Emergency Medicine Physicians vs. Registered Nurses: Who Earns More?
Emergency Medicine Physicianss out-earn Registered Nursess by $238K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Emergency Medicine Physicianss land at $335,550 and Registered Nursess at $97,550. The education gap is real: emergency medicine physician programs typically require doctoral or professional degree, while registered nurse programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Emergency Medicine Physicianss is Rhode Island ($512,730); for Registered Nursess it's California ($140,270).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Emergency Medicine Physicians median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Emergency Medicine Physicianss or Registered Nursess?
Emergency Medicine Physicianss earn more nationally. The median is $335,550 for Emergency Medicine Physicianss versus $97,550 for Registered Nursess, a difference of $238K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Emergency Medicine Physicians or Registered Nurses?
BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.
Which requires more education, Emergency Medicine Physicians or Registered Nurses?
Emergency Medicine Physicians typically requires doctoral or professional degree. Registered Nurses requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Emergency Medicine Physicianss get paid the most?
Rhode Island is the top-paying state for Emergency Medicine Physicianss at $512,730/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Emergency Medicine Physicians vs. Registered Nurses pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Rhode Island, Emergency Medicine Physicianss earn $512,730 vs. $100,640 for Registered Nursess. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.