Emergency Medicine Physicians
Emergency Medicine Physicians (SOC 29-1214) earn a median $335,550 a year ($161.32 an hour) in the United States, with 32,880 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Rhode Island.
What emergency medicine physicians do
Emergency medicine physicians make immediate medical decisions and act to prevent death or further disability. They provide immediate recognition, evaluation, care, stabilization and disposition of patients, and may direct emergency medical staff in an emergency department. They conduct primary assessments that include information from prior medical care, evaluate vital signs and laboratory data to set priorities for treatment, and select, request, perform or interpret diagnostic procedures such as laboratory tests, electrocardiograms, emergency ultrasounds and radiographs. They perform emergency resuscitations, stabilize patients in critical condition, and carry out procedures such as emergent cricothyrotomy, endotracheal intubation and emergency thoracotomy. They consult with hospitalists and other professionals, such as social workers, about admission, continued observation, transition of care or discharge. O*NET alternate titles include emergency department physician and disaster medicine physician. Most respondents report post-doctoral training. Long-term care of the same patients belongs to the primary care specialties, not to emergency medicine.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report postdoctoral training as the typical level of education for this occupation (62 percent).
Also called: Attending Emergency Physician, Attending Physician, Critical Care Intensivist, Critical Care Intensivist Physician, Critical Care Physician.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $49.81 | $88.86 | $161.32 | $201.39 | $238.42 | $152.64 | 32,880 |
| Annual | $103,610 | $184,830 | $335,550 | $418,890 | $495,910 | $317,480 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where emergency medicine physicians earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $35.54 | $149.18 | $246.51 | $272.19 | $272.19 | $197.75 | 290 | 0.58 | 2.74 |
| Annual | $73,920 | $310,300 | $512,730 | $566,150 | $566,150 | $411,330 | ||||
| West Virginia | Hourly | $30.21 | $62.35 | $236.17 | $255.83 | $267.65 | $183.40 | 300 | 0.43 | 2.04 |
| Annual | $62,830 | $129,690 | $491,230 | $532,120 | $556,710 | $381,470 | ||||
| Missouri | Hourly | $104.90 | $130.11 | $219.36 | $238.64 | $238.64 | $192.59 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $218,190 | $270,640 | $456,280 | $496,370 | $496,370 | $400,590 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $57.90 | $87.02 | $217.61 | $226.75 | $227.34 | $164.19 | 190 | 0.58 | 2.76 |
| Annual | $120,420 | $181,000 | $452,620 | $471,630 | $472,870 | $341,520 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $105.78 | $160.45 | $217.13 | $230.37 | $230.38 | $186.07 | 550 | 0.20 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $220,020 | $333,730 | $451,620 | $479,180 | $479,180 | $387,020 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 4,420 | 0.24 | 1.15 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $38.56 | $47.65 | $145.04 | $177.65 | $193.82 | $123.94 | 3,980 | 0.41 | 1.94 |
| Annual | $80,210 | $99,100 | $301,690 | $369,510 | $403,140 | $257,790 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $87.96 | $98.55 | $98.55 | $191.61 | $323.47 | $144.82 | 2,060 | 0.21 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $182,950 | $204,990 | $204,990 | $398,540 | $672,830 | $301,220 | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | # | # | # | # | # | # | 1,260 | 0.43 | 2.03 |
| Annual | # | # | # | # | # | # | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | # | # | # | # | # | # | 1,220 | 0.20 | 0.94 |
| Annual | # | # | # | # | # | # | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | Hourly | $109.24 | $248.84 | $255.45 | $255.45 | $274.95 | $223.47 | 40 | 0.28 | 1.32 |
| Annual | $227,210 | $517,600 | $531,340 | $531,340 | $571,900 | $464,820 | ||||
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | Hourly | $35.54 | $149.18 | $229.28 | $272.19 | $272.19 | $195.13 | 300 | 0.42 | 2.00 |
| Annual | $73,920 | $310,300 | $476,890 | $566,150 | $566,150 | $405,870 | ||||
| Anchorage, AK | Hourly | $57.05 | $82.99 | $226.99 | $227.34 | $227.34 | $158.07 | 70 | 0.37 | 1.74 |
| Annual | $118,670 | $172,610 | $472,140 | $472,870 | $472,870 | $328,780 | ||||
| Rochester, MN | Hourly | $36.23 | $137.14 | $222.53 | $242.34 | $242.34 | $184.37 | 140 | 1.14 | 5.39 |
| Annual | $75,350 | $285,250 | $462,850 | $504,070 | $504,070 | $383,480 | ||||
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | Hourly | $30.71 | $108.88 | $218.64 | $218.64 | $264.61 | $178.19 | 200 | 0.54 | 2.55 |
| Annual | $63,880 | $226,470 | $454,760 | $454,760 | $550,390 | $370,640 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $38.56 | $45.02 | $139.15 | $177.65 | $186.05 | $119.74 | 3,070 | 0.32 | 1.53 |
| Annual | $80,210 | $93,640 | $289,440 | $369,510 | $386,990 | $249,060 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | # | # | # | # | # | # | 960 | 0.21 | 1.01 |
| Annual | # | # | # | # | # | # | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | # | # | # | # | # | # | 770 | 0.25 | 1.17 |
| Annual | # | # | # | # | # | # | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $44.43 | $167.60 | $171.27 | $232.57 | $255.25 | $176.50 | 620 | 0.23 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $92,410 | $348,610 | $356,230 | $483,750 | $530,920 | $367,120 | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $37.27 | $161.70 | $176.50 | $196.98 | $230.96 | $171.85 | 550 | 0.28 | 1.33 |
| Annual | $77,510 | $336,340 | $367,120 | $409,720 | $480,400 | $357,440 | ||||
Top industries employing emergency medicine physicians
Offices of Physicians employ 47.0% of emergency medicine physicians nationally (15,460 jobs) at a median $329,140 a year ($158.24 an hour), followed by General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (35.8%) and Outpatient Care Centers (9.9%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | 15,460 | 47.0% | $329,140 | $158.24 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 11,760 | 35.8% | $358,400 | $172.31 |
| Outpatient Care Centers NAICS 621400 | 3,270 | 9.9% | $323,640 | $155.60 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 1,240 | 3.8% | $316,830 | $152.32 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 320 | 1.0% | * | * |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (32,880). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Every state, by median wage
47 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island profile | $246.51 | $512,730 | $73,920 | $566,150 | 290 | 0.58 | 2.74 |
| 2 | West Virginia profile | $236.17 | $491,230 | $62,830 | $556,710 | 300 | 0.43 | 2.04 |
| 3 | Missouri profile | $219.36 | $456,280 | $218,190 | $496,370 | ** | ** | ** |
| 4 | Alaska profile | $217.61 | $452,620 | $120,420 | $472,870 | 190 | 0.58 | 2.76 |
| 5 | Maryland profile | $217.13 | $451,620 | $220,020 | $479,180 | 550 | 0.20 | 0.95 |
| 6 | Vermont profile | $207.12 | $430,820 | $110,670 | $451,230 | 130 | 0.41 | 1.95 |
| 7 | Iowa profile | $206.27 | $429,050 | $168,250 | $550,050 | 290 | 0.19 | 0.89 |
| 8 | Connecticut profile | $201.41 | $418,940 | $66,800 | $592,050 | 470 | 0.28 | 1.30 |
| 9 | Michigan profile | $200.85 | $417,760 | $117,780 | $466,930 | 910 | 0.21 | 0.98 |
| 10 | New Mexico profile | $194.77 | $405,130 | $158,680 | $454,480 | 340 | 0.39 | 1.85 |
| 11 | South Dakota profile | $189.36 | $393,870 | $210,850 | $461,290 | 170 | 0.36 | 1.71 |
| 12 | North Dakota profile | $188.89 | $392,890 | $208,740 | $650,950 | 150 | 0.34 | 1.62 |
| 13 | Minnesota profile | $187.95 | $390,940 | $125,750 | $504,070 | 990 | 0.34 | 1.59 |
| 14 | Washington profile | $183.11 | $380,870 | $105,220 | $515,290 | ** | ** | ** |
| 15 | Ohio profile | $181.48 | $377,480 | $130,370 | $513,210 | 1,170 | 0.21 | 0.99 |
| 16 | Nebraska profile | $178.79 | $371,880 | $71,290 | $511,340 | 390 | 0.38 | 1.79 |
| 17 | Massachusetts profile | $171.27 | $356,230 | $175,710 | $530,920 | 890 | 0.24 | 1.15 |
| 18 | Oklahoma profile | $167.57 | $348,540 | $169,610 | $348,540 | 60 | 0.04 | 0.16 |
| 19 | Indiana profile | $166.85 | $347,060 | $220,790 | $486,870 | 1,170 | 0.37 | 1.73 |
| 20 | South Carolina profile | $164.41 | $341,960 | $116,020 | $385,790 | 80 | 0.03 | 0.16 |
| 21 | North Carolina profile | $163.15 | $339,350 | $179,080 | $515,830 | 710 | 0.14 | 0.68 |
| 22 | District of Columbia profile | $152.98 | $318,200 | $235,610 | $318,720 | 120 | 0.17 | 0.80 |
| 23 | Texas profile | $152.32 | $316,830 | $71,930 | $407,430 | 780 | 0.06 | 0.26 |
| 24 | New Jersey profile | $151.60 | $315,340 | $73,880 | $391,500 | 500 | 0.12 | 0.56 |
| 25 | New York profile | $145.04 | $301,690 | $80,210 | $403,140 | 3,980 | 0.41 | 1.94 |
| 26 | Mississippi profile | $121.62 | $252,960 | $174,990 | $568,810 | 450 | 0.39 | 1.83 |
| 27 | Idaho profile | $106.46 | $221,430 | $119,990 | $372,940 | 380 | 0.44 | 2.09 |
| 28 | Georgia profile | $105.29 | $219,010 | $126,020 | $495,260 | ** | ** | ** |
| 29 | Florida profile | $98.55 | $204,990 | $182,950 | $672,830 | 2,060 | 0.21 | 0.98 |
| 30 | Kentucky profile | $81.44 | $169,390 | $123,240 | $316,490 | 620 | 0.31 | 1.48 |
| 31 | Utah profile | $67.48 | $140,370 | $136,870 | $323,470 | 140 | 0.08 | 0.38 |
| – | Alabama profile | # | # | # | # | 90 | 0.04 | 0.19 |
| – | Arizona profile | # | # | # | # | ** | ** | ** |
| – | Arkansas profile | # | # | # | # | 60 | 0.05 | 0.22 |
| – | California profile | * | * | * | * | 4,420 | 0.24 | 1.15 |
| – | Colorado profile | # | # | # | # | 780 | 0.27 | 1.28 |
| – | Hawaii profile | # | # | # | # | 110 | 0.17 | 0.80 |
| – | Illinois profile | # | # | # | # | 1,220 | 0.20 | 0.94 |
| – | Louisiana profile | # | # | # | # | 470 | 0.25 | 1.16 |
| – | Maine profile | # | # | # | # | 280 | 0.44 | 2.08 |
| – | Montana profile | # | # | # | # | 140 | 0.27 | 1.28 |
| – | New Hampshire profile | # | # | # | # | 310 | 0.45 | 2.11 |
| – | Oregon profile | # | # | # | # | 890 | 0.45 | 2.15 |
| – | Pennsylvania profile | # | # | # | # | 570 | 0.09 | 0.45 |
| – | Virginia profile | # | # | # | # | 920 | 0.22 | 1.06 |
| – | Wisconsin profile | # | # | # | # | 1,260 | 0.43 | 2.03 |
| – | Wyoming profile | # | # | # | # | ** | ** | ** |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (29-1210), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 29-1214 Emergency Medicine Physicians.
#- Equal to or greater than the top code (BLS publishes no wage above it).
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked. A withheld or top-coded median in that table shows the marker explained above.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 29-1214, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 29-1214.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.