How much does a er doctor make?
Answer: A typical er doctor in the United States makes $335,550 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 33,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
ER doctor pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $103,610 | $335,550 | $495,910 | about 33,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $451,620 | about 550 |
| Michigan | $417,760 | about 910 |
| Minnesota | $390,940 | about 990 |
| Ohio | $377,480 | about 1,000 |
| Massachusetts | $356,230 | about 890 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience, board certification, employer type, and location can all affect an ER doctor’s pay. Hours worked and the number of shifts can also change total earnings.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a er doctor 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.
What's a typical day like?
ER doctors quickly assess arriving patients, make urgent decisions, and begin treatment. They stabilize seriously ill people and decide the next step in care.
How to get this job
In the U.S., earn a bachelor’s degree, complete 4 years of medical school, pass licensing exams, and finish a 3–4-year emergency-medicine residency to get a state license. Starting at 18 with no breaks, you may begin work around age 29 or 30.
Graduate degree or long training (preparation level 5 of 5)
Good for people who like figuring things out and helping and teaching.
Did you know?
In the U.S., two-thirds of emergency-room visits happen after regular doctors’ offices have closed.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physicians-and-surgeons.htm
- www.fsmb.org/siteassets/usmle-step3/pdfs/pathway-to-licensure.pdf
- www.abem.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/em-residency-training-requirements.pdf
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes291214.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.acep.org/siteassets/sites/acep/media/value-of-em/acepvalueofemergencymedicin
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY