ER doctor salary
BLS occupation: Emergency Medicine Physicians · Healthcare practitioners · data for May 2025
How much does an ER doctor make?
- The median ER doctor salary in the US is $335,550 a year ($161.32 an hour): half of the 32,880 ER doctors BLS counts earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) is $317,480.
- The middle half earn between $184,830 and $418,890. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $103,610 and the top 10% more than $495,910.
- That is 6.6 times the median for all US workers ($50,980).
- Rhode Island pays ER doctors the most (median $512,730), followed by West Virginia ($491,230) and Missouri ($456,280). Utah pays the least ($140,370).
- After adjusting for prices, the pay goes furthest in West Virginia, where the median is worth $548,879 in typical US prices, then Missouri and Rhode Island. Rhode Island's higher pay is offset by its prices (102.3 vs a US average of 100).
- In 50 of the 51 metro areas with data, the median ER doctor salary is enough to rent a typical home without spending more than 30% of income on rent.
- BLS projects the number of ER doctors to grow 3.2% from 2025 to 2035 (all jobs: 3.5%), with about 900 openings a year. The typical entry education is a doctoral or professional degree.
official From BLS's survey of employers: what ER doctors are actually paid, not job ads or self-reports. Adjusted figures are derived. How we calculate.
How does your pay compare?
ER doctor salary range
Half of ER doctors earn between $184,830 and $418,890 a year
Yearly pay at each point of the range, US, May 2025. For comparison, the median for all US jobs is $50,980.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Show the numbers
| Yearly pay | |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn under | $103,610 |
| Lowest 25% earn under | $184,830 |
| Median | $335,550 |
| Top 25% earn over | $418,890 |
| Top 10% earn over | $495,910 |
ER doctor salary by state
Rhode Island pays ER doctors the most; Utah the least
Median yearly pay by state compared with the US median ($335,550), May 2025. Blue = higher pay.
- 20%+ below US
- 10–20% below
- 3–10% below
- Within 3%
- 3–10% above
- 10–20% above
- 20%+ above US
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.
Show the numbers
| State | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $512,730 median |
| West Virginia | $491,230 median |
| Missouri | $456,280 median |
| Alaska | $452,620 median |
| Maryland | $451,620 median |
| Vermont | $430,820 median |
| Iowa | $429,050 median |
| Connecticut | $418,940 median |
| Michigan | $417,760 median |
| New Mexico | $405,130 median |
| South Dakota | $393,870 median |
| North Dakota | $392,890 median |
| Minnesota | $390,940 median |
| Washington | $380,870 median |
| Ohio | $377,480 median |
| Nebraska | $371,880 median |
| Massachusetts | $356,230 median |
| Oklahoma | $348,540 median |
| Indiana | $347,060 median |
| South Carolina | $341,960 median |
| North Carolina | $339,350 median |
| District of Columbia | $318,200 median |
| Texas | $316,830 median |
| New Jersey | $315,340 median |
| New York | $301,690 median |
| Mississippi | $252,960 median |
| Idaho | $221,430 median |
| Georgia | $219,010 median |
| Florida | $204,990 median |
| Kentucky | $169,390 median |
| Utah | $140,370 median |
Where ER doctor pay goes furthest
A salary buys more where prices are low. We divide each state's median by its price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, so every figure is in typical US prices. derived
ER doctors' pay goes furthest in West Virginia once prices are counted
Median pay ÷ the state's price level (BEA, 2024; US = 100), shown in typical US prices. Top 10 states.
US median
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Our calculation.
Show the numbers
| Worth, in US prices | |
|---|---|
| West Virginia | $548,879 |
| Missouri | $502,417 |
| Rhode Island | $501,300 |
| Iowa | $488,879 |
| South Dakota | $444,619 |
| Alaska | $442,189 |
| North Dakota | $441,653 |
| Vermont | $439,801 |
| New Mexico | $439,346 |
| Michigan | $434,185 |
ER doctor pay in every state
| State | Median a year | Hourly | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Employed | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $512,730 | $246.50 | $73,920 | $566,150 | 290 | $501,300 |
| West Virginia | $491,230 | $236.17 | $62,830 | $556,710 | 300 | $548,879 |
| Missouri | $456,280 | $219.37 | $218,190 | $496,370 | – | $502,417 |
| Alaska | $452,620 | $217.61 | $120,420 | $472,870 | 190 | $442,189 |
| Maryland | $451,620 | $217.13 | $220,020 | $479,180 | 550 | $430,282 |
| Vermont | $430,820 | $207.13 | $110,670 | $451,230 | 130 | $439,801 |
| Iowa | $429,050 | $206.27 | $168,250 | $550,050 | 290 | $488,879 |
| Connecticut | $418,940 | $201.41 | $66,800 | $592,050 | 470 | $404,343 |
| Michigan | $417,760 | $200.85 | $117,780 | $466,930 | 910 | $434,185 |
| New Mexico | $405,130 | $194.77 | $158,680 | $454,480 | 340 | $439,346 |
| South Dakota | $393,870 | $189.36 | $210,850 | $461,290 | 170 | $444,619 |
| North Dakota | $392,890 | $188.89 | $208,740 | $650,950 | 150 | $441,653 |
| Minnesota | $390,940 | $187.95 | $125,750 | $504,070 | 990 | $396,406 |
| Washington | $380,870 | $183.11 | $105,220 | $515,290 | – | $355,910 |
| Ohio | $377,480 | $181.48 | $130,370 | $513,210 | 1,170 | $406,881 |
| Nebraska | $371,880 | $178.79 | $71,290 | $511,340 | 390 | $412,728 |
| Massachusetts | $356,230 | $171.26 | $175,710 | $530,920 | 890 | $336,838 |
| Oklahoma | $348,540 | $167.57 | $169,610 | $348,540 | 60 | $396,776 |
| Indiana | $347,060 | $166.86 | $220,790 | $486,870 | 1,170 | $371,867 |
| South Carolina | $341,960 | $164.40 | $116,020 | $385,790 | 80 | $364,761 |
| North Carolina | $339,350 | $163.15 | $179,080 | $515,830 | 710 | $359,763 |
| District of Columbia | $318,200 | $152.98 | $235,610 | $318,720 | 120 | $289,533 |
| Texas | $316,830 | $152.32 | $71,930 | $407,430 | 780 | $326,437 |
| New Jersey | $315,340 | $151.61 | $73,880 | $391,500 | 500 | $289,821 |
| New York | $301,690 | $145.04 | $80,210 | $403,140 | 3,980 | $279,547 |
| Mississippi | $252,960 | $121.62 | $174,990 | $568,810 | 450 | $290,916 |
| Idaho | $221,430 | $106.46 | $119,990 | $372,940 | 380 | $231,878 |
| Georgia | $219,010 | $105.29 | $126,020 | $495,260 | – | $227,441 |
| Florida | $204,990 | $98.55 | $182,950 | $672,830 | 2,060 | $198,223 |
| Kentucky | $169,390 | $81.44 | $123,240 | $316,490 | 620 | $187,879 |
| Utah | $140,370 | $67.49 | $136,870 | $323,470 | 140 | $141,983 |
BLS does not publish pay for ER doctors in 20 states (too few workers to estimate reliably). After cost of living = median ÷ (BEA price level ÷ 100).
ER doctor salary by city
Metro areas where BLS publishes ER doctor pay: 51 of 387. Rent share = typical rent (September 2026, Zillow) × 12 ÷ the median salary; under 30% is affordable by the usual rule.
Highest-paying metro areas
- Huntington, WV $531,340
- Providence, RI $476,890
- Anchorage, AK $472,140
- Rochester, MN $462,850
- Dayton, OH $454,760
- Burlington, VT $449,910
- Norwich, CT $448,470
- Detroit, MI $447,750
- Rochester, NY $440,340
- Duluth, MN $434,190
Where the pay goes furthest
- Huntington, WV $600,914
- Rochester, MN $509,629
- Dayton, OH $490,603
- Duluth, MN $489,129
- Providence, RI $468,582
- Des Moines, IA $464,891
- Rochester, NY $453,795
- Anchorage, AK $447,866
- Norwich, CT $446,483
- Detroit, MI $446,420
All 51 metro areas
| Metro area | Median a year | Employed | After cost of living | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington, WV | $531,340 | 40 | $600,914 | 2% |
| Providence, RI | $476,890 | 300 | $468,582 | 5% |
| Anchorage, AK | $472,140 | 70 | $447,866 | 5% |
| Rochester, MN | $462,850 | 140 | $509,629 | 4% |
| Dayton, OH | $454,760 | 200 | $490,603 | 3% |
| Burlington, VT | $449,910 | – | $445,680 | 7% |
| Norwich, CT | $448,470 | 80 | $446,483 | 6% |
| Detroit, MI | $447,750 | 520 | $446,420 | 4% |
| Rochester, NY | $440,340 | 180 | $453,795 | 4% |
| Duluth, MN | $434,190 | 50 | $489,129 | 4% |
| Des Moines, IA | $426,310 | 50 | $464,891 | 4% |
| Hartford, CT | $418,940 | 250 | $407,743 | 6% |
| Albuquerque, NM | $405,130 | 180 | $424,016 | 4% |
| Athens, GA | $388,370 | – | $416,068 | 5% |
| Seattle, WA | $380,870 | – | $342,715 | 7% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $380,800 | 310 | $371,317 | 6% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $367,120 | 550 | $350,232 | 6% |
| Boston, MA | $356,230 | 620 | $329,032 | 10% |
| Baltimore, MD | $344,170 | 240 | $329,390 | 7% |
| Madison, WI | $340,150 | 170 | $349,636 | 6% |
| San Francisco, CA | $338,990 | 370 | $293,211 | 12% |
| New Orleans, LA | $336,290 | 140 | $363,176 | 6% |
| Cincinnati, OH | $333,290 | 240 | $349,470 | 5% |
| Columbus, OH | $331,600 | – | $347,338 | 6% |
| Dallas, TX | $324,210 | 310 | $314,492 | 6% |
| Worcester, MA | $319,420 | 170 | $311,559 | 8% |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $319,170 | – | $346,762 | 6% |
| San Antonio, TX | $316,830 | 110 | $334,505 | 5% |
| Boise, ID | $316,000 | – | $321,168 | 7% |
| Eugene, OR | $313,350 | 90 | $308,513 | 7% |
| Allentown, PA | $306,610 | 110 | $306,708 | 7% |
| Omaha, NE | $306,350 | 200 | $333,312 | 5% |
| Akron, OH | $305,960 | 80 | $327,686 | 5% |
| Buffalo, NY | $303,190 | 210 | $316,337 | 6% |
| Jackson, MS | $297,790 | 80 | $334,415 | 6% |
| New York, NY | $289,440 | 3,070 | $257,136 | 15% |
| Indianapolis, IN | $284,930 | 490 | $297,745 | 6% |
| St. Cloud, MN | $276,550 | – | $315,581 | 5% |
| St. Louis, MO | $276,550 | 120 | $290,836 | 6% |
| Atlanta, GA | $263,810 | – | $263,657 | 8% |
| Utica, NY | $214,340 | 30 | $231,274 | 8% |
| Miami, FL | $204,990 | – | $179,572 | 16% |
| Charlotte, NC | $195,770 | 110 | $201,103 | 11% |
| Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $190,430 | 140 | $174,033 | 14% |
| Albany, NY | $183,970 | – | $184,772 | 11% |
| Syracuse, NY | $181,980 | 170 | $190,073 | 11% |
| Louisville, KY | $169,390 | 180 | $181,995 | 9% |
| Lexington, KY | $148,180 | 160 | $159,524 | 13% |
| Ogden, UT | $137,250 | 40 | $136,773 | 14% |
| Riverside, CA | $76,160 | – | $71,551 | 40% |
| Houston, TX | $73,330 | 170 | $74,349 | 27% |
What the median ER doctor salary pays per paycheck
| Period | Before taxes |
|---|---|
| Year | $335,550 |
| Month | $27,963 |
| Every two weeks | $12,906 |
| Week | $6,453 |
| Hour | $161.32 |
Gross pay, 52 weeks a year, 2,080 hours. Hourly to salary calculator.
Becoming an ER doctor: education and job outlook
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree |
|---|---|
| Work experience needed | None |
| On-the-job training | Internship/residency |
| Projected change in jobs, 2025–35 | +3.2% (all jobs: +3.5%) |
| Openings a year (average) | 900 |
| Self-employed | 3.7% |
official BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35. Openings include workers who retire or change jobs. What the work involves: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Similar jobs
| Job | Median a year | Typical education |
|---|---|---|
| Ultrasound tech | $96,590 | Associate's degree |
| Vet tech | $47,380 | Associate's degree |
| Speech-language pathologist | $97,870 | Master's degree |
| Physician assistant | $135,880 | Master's degree |
| Nurse practitioner | $132,300 | Master's degree |
| Medical lab tech | $62,930 | Bachelor's degree |
| MRI tech | $95,480 | Associate's degree |
| CRNA | $236,590 | Master's degree |
Questions about ER doctor pay
How much does an ER doctor make an hour?
The median is $161.32 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $49.81 and the top 10% over $238.42.
How much does an ER doctor make a month?
About $27,963 a month before taxes at the median salary of $335,550, or $12,906 every two weeks.
What state pays ER doctors the most?
Rhode Island, with a median of $512,730. West Virginia ($491,230), Missouri ($456,280), Alaska ($452,620) and Maryland ($451,620) follow.
Where do ER doctors make the most after cost of living?
West Virginia: its median of $491,230 is worth $548,879 at typical US prices. Missouri, Rhode Island and Iowa come next.
How much do entry-level ER doctors make?
BLS does not report pay by experience. The lowest-paid 10% of ER doctors earn under $103,610 a year, and the lowest-paid quarter under $184,830, which is a reasonable guide to starting pay.
What education do you need to become an ER doctor?
BLS lists the typical entry-level education as a doctoral or professional degree. Work experience in a related job: none. On-the-job training: internship/residency.
Sources and limits
- Pay and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation 29-1214 (Emergency Medicine Physicians). Downloaded 2026-10-24.
- OEWS counts wage and salary workers at employers, including tips and commissions but not overtime pay, bonuses that are not tied to production, or benefits. It leaves out the self-employed. BLS does not publish figures above $239,200 a year or for states and metro areas with too few workers.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (US = 100). Rents: Zillow Observed Rent Index, September 2026; Data Provided by Zillow Group.
- Outlook and education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Pay is not broken down by experience, employer or specialty (for example, ER or pediatric nursing); BLS does not publish those splits.