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Locum Emergency Medicine Jobs
This page gathers locum tenens emergency medicine roles posted on VitalPost — short-term and contract ED coverage for physicians and advanced practice clinicians who want to run their own schedule. Every listing points to a live opening you can act on today, and new roles post regularly.
Locum EM tends to fit clinicians working between permanent jobs, providers testing a new region or facility before committing, and experienced ED docs and APPs chasing flexibility and higher hourly earning without a long-term contract. It can also help newer grads build reps and variety across different departments.
VitalPost is free for clinicians, and you stay anonymous until you choose to reply — an employer can't see who you are until you reach out first. When a posting includes pay, signed-in clinicians see it right on the listing, though not every employer posts a rate.
About locum emergency medicine roles
Locum tenens emergency medicine is temporary, contract-based ED coverage — worked shift-by-shift or in blocks — that fills gaps in a hospital or freestanding emergency department's staffing. Most physician roles ask for board certification or board eligibility through the American Board of Emergency Medicine (or AOBEM), though some rural and lower-acuity sites will consider EM-experienced family or internal medicine physicians; NP and PA roles need the relevant state license plus solid ED experience. You typically work as a 1099 independent contractor through a staffing agency that arranges facility credentialing and, in most cases, provides malpractice coverage, and you must hold an active license in the state where the facility sits — the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact can speed multi-state licensing for eligible physicians. It suits clinicians who want schedule control, travel, or a low-commitment way to try a group before going permanent; the American College of Emergency Physicians is a useful starting point for specialty resources.
References
What the role pays
BLS OEWS · May 2025- National mean
- $317,480
- National median
- $335,550
Highest-paying states (annual mean)
- North Dakota $424,750
- Rhode Island $411,330
- Iowa $401,640
- Missouri $400,590
- Maryland $387,020
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (May 2025). These are wages across all employment settings; individual offers vary widely, and many physicians paid through self-employment or partnership are not fully captured.
See the full salary-by-state breakdown →Locum Emergency Medicine roles
No locum emergency medicine listings are live on VitalPost right now.
New roles post regularly. Set a free alert and we'll email you the moment a matching job goes live — or browse everything currently open.
Locum Emergency Medicine jobs: frequently asked questions
- What do I need to work locum tenens in emergency medicine?
Physicians generally need EM board certification or eligibility, an active license in the facility's state, and current life-support certifications such as ACLS, ATLS, and PALS. NP and PA roles call for the matching state license and hands-on ED experience. The staffing agency and facility handle credentialing and privileging before your first shift, so build in lead time for that paperwork.
- How does licensing work when I take assignments in different states?
There is no national medical license — you must be licensed in each state where you physically work. Eligible physicians can shorten the timeline using the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, and the Federation of State Medical Boards is a good place to check each board's requirements. New state licenses can take weeks to months, so start early; most agencies help with the application and cover the fees.
- What drives locum emergency medicine pay?
Rates vary widely and hinge on factors like location (rural and hard-to-staff sites often pay a premium), shift type (nights, weekends, and holidays), patient volume and acuity, your credentials and experience, and how urgently the group needs coverage. Because locum work is usually 1099, you also carry self-employment tax — see the IRS on independent-contractor status. On VitalPost, signed-in clinicians see the posted rate whenever an employer includes one.
- Locum vs. permanent emergency medicine — how do I choose?
Locum work offers flexibility, travel, higher hourly potential, and a way to trial a facility before committing, but usually without benefits like a retirement match or paid time off. Permanent roles trade some flexibility for stability, benefits, and partnership or leadership tracks. Many EM clinicians blend both — a permanent base plus locum shifts — and VitalPost lists both so you can compare side by side.
- How do I apply anonymously on VitalPost?
Browsing and applying are free, and your identity stays private until you decide to reply to an employer — your name and contact details are never shared until you reach out first. Create a free account to see posted pay and save roles you like. When you're ready, reply in-thread and control exactly what you share and when.
- Do I need my own malpractice insurance for locum EM work?
In most cases the staffing agency or facility provides malpractice coverage for the assignment, frequently on an occurrence basis — but always confirm the policy type in writing, and ask whether tail coverage is needed if it is claims-made. Get this settled before your first shift rather than after. Many groups also manage provider credentialing data through CAQH, so keeping your profile current speeds onboarding.