How much does an Emergency Physician make in California?
As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Emergency Physician in California is $429,877 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $207.
However, an Emergency Physician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $516,475
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $403,256 to $475,205
Key Factors That Influence Emergency Physician Salaries
An Emergency Physician's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location
and company size
can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Emergency Physician Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of an Emergency Physician's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
How Do Emergency Physician Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Emergency Physicians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
Emergency Physician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Emergency Physician roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Healthcare and Biotechnology
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average.
In contrast, Emergency Physician positions in Pharmaceuticals or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Emergency Physician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for an Emergency Physician
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare
$644,815
$310.0
50%
Biotechnology
$515,852
$248.0
20%
Emergency Physician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how an Emergency Physician's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Emergency Physician job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources.
We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right.
With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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