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Key points
- VA physician compensation varies by specialty or assignment, tier, locality, education, experience and applicable incentives; it is not accurately represented by one universal median.[1]
- The VA schedule effective January 1, 2023 lists Emergency Medicine in Pay Table 3, Tier 1 at $115,587–$348,000; check the current schedule and vacancy for a current offer.[1]
- BLS May 2022 national Emergency Medicine Physician estimates were $152.21 per hour and $316,600 annually; these cover employers across industries and are not VA pay.[2]
- A VA brochure's $91,925 RN figure was a Central Iowa sample average as of September 2022, not a national nurse rate; location, education and experience matter.[3]
VA doctors do not all earn the same salary. The answer depends on specialty or assignment, pay-table tier, locality, education, experience and applicable incentives. VA's official physician schedule is more useful than an unsupported national average: for example, its schedule effective January 1, 2023 lists Emergency Medicine in Pay Table 3, Tier 1 at $115,587–$348,000. That is a published range for a specific schedule, not a promise or a universal VA median.[1]
How VA physician pay is set
VA physician compensation uses specialty and assignment pay tables with tiers and approved ranges. A particular vacancy may also reflect locality, credentials, experience, recruitment or retention incentives, and the responsibilities of the role. For a current decision, read the vacancy announcement and the current VA Office of Human Resources pay schedule rather than relying on an old salary estimate.[1]
What do VA emergency-room doctors make?
For a VA emergency-medicine position, start with the applicable VA table and vacancy. The January 1, 2023 schedule placed Emergency Medicine in Pay Table 3, where Tier 1 ranged from $115,587 to $348,000; other tiers and assignments had different ranges.[1]
National occupation data can provide context, but it should not be converted into an expectation for a VA job. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2022 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics table reported a national mean of $152.21 per hour and $316,600 per year for Emergency Medicine Physicians. BLS says its annual wage uses 2,080 year-round, full-time hours and that the estimates cover employers in all industry sectors.[2]
In other words, the BLS figures describe the occupation nationally, not VA compensation. A VA offer depends on the applicable federal specialty or assignment table, tier, locality, credentials, experience and incentives. Check the current VA vacancy and pay schedule for a particular job.[1][2]
What benefits may come with VA employment?
Eligible VA employees may enroll in Federal Employees Health Benefits and other federal programs; plan choices, employee premiums, eligibility and conditions apply. A VA nursing rewards brochure describes FEHB options, retirement programs, leave and professional-development opportunities, but those materials do not establish that every employee or family receives a particular quality of care.[3]
Compare the total offer in writing: salary range, grade or tier, locality, schedule, incentives, leave, retirement and health-plan costs. Benefits and eligibility can change, so use current VA and federal benefits materials for the position you are considering.[3]
How much do VA nurses make?
VA nurse pay also varies by locality, grade or step, education and experience. For context only, a VA nursing brochure used a $91,925 average salary for a VA Central Iowa registered nurse as of September 2022. The brochure identifies it as a sample average, says it may vary by location, education and years of experience, and directs applicants to seek current information from a VA recruiter.[3]
That dated Central Iowa example is not a national RN rate and should not be treated as what every VA nurse can expect. For an actual range, use the current nurse locality schedule and the specific vacancy announcement.
Does the VA have staffing shortages?
In its July 7, 2022 determination for fiscal year 2022, the VA Office of Inspector General reported that 87% of facilities reported severe occupational staffing shortages for Medical Officer and 91% reported severe shortages for Nurse. These are dated findings, not a current national staffing measure.[4]
How to compare a VA job offer
- Find the exact occupation and assignment Emergency Medicine, primary care, nursing and other roles may use different tables or schedules.
- Check the tier, locality and credentials Read the vacancy's grade or tier, work location, education and experience requirements, and any incentive language.[1][3]
- Review the full compensation package Ask the recruiter about health-plan choices and premiums, leave, retirement, professional development and eligibility conditions.[3]
- Verify the current numbers Federal schedules and benefits materials are time-specific. Confirm the current schedule and vacancy before comparing VA employment with private-sector work.
If you are a veteran evaluating your own health-coverage choices rather than a VA employment offer, you can read our VA health care and Medicare guide or Veterans Medicare FAQ. For insurance questions, you can book a call with Veterans Advantage Financial®. We are an independent insurance agency, not part of or endorsed by VA, Medicare or any government agency.
Common questions
Is $227,632 the average VA doctor salary?
Not on the evidence supplied for this article. The figure had no dated dataset, specialty, locality, pay grade, sample or methodology, so it should not be presented as a universal VA median. Use the applicable VA schedule and vacancy instead.[1]
What is the VA pay range for an emergency physician?
The VA schedule effective January 1, 2023 listed Emergency Medicine in Pay Table 3, Tier 1 at $115,587–$348,000. Current offers may use a newer schedule, different tier, locality or incentives.[1]
Are BLS emergency-doctor wages VA salaries?
No. BLS May 2022 figures of $152.21 per hour and $316,600 annually are national occupation estimates across employers and industries, not a VA compensation schedule.[2]
Is $91,925 the national VA nurse salary?
No. It was a September 2022 sample average for a VA Central Iowa registered nurse. The brochure says salary varies by location, education and years of experience; check the current vacancy for an actual range.[3]
Sources
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Final Approved Pay Ranges for Physicians, Dentists, and Podiatrists Effective January 1, 2023. va.gov/OHRM/Pay/2023/PhysicianDentist/AnnualPayRanges_20230101.pdf
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022: 29-1214 Emergency Medicine Physicians. bls.gov/oes/2022/may/oes291214.htm
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “Total Rewards of VA Employment: Nursing Careers,” September 2022. va.gov/files/2022-09/VACIHCS_TotalRewardsBrochure_Nursing2022.pdf
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. “OIG Determination of Veterans Health Administration’s Occupational Staffing Shortages Fiscal Year 2022,” July 7, 2022. oversight.gov/sites/default/files/documents/reports/2022-07/VAOIG-22-00722-187.pdf
Sources checked October 11, 2026. Dollar amounts are for 2026 unless noted.
This is general education, not personal advice, and it isn’t a recommendation of any specific plan. Veterans Advantage Financial® is a licensed insurance agency, not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare, Social Security, VA, TRICARE or any government agency. Plan availability, costs and benefits vary by plan, county and year. Check your own situation with the agency or plan before making changes.
Christopher Duncan
Christopher founded Veterans Advantage Financial® and has helped people with Medicare since 2006. He is a licensed insurance agent in all 50 states and DC (NPN 8613503). His dad, Wallace, is a Vietnam-era veteran.