Hiring guide · Healthcare
How to Hire an Emergency Medicine Physician
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring emergency medicine physicians, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $335,550), recruit through community college and vocational program career centers, verify ABEM board certification where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for emergency medicine physicians
There are about 34,900 emergency medicine physicians employed in the U.S., with roughly 900 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +3.2% from 2025–35 (about as fast as average). Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or change careers, so a steady pipeline matters.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $103,610–$184,830 | $49.81–$88.86 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $335,550 | $161.32 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $418,890 | $201.39 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $495,910 | $238.42 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours except median. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- Doctoral or professional degree (typical entry level)
- Licensing or certification required in your state
- Resuscitation
- Decisiveness
Nice-to-haves
- ABEM board certification
- State medical license
- ACLS, PALS and ATLS
- Experience with defibrillators
Where to find emergency medicine physicians
- Community college and vocational program career centers
- Clinical externship and student-placement partnerships
- State nurse aide registries and healthcare job boards
- Employee referral programs
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: ER Doctor, Emergency Physician, ED Physician, Emergency Room Doctor
Screening checklist
- Verify certifications and state registry or license status with the issuing body
- Background checks and federal exclusion-list (OIG LEIE) screening as required for your organization
- Immunization records, TB testing and drug screening according to policy and law
- Current BLS/CPR certification
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “Why emergency medicine?”
What a strong answer includes: Share motivation.
2. “How do you prioritize multiple sick patients?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain triage.
3. “Describe a difficult resuscitation.”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
4. “How do you prevent burnout?”
What a strong answer includes: Be honest.
5. “How do you work with consultants?”
What a strong answer includes: Show teamwork.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Run a Cardiac Arrest Code (see the steps)
- Perform a FAST Ultrasound (see the steps)
- Hand Off Patients at Shift Change (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as Triage, Resuscitation, ACLS
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Emergency Medicine Physician 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Emergency Medicine Physician training. Show them the path forward: EM Resident → Attending Physician → Medical Director → Chair of Emergency Medicine.
Hiring emergency medicine physicians: FAQ
How much should I pay an emergency medicine physician?
The U.S. median wage for emergency medicine physicians is $335,550 per year ($161.32/hour), according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($184,830), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($418,890). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should an emergency medicine physician have?
BLS lists “doctoral or professional degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for ABEM board certification and State medical license where relevant, plus skills such as resuscitation, airway management, and trauma care.
How long does it take to train a new emergency medicine physician?
Becoming qualified typically takes 11–12 years after high school. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “internship/residency.”