Should I Choose Emergency Medicine? Real Physician Decision Guide (2026) | SalaryDr
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  3. Emergency Medicine
  4. Should I Choose?

Should I Choose Emergency Medicine?

Real decision-making data from 56 verified Emergency Medicine physicians. Here is what they actually think.

3.7/5
Avg Satisfaction
83%
Would Choose Again
53
Avg Hours/Week
$302K
Avg Compensation

The Verdict

83%
of Emergency Medicine physicians would choose the specialty again

An overwhelming 83% of Emergency Medicine physicians say they would choose the specialty again -- a strong endorsement.

What Physicians Love About Emergency Medicine

“I'm not the best compensated at $270/hour where I live, but my hours are good. There are some areas that make $300+/hr. Very few resources in the hospital but enough for me to start chipping away at loans. ”
— Emergency Medicine Physician
“Unfortunately, Emergency Medicine now was driven by patient’s satisfaction scores, and many times you don’t do what best for the patient but what they want and that’s not good medicine. Many times patients request a specific test or have a very high expectation from a ER visit and if you don’t order it, they will give a 1 star review on google write your name on it.”
— Emergency Medicine Physician

Work-Life Balance Reality in Emergency Medicine

53
average hours per week reported by Emergency Medicine physicians
“Clock in, clock out and done.”
— Emergency Medicine Resident
“High burnout risk working in high volume and/or high acuity ERs. ”
— Emergency Medicine Physician
“I don't have a life I'm only 27 I'm more focused on making money rn I take any shifts that come up to me I work 14-15 hr per day but i have a 150k malpractice insurance ”
— Emergency Medicine Physician

How Emergency Medicine Compares

See how Emergency Medicine stacks up against other popular specialties.

Emergency MedicineCurrent
Satisfaction:3.7/5
Choose Again:83%
Hours:53
Comp:$302K
Pediatrics
Satisfaction:4/5
Choose Again:82%
Internal Medicine
Satisfaction:3.6/5
Choose Again:84%
Family Medicine
Satisfaction:3.5/5
Choose Again:77%
SpecialtySatisfactionWould Choose Again

Negotiation Tips From Emergency Medicine Physicians

“I have to pay my malpractice insurance myself I wish I would've asked my employer for it instead of incentive based bonus”
— Emergency Medicine Physician

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Emergency Medicine worth it?

Based on 56 verified physician responses, Emergency Medicine physicians report 3.7/5 average satisfaction and 83% say they would choose the specialty again. Average total compensation is $302K. Whether it is worth it depends on your priorities, but the data suggests most physicians are satisfied with their choice.

What's the work-life balance like in Emergency Medicine?

Emergency Medicine physicians work an average of 53 hours per week. One physician shared: "Clock in, clock out and done."

How much do Emergency Medicine physicians make?

Based on SalaryDr data, Emergency Medicine physicians earn an average total compensation of $302K. With an average of 53 hours per week, that translates to roughly $109/hour.

Still deciding? Hear from more Emergency Medicine physicians

Explore detailed lifestyle insights or contribute your own experience to help others make their decision.

View Full Emergency Medicine InsightsShare Your Experience

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Specialties
  • All Physician Salaries
  • Salaries by City
  • General Surgery
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Cardiology
  • Salaries by State
  • Residency Salaries
For Dentists
  • All Dentist Salaries
  • Dental Salary Database
  • Dentist Salary by State
  • Submit Dental Salary
  • Dental Calculator
Tools
  • Salary Comparison
  • Financial Calculators
  • Take Home Calculator
  • Offer Analyzer
  • Compare Specialties
  • Physician Jobs
Salary Data
  • Physician Careers
  • Salary Benchmarks
  • Salary Trends
  • Compensation Analysis
  • Lifestyle Insights
  • Compensation Components
  • Annual Report
  • Benchmark Reports
Community
  • SalaryDen
  • Latest Discussions
  • Submit Your Salary
  • Share Feedback
  • Salary FAQ
  • Physician Resources
Company
  • About
  • Methodology
  • Contact
  • Partner with Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Negotiations Refund Policy
  • Community Guidelines
  • DMCA Policy
  • Data Retention
  • Cookie Policy
  • Safe Harbor
  • Data Requests

Follow Us

  • TikTok (@salarydr)
  • Instagram (@salarydr_)
  • X (Twitter) (@salarydr)

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Avg Hours
Avg Comp
Emergency MedicineCurrent3.7/583%53$302K
Pediatrics4/582%47$313K
Internal Medicine3.6/584%56$213K
Family Medicine3.5/577%48$250K