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Acute care physician salary
Average acute care physician salary
$219,416
Understanding Acute Care Physician Salaries
Acute care physicians play a vital role in healthcare, specializing in the treatment of patients with severe conditions requiring immediate attention. As of October 2025, the average salary for an acute care physician is $219,416 annually, or about $105 per hour. These figures can vary significantly based on geographic location, years of experience, and specific healthcare institutions.
In states like California and New York, salaries tend to be higher due to increased demand and cost of living. For instance, acute care physicians in California can earn over $250,000 annually, reflecting both the high demand for healthcare professionals and the competitive job market.
Additionally, factors such as additional certifications and specializations can further influence earning potential. For those considering this career path, it’s essential to research the salary landscape across different states and institutions to make informed decisions. Understanding these dynamics can help prospective physicians negotiate better compensation packages and select locations that align with their professional and personal goals.
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Where can an Acute Care Physician earn more?
Acute care physician salary estimates from across the web
Average acute care physician salary by state
The average acute care physician salary in Vermont, North Dakota, and Maine are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average acute care physician salary states are Utah, Arkansas, and New Mexico.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for acute care physicians
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $209,039 | $100.50 |
| 2 | Maine | $208,521 | $100.25 |
| 3 | Vermont | $215,949 | $103.82 |
| 4 | Montana | $198,653 | $95.51 |
| 5 | Iowa | $198,914 | $95.63 |
| 6 | Michigan | $196,265 | $94.36 |
| 7 | West Virginia | $197,399 | $94.90 |
| 8 | Kentucky | $197,392 | $94.90 |
| 9 | Mississippi | $196,012 | $94.24 |
| 10 | Indiana | $199,944 | $96.13 |
| 11 | South Dakota | $186,120 | $89.48 |
| 12 | Washington | $201,236 | $96.75 |
| 13 | Illinois | $196,519 | $94.48 |
| 14 | Alabama | $195,798 | $94.13 |
| 15 | South Carolina | $191,667 | $92.15 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $191,404 | $92.02 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $185,718 | $89.29 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $197,404 | $94.91 |
| 19 | Idaho | $196,320 | $94.38 |
| 20 | Kansas | $191,590 | $92.11 |
| 21 | Missouri | $186,704 | $89.76 |
| 22 | Alaska | $183,620 | $88.28 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $185,582 | $89.22 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $191,817 | $92.22 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $183,371 | $88.16 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $181,080 | $87.06 |
| 27 | Georgia | $181,756 | $87.38 |
| 28 | Arizona | $178,124 | $85.64 |
| 29 | Nevada | $176,318 | $84.77 |
| 30 | Oregon | $184,286 | $88.60 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $175,921 | $84.58 |
| 32 | Ohio | $178,640 | $85.88 |
| 33 | California | $185,205 | $89.04 |
| 34 | Maryland | $183,352 | $88.15 |
| 35 | Delaware | $182,034 | $87.52 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $171,005 | $82.21 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $168,984 | $81.24 |
| 38 | Connecticut | $184,818 | $88.85 |
| 39 | Virginia | $179,230 | $86.17 |
| 40 | Colorado | $177,017 | $85.10 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $163,775 | $78.74 |
| 42 | Texas | $175,764 | $84.50 |
| 43 | Massachusetts | $183,537 | $88.24 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $131,959 | $63.44 |
| 45 | New Jersey | $181,438 | $87.23 |
| 46 | Utah | $169,969 | $81.72 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $168,489 | $81.00 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $169,286 | $81.39 |
| 49 | New York | $178,864 | $85.99 |
| 50 | Florida | $175,036 | $84.15 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | $164,691 | $79.18 |
Highest paying cities for acute care physicians
The highest-paying cities for acute care physicians are Grand Forks, ND, Spokane, WA, and Huntsville, AL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Forks, ND | $270,976 | $130.28 |
| 2 | Spokane, WA | $261,681 | $125.81 |
| 3 | Huntsville, AL | $238,892 | $114.85 |
| 4 | Kansas City, KS | $236,807 | $113.85 |
| 5 | Des Plaines, IL | $235,649 | $113.29 |
| 6 | Charleston, WV | $230,960 | $111.04 |
| 7 | Bangor, ME | $229,499 | $110.34 |
| 8 | Grand Rapids, MI | $227,524 | $109.39 |
| 9 | Erie, PA | $226,029 | $108.67 |
| 10 | Kansas City, MO | $225,007 | $108.18 |
| 11 | Minneapolis, MN | $222,901 | $107.16 |
| 12 | Charleston, SC | $221,562 | $106.52 |
| 13 | Roseville, CA | $219,976 | $105.76 |
| 14 | Sioux Falls, SD | $217,338 | $104.49 |
| 15 | Oklahoma City, OK | $216,234 | $103.96 |
| 16 | Springfield, OR | $215,399 | $103.56 |
| 17 | Eau Claire, WI | $214,600 | $103.17 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $206,441 | $99.25 |
| 19 | Colorado Springs, CO | $205,574 | $98.83 |
| 20 | Tucson, AZ | $199,568 | $95.95 |
Acute care physician salary details
An acute care physician's salary ranges from $141,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $340,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an acute care physician's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $340,000 | $28,333 | $163 |
| 75th Percentile | $276,000 | $23,000 | $133 |
| Average | $219,416 | $18,285 | $105 |
| 25th Percentile | $174,000 | $14,500 | $84 |
| 10th Percentile | $141,000 | $11,750 | $68 |
Highest paying acute care physician jobs
The highest paying types of acute care physicians are family practice md, hospitalist physician, and physician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Practice MD | $312,358 | $26,030 | $150.17 | 54,768 |
| Medical Doctor | $181,967 | $15,164 | $87.48 | 60,642 |
| Family Practice Doctor | $187,028 | $15,586 | $89.92 | 32,979 |
| Family Practitioner | $180,399 | $15,033 | $86.73 | 50,599 |
| Professor Of Family Medicine | $179,574 | $14,964 | $86.33 | 57,697 |
| General Practitioner | $172,831 | $14,403 | $83.09 | 64,698 |
Top companies hiring acute care physicians now:
Which companies pay acute care physicians the most?
Acute care physician salaries at Freeman Health System and Alameda Health System are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average acute care physician salary at companies like Scripps Health and Dignity Health are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freeman Health System | $272,456 | $130.99 |
| 2 | Alameda Health System | $271,236 | $130.40 |
| 3 | Scripps Health | $268,738 | $129.20 |
| 4 | Dignity Health | $260,070 | $125.03 |
| 5 | Mayo Clinic | $259,927 | $124.96 |
| 6 | Oregon Medical Group | $255,289 | $122.74 |
| 7 | OSF HealthCare | $254,034 | $122.13 |
| 8 | Fairview Health Services | $250,163 | $120.27 |
| 9 | Carbon | $249,481 | $119.94 |
| 10 | Community Health Systems | $247,066 | $118.78 |
| 11 | Pikeville Medical Center | $246,837 | $118.67 |
| 12 | Children's Wisconsin | $243,919 | $117.27 |
| 13 | Franciscan Health | $242,221 | $116.45 |
| 14 | Agrace | $241,483 | $116.10 |
| 15 | Beaumont Health | $241,279 | $116.00 |
| 16 | Providence Health & Services | $240,783 | $115.76 |
| 17 | Southcoast Health | $239,942 | $115.36 |
| 18 | Kaiser Permanente | $239,912 | $115.34 |
| 19 | McLeod Health | $239,518 | $115.15 |
| 20 | Asante | $238,992 | $114.90 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Acute care physician salary trends
The average acute care physician salary has risen by $44,630 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average acute care physician earned $174,786 annually, but today, they earn $219,416 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for acute care physicians over the last decade.
Compare acute care physician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average acute care physician salary over time
Compare acute care physician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Acute care physician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $219,000 | $105.49 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $214,000 | $102.93 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $210,000 | $101.19 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $208,000 | $100.00 | +4.2% |
| 2021 | $199,000 | $95.85 | +3.2% |
Recently added acute care physician salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sutterhealth | Physician Advisor, Care Progression | Modesto, CA | 06/30/2025 | $230,551 |
| Virtua | Palliative Care/Hospice Physician | Marlton, NJ | 06/30/2025 | $275,000 |
| ATC Group Services | Therapy/Rehabilitation-OT Acute Care | Fayetteville, GA | 06/29/2025 | $112,698 |
| Healthcare Recruitment Counselors | Urgent Care Physician | Archdale, NC | 06/29/2025 | $208,700 |
| Healthcare Recruitment Counselors | Wound Care Physician Fresno CA | Fresno, CA | 06/29/2025 | $200,000 |
| Skilled Wound Care | Experienced or New Wound Care Physician Careers In New | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $250,000 |
| Essenmed | Urgent Care Physician | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $210,000 |
| Skilled Wound Care | Experienced or New Wound Care Physician Careers In | Biloxi, MS | 06/29/2025 | $250,000 |
| Total Access Urgent Care | Urgent Care Physician | Kane, IL | 06/28/2025 | $250,440 |
| Unitedhealth Group Inc. | Urgent Care Physician In Sumter and | Sumter, SC | 06/27/2025 | $222,500 |
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