The average emergency medicine physician salary was $379,000 in 2023, according to Medscape’s 2024 Emergency Medicine Physician Salary Report. This represents an 8% increase over 2022’s average salary of $352,000 and outpaced the 3% compensation growth for U.S. physicians overall. This year’s compensation report detailed how much emergency medicine physicians are earning, how they feel about it, and other ways they supplement their incomes.
Emergency medicine physician salaries are higher than average
The average emergency medicine physician salary was slightly higher than that of the average physician in 2023, bringing home $379,000 compared to an average of $363,000 for physicians overall.
Of the 29 specialties surveyed, emergency medicine salaries were the fifteenth highest-paid specialists, landing in the same position as last year’s survey. Once again, orthopedics was the highest-paid specialty, averaging $558,000, while diabetes and endocrinology was the lowest-paid specialty, earning $256,000 annually.
EM physicians don’t choose their specialty for the pay
Though one in two residents said that future income played a meaningful part in their choice of specialty, physicians may change their perspective over time. For emergency medicine physicians, nearly one-third (30%) said that future earnings had zero impact on their decision to choose emergency medicine. A further 49% said it was only a minor factor, while 21% said it was a leading or main factor when choosing their specialty.
How much did future pay factor into your decision to choose your specialty?
Benefits beyond the pay: How locum tenens jobs can supplement your experience
Half of emergency medicine physicians feel fairly compensated
While emergency medicine physicians did see a meaningful pay increase last year by national workforce standards, their opinions about compensation didn’t show a corresponding shift. Over half (58%) said they believe most physicians of all specialties are underpaid, while 38% feel that most physicians are paid about right.
Interestingly, when Medscape asked emergency medicine physicians about their own salaries, the proportions shifted. Just over half (52%) said they feel fairly paid, while 48% feel their pay is unfair given their work demands.
Do EM physicians feel fairly paid, given the work they do?
Bonus pay increased slightly in 2023 for EM physicians
Bonus compensation isn’t available in every medical work setting, but 55% of emergency medicine physicians reported that they were eligible to receive incentive pay in 2023. This percentage tracks closely with U.S. physicians overall, with 58% stating they are eligible for a bonus. The average 2023 emergency medicine bonus check was $39,000, up slightly from $37,000 in 2022.
Rewards and challenges of EM work
Regardless of pay and specialty, every physician experiences an inevitable mix of ups and downs on the job. Consistent with findings from previous Medscape surveys, 30% of emergency medicine physicians listed being good at what they do as the most rewarding part of their job, while only 12% listed making good money. Other top rewards included helping others and the gratitude from or relationships with their patients.
What do you find most rewarding as an emergency medicine physician?
On the flip side, the top five challenges emergency medicine physicians listed included managing difficult patients (27%), dealing with rules and regulations (21%), worries about lawsuits (14%), using an EHR system (9%), and long work hours (8%). Notably, difficult patients moved from second place to number one, up 3% from last year. The rest of the concerns held roughly the same proportions as in 2022.
How emergency medicine physicians supplement their incomes
Consistent with last year’s Medscape report, 55% of emergency medicine physicians supplement their income with outside work. All sorts of personal and professional factors can influence whether physicians feel the need to bring in extra money at different points in their careers.
In 2023, 23% took on what they called “other medical-related work,” while 18% filled the gap by adding hours to their primary job. Another 16% said they use “medical moonlighting or locum tenens” to boost their income, and 9% earn additional income through non-medical-related jobs.
Dr. Katherine Altieri, an emergency medicine physician, started doing locums assignments right out of residency in addition to her full-time job. She appreciates being able to experience new ways of practicing medicine when she works in new hospitals and providing care to patients who may not otherwise receive it.
“It’s interesting to see how people do medicine in different areas,” she says. “Also, when I do locums, a lot of the places I go are places that other doctors don’t necessarily want to go for some reason, so a lot of times it’s a medical need where you go.”
Looking to increase your income? Learn how locum tenens pay works for physicians
Emergency medicine physicians have options
Based on 2023 survey findings, economic conditions for emergency medicine physicians are looking brighter. Money is certainly important, but the data show that other factors contribute to overall EM job satisfaction. Options like locum tenens help physicians focus on patients, avoid bureaucracy, and open new career pathways, with the added benefit of boosting their incomes.
Emergency medicine physicians are in high demand as locum tenens physicians. Give us a call at 954.343.3050 to learn more or view today’s emergency medicine locum tenens job opportunities.
