How much does an Emergency Medicine make in California?
As of May 11, 2025, an Emergency Medicine in California earns approximately $430,000 per year ($35,833 monthly). Based on an average 36-hour work week, this translates to about $223 per hour.
Local Salary Range and Market Analysis
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 $445,000 annually. Compared to the national median of $430,000, Emergency Medicine salaries in California are in line with the national median.
Career Growth and Local Market Trends
In California, the salary progression for emergency medicine physicians shows significant growth potential. Entry-level positions start at $386,667, while those with more than 10 years of experience earn a typical salary of $426,667 - a 10% increase.
Local Practice Settings and Employers
On average, base salary accounts for 85% of total compensation—about $355,000—with the remaining amount coming from bonuses, profit sharing, and incentives.
Work-Life Balance in California
Local emergency medicine physicians report 3.7/5 career satisfaction, with 87% of those surveyed saying they would choose this specialty again.
Salary Distribution
Distribution based on 15 verified physician salary submissions.
Median Salary: $430,000
Physician Satisfaction
Would Choose Again
Percentage of Emergency Medicine physicians who would choose this specialty again if starting their career over.
Satisfaction Rating
Average satisfaction rating reported by Emergency Medicine physicians (1-5 scale).
Career Satisfaction
Physicians cite the variety of cases and patient relationships as most rewarding aspects of this specialty.
Primary Challenges
On-call demands, administrative burden, and work-life balance are cited as the top challenges.
Salary Comparison
Location Statistics
Average Salary
$418,667
Median Salary
$430,000
Salary Range
$390,000 - $430,000
National Comparison
National Average
$418,667
Difference
+0% vs National Average
Sample Size
15 local / 15 national reports
Salary by Practice Type
| Practice Type | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital-employed | $419,583 | 12 submissions |
* Practice types with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.
Salary by Experience Level
| Years of Experience | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|
| 3-5 years | $386,667 | 3 submissions |
| 6-10 years | $423,500 | 10 submissions |
| 11-15 years | $442,500 | 2 submissions |
* Experience levels with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.
Take-Home Pay Calculator
Subspecialty Comparison
Toxicology
Pediatric
Trauma
| Subspecialty | Average Salary | Sample Size | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toxicology | $423,333 | 9 submissions | Focuses on specialized toxicology procedures and treatments within emergency medicine, providing expert care in this specific area. |
| Pediatric | $393,750 | 8 submissions | Provides specialized surgical care for infants, children, and adolescents, addressing congenital conditions and childhood diseases. |
| 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.
Related Specialties
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Average Salary: $1,129,167
Based on 12 submissions
Bariatric Surgery
Average Salary: $750,000
Based on 2 submissions
Head and Neck Surgery
Average Salary: $700,000
Based on 2 submissions
* Salary data is updated monthly based on verified physician submissions.
Popular Locations
New York City, NY
Average Salary: $400,000
Based on 150 reports
Los Angeles, CA
Average Salary: $380,000
Based on 120 reports
Chicago, IL
Average Salary: $350,000
Based on 100 reports
Houston, TX
Average Salary: $340,000
Based on 90 reports
Miami, FL
Average Salary: $360,000
Based on 80 reports
Boston, MA
Average Salary: $370,000
Based on 70 reports
* Showing locations with the most reported salaries.
* Some locations may be omitted if they have fewer than 3 reports.
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About Our Data
Our salary data is based on anonymous submissions from practicing physicians across the United States. We verify and clean the data to ensure accuracy and remove outliers.
Last updated: May 11, 2025