While many physicians would agree there is a great deal of stress that comes with the position, some specialties are more intense than others. This is why doctors working in emergency medicine clock in at one of the highest hourly rates in the industry.
Just like other professions, salary is partially determined by the cost of living and demand in the area. According to the 2022-2023 Emergency Physician Compensation Report, Florida, Arizona, and Texas are the top three best-paying states for emergency physicians. The remaining states in the top 10 include Illinois, Idaho, California, North Dakota, Ohio, Louisiana, and North Carolina. Data collected is a combination of open positions and available compensation for top paying emergency medicine subspecialties representing only salaries; no bonuses or benefits are included. Available positions and annual incomes assume 1,560 clinical hours.
According to Medscape’s Emergency Medicine Physician Compensation Report 2022, emergency medicine (EM) physicians earn an average salary of $373K, which rose from its previous report when the pandemic weighed more heavily on medical practices’ finances overall. Thankfully, it appears EM physicians’ compensation is trending upward as demand accelerates with a 5 percent increase from the previous year. A higher incentive starting bonus was also reported.
Top Paying Emergency Medicine Salaries
While emergencies come in various forms and at all hours of the day, certain subspecialties impact the type of work performed and the salary that goes along with it. The American Board of Medical Specialties lists emergency medicine subspecialties as the following and we’ve ranked them in order of highest to lowest salaries.
Anesthesiology critical care medicine (ETA salary approximately $375K – $482K)
In this subspecialty, physicians might work with patients in the ICU and those who’ve undergone severe injury and illness.
Pediatric emergency medicine (ETA salary approximately $363K – $486K)
Infants, children, and adolescents who are ill and in need of emergency care are treated by pediatric emergency physicians.
Pain medicine (ETA salary approximately $295K – 346K)
EM physicians in this area help patients mitigate pain from cancer and other types of chronic maladies.
Emergency medical services (ETA salary approximately $293K – $393K)
Physicians in this field often work outside of the hospital to assist with car and wilderness accidents or heart attacks in public places, etc.
Internal medicine-critical care medicine (ETA salary approximately $220K – $320K)
EM physicians in critical care diagnose and treat patients who experience critical injuries or illnesses.
Neurocritical care (ETA salary approximately $215K – $362K)
Patients with neurological conditions that impact the brain or nervous system are seen in this EM subspecialty.
Sports medicine (ETA salary approximately $213K – 317K)
Doctors partner with patients who experience sports or exercise-related injuries in sports medicine to diagnose, treat and manage injuries that impact performance.
Medical toxicology (ETA salary approximately $200K – $300K)
Toxicologists work with patients suffering from addiction and drug abuse, or those who deal with environmental or workplace hazards involving chemical or harmful substances.
Hospice and palliative medicine (ETA salary approximately $172K – $264K)
These physicians treat patients during end-of-life care and help to alleviate pain and suffering.
Undersea and hyperbaric medicine (ETA salary approximately $90K – 300K)
This EM subspecialty often flies under the radar, but undersea and hyperbaric medicine EM physicians help patients who experience injuries while diving or underwater, including those that occur from shifts in the atmosphere.
Lowest Paying States for Emergency Medicine Compensation
The bottom ten states reported in the 2022-2023 Emergency Physician Compensation Report include the following:
- Iowa
- Michigan
- Colorado
- Maine
- Georgia
- West Virginia
- Oregon
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- Virginia
Pay vs Passion
Emergency medicine physicians can take strategic actions to ensure they receive the best compensation package on the table. While pay is important, EM physicians don’t rank at top of the chart for those who love their specialty. (Dermatologists and orthopedists top the list year after year.) Rather EM physicians rank near the bottom, just above nephrology, family medicine, and internal medicine. This is likely due to EM physicians repeatedly dealing with difficult patients and an abundant burden of rules and regulations.
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