Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Doctoral or professional degree
None
Internship/residency
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Emergency medicine physicians diagnose and treat patients with urgent or critical conditions. Nationally, there are about 36,000 people working in this occupation, with projected employment growth of 2.7% and around 1,000 openings each year. This combination suggests ongoing demand for new physicians entering the field as well as replacement of those leaving. The role requires rapid problem solving and decision making, along with strong critical and analytical thinking skills. Interpersonal, speaking and listening, and customer service abilities support effective interactions with patients and colleagues. Emergency medicine physicians also draw on science knowledge and use computers and information technology in their work. The typical educational path is a doctoral or professional degree, reflecting the advanced training required. For individuals prepared to complete this level of education and develop the needed skills, emergency medicine offers a stable, specialized medical career with opportunities in a variety of states and metro areas across the country.
Earnings for emergency medicine physicians are strong in several states and metro areas. Among the top states by opportunity score, median annual salaries range from $301,690 in New York to $451,620 in Maryland. Massachusetts reports $356,230, Texas $316,830, and Minnesota $390,940, indicating substantial earning potential with notable variation by location. At the metro level, salaries also differ. The New York–Newark–Jersey City metro shows a median of $289,440, while the Boston–Cambridge–Newton area matches Massachusetts at $356,230. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont reports $338,990, Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington $380,800, and Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington $324,210. These figures illustrate that compensation can vary significantly even among areas with strong overall opportunity scores, so prospective emergency medicine physicians may want to weigh both salary levels and other career factors when comparing locations.
Emergency medicine physicians have a national employment base of about 36,000 positions. Projected employment growth of 2.7% indicates that the field is expected to expand over time. With approximately 1,000 annual openings, there appears to be a steady flow of opportunities, which likely includes both new positions and openings created when current physicians move, retire, or change careers. The consistent 2.7% growth rate cited across top states and metro areas suggests relatively uniform projected expansion in different regions. For individuals planning long-term careers, this data points to an occupation with ongoing hiring needs rather than a static job market. While the figures do not specify growth by subspecialty or practice setting, they do show that emergency medicine remains an active area within the broader physician workforce, with opportunities distributed nationally in a range of locations.
Location plays a significant role in opportunity for emergency medicine physicians. Among states, Massachusetts and New York have high opportunity scores (65.87 and 65.78) with substantial employment levels of 890 and 3,980, respectively. Maryland stands out for its median salary of $451,620 and an opportunity score of 52.88, while Texas and Minnesota combine mid-to-high salaries with opportunity scores above 49. In metro areas, the New York–Newark–Jersey City region leads with an opportunity score of 77.27 and employment of 3,070, although its median salary of $289,440 is lower than several other metros. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont offers a median salary of $338,990 and an opportunity score of 68.75, while Boston–Cambridge–Newton aligns with the Massachusetts state median salary of $356,230. Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington and Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington also provide strong combinations of salary and opportunity. These differences highlight that some locations emphasize higher salaries, others higher opportunity scores, and some offer a balance of both.
Emergency medicine physicians typically need a doctoral or professional degree, reflecting the extensive education required to practice medicine. This advanced training underpins the scientific knowledge and clinical judgment necessary in emergency care. Success in this field relies on a broad set of skills. Problem solving and decision making, along with critical and analytical thinking, support rapid assessments and sound judgments. Strong science skills are fundamental, while speaking and listening and interpersonal abilities help physicians communicate effectively with patients, families, and colleagues. Being detail oriented contributes to accuracy and safety, and adaptability is valuable in handling changing situations. Writing and reading skills support documentation and information review, and customer service skills help address patient needs. Computers and information technology are also important, as physicians use digital tools in their work. Individuals considering this path should be prepared for a rigorous doctoral-level education and the development of this diverse skill set.
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