How much does an ER doctor make?
a year · about $161 an hour
A typical ER doctor in the United States makes $335,550 a year, about $161 an hour, about 6.6× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
ER doctors quickly assess arriving patients, make urgent decisions, and begin treatment. They stabilize seriously ill people and decide the next step in care.
Did you know? In the U.S., two-thirds of emergency-room visits happen after regular doctors’ offices have closed.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $103,610 and $495,910How do you become one?
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.
School needed: Graduate degree or long training
Good for people who like figuring things out and helping and teaching
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.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Maryland ($451,620), lowest in Kentucky ($169,390).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| 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 |
Official definition: 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.
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