As emergency medicine continues to evolve amid changing reimbursement, workforce pressures, and shifting practice models, understanding physician compensation remains critical. With the retirement of long-time ACEP Now columnist Barbara Katz, who has traditionally performed an annual compensation report, ACEP solicited its own 2025 Salary Survey, conducted in partnership with Readex Research. The 2025 Salary Survey offers a timely and comprehensive snapshot of how emergency physicians are compensated across the country—and how those figures vary by role, region, gender, and practice setting.

With more than 1,600 qualified responses from actively practicing emergency physicians, the survey provides both topline insights and deep dives into critical demographic and professional variables. The results reveal compensation gaps, regional disparities, and persistent differences across gender and practice type, while also affirming that in many ways, the survey sample closely reflects ACEP’s broader membership.

Topline Compensation Trends

The median hourly clinical base pay for all respondents was $222, translating to a median annual total compensation of $330,000 when including bonuses, profit-sharing, and partner distributions. Physicians at the 75th percentile reported total compensation nearing $432,000, whereas those at the 25th percentile earned closer to $248,400.

Among roles, emergency physicians reported the highest median hourly base pay at $225 and a total compensation of $360,000. Faculty and academic physicians trailed with a median base pay of $210 and total compensation of $249,100, reflecting both the ongoing pay disparity and the uncompensated non-clinical responsibilities often associated with academic roles.

Administrators reported a similar median hourly rate of $223, but significantly lower total compensation of $180,700, likely because of lower clinical hours that are often offset by administrative stipends not fully captured in the survey.

Gender and Age Gaps

One of the most significant findings remains the gender compensation gap. Men earned $13 more per clinical hour than women on average ($225 vs. $212), and their total compensation was $62,000 higher annually at the median level. Although this gap is consistent with national trends, it remains a stark reminder of ongoing inequities within health care.

Age also plays a role in compensation trends. The survey found a gradual increase in income through mid-career, with a leveling off or slight decrease among physicians aged 60 and older. The median age of respondents was 43, which closely matches ACEP’s overall member demographics, and validates that the results are broadly representative.

Geography Still Matters

Where you practice continues to have a noticeable effect on pay. The Northeast reported the lowest median hourly rate at $210, whereas physicians in the South, Midwest, and West all reported $225 per hour. Total compensation in the South and Midwest exceeded $350,000 compared with $300,300 in the Northeast.