Healthcare career

Emergency Medicine Physician

Also called: ER Doctor · Emergency Physician · ED Physician · Emergency Room Doctor

What emergency medicine physicians do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
What does an emergency medicine physician do?

Emergency medicine physicians evaluate and treat patients with sudden illnesses and injuries in emergency departments, stabilizing them and deciding on admission or discharge. The median pay is $335,550 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 11–12 years after high school, and employment is projected to grow +3.2% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

  • Median pay
    $335,550
    $161.32/hour · May 2025
  • Job growth
    +3.2%
    2025–35, about as fast as average
  • Openings per year
    900
    Average, 2025–35
  • Typical entry education
    Doctoral or professional degree
    BLS classification
  • Time to train
    11–12 years after high school
    Typical program length
  • U.S. jobs
    34,900
    Employment, 2025

What emergency medicine physicians do

Emergency physicians are ready for anything. They see heart attacks, strokes, trauma, infections, broken bones, overdoses and childbirth complications, often several at once. They resuscitate critically ill patients, perform procedures such as intubation and chest tubes, order tests, and decide who needs admission, surgery or discharge.

They complete medical school and a three-to-four-year emergency medicine residency, then earn a license and board certification. Shift work means no traditional office hours but also predictable time off.

Typical duties

  • Evaluate patients quickly
  • Resuscitate critically ill patients
  • Perform emergency procedures
  • Order and interpret tests
  • Treat injuries and acute illness
  • Coordinate with specialists
  • Decide on admission or discharge

Work environment and schedule

Emergency physicians work in hospital emergency departments, urgent care and freestanding ERs.

Schedule: Shifts of 8–12 hours cover days, nights, weekends and holidays.

A day in the life

  1. Take sign-out from the day team.
  2. Resuscitate a patient in cardiac arrest.
  3. Reduce a dislocated shoulder.
  4. Evaluate a child with high fever.

See a full day in the life of an emergency medicine physician →

Emergency Medicine Physician salary

Half of emergency medicine physicians earned more than $335,550 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $103,610 for the lowest 10% to $495,910 for the top 10%.

Full emergency medicine physician pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become an emergency medicine physician

  1. Earn a bachelor’s degree
  2. Complete medical school
  3. Complete EM residency
  4. Pass boards
  5. Practice

Medical school plus a 3–4 year emergency medicine residency are required, along with a state license and board certification.

Step-by-step guide to becoming an emergency medicine physician →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

  • Resuscitation
  • Airway management
  • Trauma care
  • Rapid diagnosis
  • Emergency procedures

People skills

  • Decisiveness
  • Multitasking
  • Calm under pressure
  • Teamwork

All emergency medicine physician skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Very high pay
  • Exciting, varied work
  • Shift-based schedule with no ongoing call
  • Save lives daily

Cons

  • Night shifts and holidays
  • Burnout risk
  • Crowded departments
  • Violence and stress

Certifications and licenses

  • ABEM board certification: American Board of Emergency Medicine.
  • State medical license: Required.
  • ACLS, PALS and ATLS: Life support and trauma courses.
  • EMS or toxicology subspecialty: Fellowship options.

Career path

  1. EM Resident: Train.
  2. Attending Physician: Practice.
  3. Medical Director: Lead an ED.
  4. Chair of Emergency Medicine: Lead departments.

Learn the job before day one

Our Emergency Medicine Physician training (12 hours, $109.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as run a cardiac arrest code and perform a FAST ultrasound, safety and how to land your first job.

View Emergency Medicine Physician trainingIs this career right for me?

Paramedic

Provide advanced emergency medical care on scene and on the way to the hospital.

  • $60,600
  • 12–24 months

Registered Nurse

Assess patients, give treatments, coordinate care and educate families.

  • $97,550
  • 2–4 years

Physician Assistant

Examine, diagnose and treat patients as part of a physician-led team.

  • $135,880
  • About 6–7 years after high school

Compare: ER Doctor vs. EMT · ER Doctor vs. Paramedic · ER Doctor vs. RN · ER Doctor vs. Physician Assistant

Emergency Medicine Physician FAQ

How long does it take to become an ER doctor?

About 11–12 years after high school.

Do ER doctors take call?

Usually not; they work scheduled shifts.

Is emergency medicine stressful?

Yes, but many find it rewarding and like the shift schedule.

How much does an emergency medicine physician make?

The median annual wage for emergency medicine physicians was $335,550 ($161.32 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $103,610 and the highest 10% earned more than $495,910.

How long does it take to become an emergency medicine physician?

Most people need about 11–12 years after high school of training. Medical school plus a 3–4 year emergency medicine residency are required, along with a state license and board certification.

Do you need a degree to be an emergency medicine physician?

Yes. BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education, and you also need a state license to practice.

More emergency medicine physician questions →

Sources

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

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