Philly is the low point in Pennsylvania with incomes averaging $140-150 an hour. Virginia is a bit of a hodge-podge with $200 an hour in some Tidewater area opportunities and much lower averages elsewhere and in the Washington, D.C. suburbs. West Virginia has a few highs in the $200 an hour range and rural lows. Look for averages throughout the region of $160-170 an hour.

The seven states of the Northeast may as well be the land that time forgot when it comes to compensation. High cost of living meets low incomes! If you are looking in the region, start in Connecticut which offers partnership opportunities via EMP averaging $300K a year including strong pensions. Look for a state-wide average closer to $280K. The highest earning potential in Massachusetts is for a pediatric emergency physician at $200 an hour plus a full pension contribution. Otherwise, incomes average $300K annually in the east and a bit lower in the west. Boston averages $150 an hour. The upper tier New England states of Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire average $145 to $160 an hour with various benefits added. Nothing out of Rhode Island. Med-Excel continues to be the one shining beacon of income vs. cost-of-living ratios in New York with hourlies in the $165-175 range and even $200 an hour plus for their firemen.

The rest of the state averages $140-155 an hour with very few perks, though I did find one $350K job way upstate in the Buffalo region.

Because four of the six states of the Pacific Northwest are non-reporting, let’s talk about the other two, Oregon and Washington. Though I did find a position in Southwest Wyoming offering a $370K package, there is no reason to believe that reflects on the rest of the state. The principal employer in the Oregon/Washington corridor is TeamHealth’s Northwest Emergency Physicians. They have jobs in Portland and Seattle (but going fast, and possibly gone by the time this hits the presses) and income averages throughout both states range from $170 to $220 an hour, with the highs more prevalent as you move east.

Barb Katz is the owner of The Katz Company EMC, Inc., an emergency medicine consulting and recruitment firm. She has been writing about emergency medicine careers and teaching effective job searching to residents for nearly 20 years. She can be reached at katzco@cox.net.