According to SalaryDr data from 15 verified emergency medicine physicians in California, the median total compensation for Emergency Medicine in 2026 is $430,000. The 25th percentile is $390,000 and the 75th percentile is $430,000. Base salary: $368,667. Bonuses: $145,925 (28% receive). Satisfaction: 3.9/5. Workload: ~42 hrs/week. Source: https://www.salarydr.com/specialty/emergency-medicine/california Sample size: 15. Last updated: May 13, 2026.
As of May 13, 2026, an Emergency Medicine physician in California earns approximately $430,000 per year ($35,833 monthly). Based on an average 42-hour work week, this translates to about $235 per hour. Looking for a broader view? See the Emergency Medicine physician salary overview or compare nearby states below.
From 15 verified physician salary submissions in California, SalaryDr is seeing total compensation ranging from $390,000 to $430,000, with top performers (90th percentile) earning up to $1,918,880 annually. Compared to the national median of $430,000, Emergency Medicine physician salaries in California are in line with the national median.
In California, the salary progression for emergency medicine physician physicians shows significant growth potential. Entry-level positions start at $896,293, while those with more than 10 years of experience earn a typical salary of $419,167 - a -53% increase.
In California, the most common work environment is Hospital Employed (73% of physicians). On average, base salary accounts for 72% of total compensation—about $368,667—with the remaining amount coming from bonuses, profit sharing, and incentives.
California offers unique advantages for emergency medicine physician physicians, including high demand in major metropolitan areas and competitive compensation packages. The cost of living in California is higher than the national average but offset by higher salaries.
Local emergency medicine physician physicians report 3.9/5 career satisfaction, with 87% of those surveyed saying they would choose this specialty again.
Go beyond salary data. Discover real physician experiences, work-life balance insights, and what Emergency Medicine doctors love (and would change) about their specialty.
Browse more Emergency Medicine physician-adjacent fields to compare compensation and career paths.
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Last updated: May 13, 2026
Distribution based on 15 verified physician salary submissions.
Median Salary: $430,000
Average satisfaction rating reported by Emergency Medicine physicians (1-5 scale).
Percentage of Emergency Medicine physicians who would choose this specialty again.
Physicians cite the variety of cases and patient relationships as most rewarding aspects of this specialty.
On-call demands, administrative burden, and work-life balance are cited as the top challenges.
Average Salary
$514,592
Median Salary
$430,000
Salary Range
$390,000 - $430,000
National Average
$514,592
Difference
+0% vs National Average
Sample Size
15 local / 15 national reports
| Practice Type | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital-employed | $414,091 | 11 submissions |
* Practice types with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.
Compare salary data across different practice settings for Emergency Medicine physicians in California:
| Years of Experience | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | $896,293 | 3 submissions |
| 6-10 years | $414,500 | 10 submissions |
| 11-15 years | $442,500 | 2 submissions |
* Experience levels with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.
Browse city-level salary data for emergency medicine physician physicians in California. Click any city to see detailed compensation information for that location.
See how Emergency Medicine salaries in California compare to neighboring states.
| Subspecialty | Average Salary | Sample Size | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pediatric | $515,458 | 33 submissions | Provides specialized surgical care for infants, children, and adolescents, addressing congenital conditions and childhood diseases. |
| Toxicology | $467,290 | 10 submissions | Focuses on specialized toxicology procedures and treatments within emergency medicine, providing expert care in this specific area. |
| Trauma | $391,250 | 4 submissions | Provides emergency surgical care for critically injured patients, specializing in acute care surgery and critical care management. Trauma surgeons work in Level I and II trauma centers. |
* Subspecialties with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.
* Data is aggregated from verified physician submissions.