidate pool.
Where Emergency Medicine Physicians earn the most
Location matters a lot. The gap between top-paying and bottom-paying states is large, so where emergency medicine physicians work can reshape their total compensation. Right now, the top-paying state is Rhode Island at $512,730, about 52.8% above the national median. At the metro level, Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH leads with a median of $531,340.
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $531,340 | 40 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $476,890 | 300 |
| Anchorage, AK | $472,140 | 70 |
| Rochester, MN | $462,850 | 140 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $454,760 | 200 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $449,910 | N/A |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $448,470 | 80 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $447,750 | 520 |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see emergency medicine physicians pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Median salary over time
Emergency Medicine Physicians median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2025
- $335,550
BLS did not publish a median for 2000–2024, so those years are omitted.
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Dermatologists
- $328,730
- Physicians, Pathologists
- $312,400
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
- $300,080
- Obstetricians And Gynecologists
- $292,910
- Psychiatrists
- $281,870
- Anesthesiologists
- $391,490
- Physicians, All Other
- $265,930
Common salary questions for Emergency Medicine Physicians
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Emergency Medicine Physicians workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.