How much do
physicians make in
Emergency Medicine physicians in California earn competitive salaries, influenced by factors such as location, employment type, and years of experience.
$100,000
statewide average Attending salaryEmergency Medicine
Emergency Medicine Salary Ranges in CaliforniaBased on jobs on Offcall for the past 12 months
Bring Job Transparency to Medicine
Offcall’s mission is to improve the wealth and wellbeing of physicians. We believe every physician should have open access to the data you need to know your worth and take back control of your career. Thousands of physicians have already submitted their salaries, across hundreds of employers. Achieving true pay transparency starts with each individual physician. If you haven’t yet, add your salary and work details (takes 2 minutes). It’s 100% free and confidential. Join us!Salary range based experienceEmergency Medicine
Entry-level vs. experienced salaries
Entry-level physicians typically earn closer to $293K, while those with more than 10 years of experience can earn up to $484KGet city-specific salary insights for California
Sign up now for detailed employer and regional dataSalary averages by regionEmergency Medicine
$230K
$451K
General trends for state and regional salaries
Physicians in metro areas tend to earn higher salaries due to increased demand and cost of living.See city-specific salaries in California including Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Jose. (Coming Soon)
Benchmark your salary in your geographyWhat affects Emergency Medicine physician salaries in California
Sign up to benchmark average salaries for physicians across various employment types in California.Sign up nowStates with higher living expenses, such as housing, transportation, and healthcare, often offer higher salaries to attract and retain talent. For instance, urban areas like Los Angeles may offer higher pay compared to rural parts of the state, but these increases often correlate with steeper living costs.
- Academic Hospitals: These institutions may offer lower overall salaries but provide opportunities for research, teaching, and career advancement.
- Private Hospitals: Private facilities may offer higher salaries and performance-based bonuses but may have higher workload expectations.
- Rural Hospitals: Physicians working in rural settings may receive additional incentives, such as loan repayment programs, relocation assistance, or higher salaries, to attract talent to less populated areas.
How employment type impacts your take-home pay
One of the most significant factors affecting your take-home pay as an emergency medicine physician is your employment type. Whether you work as a 1099 contractor or a W-2 employee, your compensation and responsibilities can differ dramatically.1099 Contractors
Physicians employed as independent contractors under a 1099 arrangement typically earn higher gross pay. However, this increased income comes with added responsibilities:
Sign up to access detailed take-home pay estimatesTaxes: Independent contractors are responsible for paying self-employment taxes, which cover both the employer and employee portions of Social Security and Medicare.
Benefits: Unlike W-2 employees, 1099 contractors usually do not receive employer-sponsored benefits such as health insurance, retirement contributions, or paid time off. These expenses must be accounted for out-of-pocket.
Flexibility: On the positive side, 1099 arrangements often allow for greater flexibility in terms of scheduling and the ability to work for multiple facilities.
W-2 Employees
Physicians employed as W-2 employees may earn slightly lower gross pay than their 1099 counterparts, but they benefit from:Sign up to access detailed pay estimates for various employment types (i.e. W-2 vs. 1099, locums tenens, hourly, etc..) in California.
Sign up now for accessTaxes: Employers handle payroll taxes, reducing the administrative burden on physicians.
Benefits: W-2 positions often include access to employer-sponsored health insurance, retirement plans, malpractice insurance, and other benefits.
Job Stability: W-2 positions can provide greater job security and predictability, as well as access to additional resources like continuing education programs, Continuing Medical Education (CME) dollars, or professional development opportunities.
Bonuses, Overtime and Incentives for Emergency Medicine Physicians in California
Beyond base salaries, many hospitals and healthcare facilities in California provide additional compensation opportunities that can significantly increase your overall earnings. These incentives not only make positions more attractive but also reward physicians for their skills, dedication, and flexibility.Sign up to access detailed benefits benchmarking for physicians in CaliforniaSign up now for access
What physicians are saying about Offcall
- “Hospital systems and administrations are never truly transparent about physicians salaries. Having concrete data about compensation in my specialty is powerful and much needed!”Kai Romero, MD, Emergency Medicine, Head of Clinical Success @Evidently
- “Many times, doctors just settle for the salary we’re offered because we lack the skills and tools to benchmark and negotiate higher pay. I’d say it’s time we change this. Offcall can help us come together and bring much needed transparency to help change the status quo.”Christopher Johnson, MD, Emergency Medicine
- “Most physicians know we could be getting so much more financial ROI out of our careers and professional endeavors, but we lack easy tools and information on how to use our unique skill sets to maximize impact. I’m excited that Offcall is building these kinds of products!”Cheri Blauwet, MD, Sports Medicine
- “Don’t you wish you could get what you’re worth with the right guidance and data-driven information? Offcall is helping physicians reclaim their worth by getting paid fairly.”Watch video testimonialHardeep Phull, MD, Oncologist and Medical Director
Industry benchmarking
Beyond salary and benefits, it's important to consider other factors when considering an Emergency Medicine job, including number of patients seen per day and number of hours worked per week. These numbers can vary widely between employers and can make all the difference in the world when considering different job offers or determining whether you're being fairly compensated. While these kinds of data points can be hard to come by, Offcall's tool allows you to benchmark this data anonymously compared to your colleagues.Overall job satisfaction
When taken together, all of these various factors, including salary, benefits, bonuses, and workplace conditions can determine overall job satisfaction for physicians. Job satisfaction tends to vary widely between employers, and is a top consideration when choosing your next job. Our benchmarking data reveals average job satisfaction for Emergency Medicine across various employers in California.Overall Job SatisfactionEmergency Medicine
1 - Extremely Dissatisfied0(0%)
2 - Dissatisfied6(8.7%)
3 - Neutral22(31.9%)
4 - Satisfied32(46.4%)
5 - Extremely Satisfied9(13%)
Be the first to receive our exclusive benchmarking data
We're publishing detailed reports featuring specialty benchmarking data across employers and in specific geographic markets, as well as nationwide. These reports are exclusively available for our members. Sign up to be the first to get access once released.Sign up nowHow we obtained our data
Pay transparency starts with individual physicians, working together to make a collective difference. With each new physician who joins, our movement grows and our data only gets stronger. Here's how you can help:
- Add your compensation and work details anonymously (Takes 2 minutes)
- Receive your custom and personalized benchmarking data
- Spread the word in your physician communities