The median pay for Emergency Medicine Physicians is $335,550 a year ($161.32/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 3.2% through 2035, with about 900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
- SOC 29-1214
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Emergency Medicine Physician in four numbers
- Median pay
- $335,550a year, or $161.32/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $104KTop 10% $496K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.2%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.2%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.2% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 90034,900 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202534.9K
- Projected 203536.1K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 34.9K Projected 2035 36.1K - Typical education
- Doctorateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Professional degree3.5%
- Doctorate34.5%
- Post-doctoral training62.1%
Highest education held by emergency medicine physicians Segment Value Professional degree 3.5% Doctorate 34.5% Post-doctoral training 62.1%
Also advertised as: Attending Emergency Physician, Attending Physician, Emergency MD (Emergency Medicine Doctor), Emergency Medicine Physician (EM Physician), Emergency Physician, MD (Medical Doctor).
Pay
How much do Emergency Medicine Physicians make?
Every emergency medicine physician in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$335,550
Middle half earn $184,830 to $418,890
- 10th
- $103,610
- 25th
- $184,830
- 75th
- $418,890
- 90th
- $495,910
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $103,610 |
| 25th | $184,830 |
| Median | $335,550 |
| 75th | $418,890 |
| 90th | $495,910 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $335,550
- Median hourly wage
- $161.32/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $317,480
- People employed
- 32,880
Versus all US occupations
At $335,550, Emergency Medicine Physicians earn 558% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $284,570 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $102,760, this is 227% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $495,910 or more while the bottom 10% earn $103,610, a gap of 4.8×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 99% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Rhode Island posts the highest raw median ($512,730), but once local prices are taken into account West Virginia leads at $548,879 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Emergency Medicine Physicians the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Rhode Island | $512,730 | $501,300 | 290 |
| 2West Virginia | $491,230 | $548,879 | 300 |
| 3Missouri | $456,280 | $502,417 | N/A |
| 4Alaska | $452,620 | $442,189 | 190 |
| 5Maryland | $451,620 | $430,282 | 550 |
| 6Vermont | $430,820 | $439,801 | 130 |
| 7Iowa | $429,050 | $488,879 | 290 |
| 8Connecticut | $418,940 | $404,343 | 470 |
| 9Michigan | $417,760 | $434,185 | 910 |
| 10New Mexico | $405,130 | $439,346 | 340 |
Job outlook
Is Emergency Medicine Physician a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.2% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | +3.2% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Emergency Medicine Physicians to change 3.2% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 1,100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 900 openings are projected each year, 2.6% of the 34,900 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of physicians and surgeons varies by occupation (see table). An increasing number of older adults, who are more likely than younger people to experience health problems and to need complex care, is expected to drive overall employment growth for physicians and surgeons.
In addition, increasing rates of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, will result in continued reliance on physicians and surgeons by large numbers of people seeking medical care.
Getting in
How to become an Emergency Medicine Physician
Physicians and surgeons typically need a bachelor’s degree as well as a degree from a medical school, which takes an additional 4 years to complete. Depending on their specialty, they also need 3 to 9 years in internship and residency programs. Subspecialization includes additional training in a fellowship of 1 to 3 years.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Doctoral or professional degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Internship/residency
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as emergency medicine physicians.
- Post-Doctoral Training62.1%
- Doctoral Degree34.5%
- First Professional Degree3.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Post-Doctoral Training | 62.1% |
| Doctoral Degree | 34.5% |
| First Professional Degree | 3.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Emergency Medicine Physician do?
Make immediate medical decisions and act to prevent death or further disability. Provide immediate recognition, evaluation, care, stabilization, and disposition of patients. May direct emergency medical staff in an emergency department.
Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance. Physicians examine patients; take medical histories; prescribe medications; and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests. They often counsel patients on diet, hygiene, and preventive healthcare. Surgeons operate on patients to treat injuries, such as broken bones; diseases, such as cancerous tumors; and deformities, such as cleft palates.
There are two types of physicians, with similar degrees: M.D. (Medical Doctor) and D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine). Both use the same methods of treatment, including drugs and surgery, but D.O.s place additional emphasis on the body's musculoskeletal system, preventive medicine, and holistic (whole-person) patient care. D.O.s are most likely to be primary care physicians, although they work in all specialties.
Day-to-day tasks
- Select, request, perform, or interpret diagnostic procedures, such as laboratory tests, electrocardiograms, emergency ultrasounds, and radiographs.
- Evaluate patients' vital signs or laboratory data to determine emergency intervention needs and priority of treatment.
- Perform emergency resuscitations on patients.
- Stabilize patients in critical condition.
- Perform such medical procedures as emergent cricothyrotomy, endotracheal intubation, and emergency thoracotomy.
- Analyze records, examination information, or test results to diagnose medical conditions.
- Consult with hospitalists and other professionals, such as social workers, regarding patients' hospital admission, continued observation, transition of care, or discharge.
- Conduct primary patient assessments that include information from prior medical care.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most physicians and surgeons work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week. Many physicians and surgeons work long shifts, which may include irregular and overnight hours or being on call. Physicians and surgeons may travel between their offices and the hospital to care for patients. While on call, a physician may need to address a patient’s concerns over the phone or make an emergency visit to another location, such as a nursing home.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.4
- Critical Thinking4.4
- Reading Comprehension4.3
- Speaking4.3
- Writing4.1
- Monitoring4.1
- Active Learning4.0
- Learning Strategies3.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.4 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.4 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.3 |
| Speaking | 4.3 |
| Writing | 4.1 |
| Monitoring | 4.1 |
| Active Learning | 4.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness4.3
- Service Orientation4.1
- Complex Problem Solving4.1
- Judgment and Decision Making4.1
- Coordination4.0
- Persuasion3.6
- Instructing3.6
- Negotiation3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.3 |
| Service Orientation | 4.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.1 |
| Coordination | 4.0 |
| Persuasion | 3.6 |
| Instructing | 3.6 |
| Negotiation | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Medical software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Emergency Medicine Physician?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Emergency Medicine Physician |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 6 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
- Investigative5.6
- Social5.6
- Conventional4.2
- Realistic4.2
- Enterprising2.7
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Emergency Medicine Physician
O*NET related occupations
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with emergency medicine physicians highlighted
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- Emergency Medicine Physician$335,550
- Physician Assistant$135,880
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Physical Therapist$102,760
- Dental Hygienist$98,100
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$96,590
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110
- Surgical Technologist$64,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Emergency Medicine Physician | $335,550 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 |
| Radiologic Technologist and Technician | $80,110 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Emergency Medicine Physician appears on
Questions
Emergency Medicine Physician: frequently asked questions
How much do Emergency Medicine Physicians make?
Emergency Medicine Physicians earn a median of $335,550 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 558% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $161.32/hr. The middle half earn between $184,830 and $418,890. The top 10% earn $495,910 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Emergency Medicine Physician?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Emergency Medicine Physicians. BLS also lists internship/residency as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 62.1% hold post-doctoral training.
Is Emergency Medicine Physician a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.2% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Emergency Medicine Physician do?
Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance. A core O*NET task: select, request, perform, or interpret diagnostic procedures, such as laboratory tests, electrocardiograms, emergency ultrasounds, and radiographs. Employers most often ask for Medical software.
Which states pay Emergency Medicine Physicians the most?
The highest state medians for Emergency Medicine Physicians are Rhode Island ($512,730), West Virginia ($491,230), Missouri ($456,280) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, West Virginia moves to the top at $548,879.
What personality type suits an Emergency Medicine Physician?
O*NET scores Emergency Medicine Physicians highest on the Investigative, Social and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISFJ, ISTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.