Compare high-paying freelance options for Florida emergency medicines: locums, telemedicine, AI training, consulting. Real pay ranges, requirements, and how to start.

TL;DR

Looking for freelance or contract work as a emergency medicine in Florida? Whether you want to supplement your income or transition to independent practice, Florida offers several high-paying options. Here's how the top opportunities compare.

1.

Expert Witness / Medical-Legal

$350-$700/hr

What You'll Do

Reviews emergency medicine cases for litigation, providing testimony on standard of care in ER malpractice suits. Involves analyzing charts, depositions, and court appearances related to trauma, diagnostics, or triage errors. Work supports attorneys in Florida legal proceedings.

Requirements

  • Active or recent Florida license
  • Board certification
  • 5+ years ER experience
  • Strong documentation skills

Malpractice Insurance: No

Where to Find Work

  • SEAK

Florida notes: Active med-mal market; South FL higher demand; Trial testimony $500-$700/hr; Deposition $350-$550/hr; Record review $250-$400/hr
Typical start timeline: 1-4 weeks

2.

Healthcare Consulting / Advisory

$175-$400/hr

What You'll Do

Advises hospitals and clinics on ER operations, protocols, staffing, and efficiency improvements in Florida. Emergency physicians conduct audits, develop policies, and train staff on best practices for high-acuity care. Engagements focus on optimizing patient flow and compliance.

Requirements

  • Board certification
  • 5+ years ER leadership experience
  • Florida license preferred
  • Consulting credentials

Malpractice Insurance: No

Where to Find Work

  • GLG, AlphaSights, Guidepoint, PhysicianSideGigs

Florida notes: No state income tax; Growing health-tech sector in Miami/Tampa; Expert networks $175-$350/hr; Pharma advisory $300-$400/hr
Typical start timeline: 4-8 weeks

3.

Locum Tenens / Per Diem

$180-$325/hr

What You'll Do

Involves temporary staffing in hospital emergency departments to cover shortages, providing acute care for patients with urgent medical conditions. Emergency medicine physicians handle high-volume shifts, perform procedures, and manage critical cases in various Florida facilities. Assignments range from short per diem shifts to multi-week contracts, offering exposure to diverse ER settings.

Requirements

  • Active Florida medical license
  • Board certification in Emergency Medicine
  • ACLS/ATLS certification
  • 1+ years ER experience

Malpractice Insurance: Typically provided by employer

Where to Find Work

  • CompHealth

Florida notes: Rural Panhandle/North FL +20-25%; Miami/Tampa/Jacksonville metro avg; No state income tax; Critical Care $250-$325/hr; General EM $180-$270/hr; Pediatric EM $220-$300/hr
Typical start timeline: ASAP to 13 weeks

4.

AI Training & Annotation

$125-$315/hr

What You'll Do

Healthcare AI companies hire emergency medicine professionals to review, annotate, and validate training data for medical AI systems. Work involves emergency clinical scenario training data — tasks like triage algorithm training, clinical decision support, trauma assessment.

Requirements

  • Active clinical background in emergency medicine
  • No malpractice insurance needed
  • Computer with reliable internet

Malpractice Insurance: No

Where to Find Work

  • Folio (folioworks.com)
  • Centaur Labs
  • Appen
  • Labelbox

Florida notes: Fully remote — available regardless of state. Pay based on specialty expertise, not location.
Typical start timeline: 1-2 weeks

Getting started: Join the expert community and make a free profile on Folio to browse current emergency medicine AI training projects.

5.

Chart Review / Utilization Review

$125-$250/hr

What You'll Do

Examines ER patient charts for medical necessity, coding accuracy, and quality assurance in insurance or hospital settings. Emergency medicine experts determine appropriate care levels, deny improper claims, and ensure compliance with Florida regulations. Work identifies over/under-utilization in emergency services.

Requirements

  • Active Florida license
  • Board certification
  • 3+ years ER experience
  • UR training

Malpractice Insurance: No

Where to Find Work

  • Indeed, PhysicianSideGigs

Florida notes: Remote work; Large insurance presence in Jacksonville/Tampa creates demand; Concurrent UR $150-$250/hr; Retrospective $125-$200/hr
Typical start timeline: 2-6 weeks

6.

Telemedicine / Telehealth

$120-$185/hr

What You'll Do

Provides remote emergency consultations via video for triage, advice on urgent cases, and follow-ups without physical exams. Emergency physicians assess symptoms, recommend treatments, and coordinate care for patients in Florida from anywhere. Focuses on non-critical cases to alleviate ER overcrowding.

Requirements

  • Active Florida license
  • Board certification
  • Telemedicine platform training
  • Reliable internet and equipment

Malpractice Insurance: Yes ($5,000-$15,000/year)

Where to Find Work

  • ZipRecruiter, DocCafe

Florida notes: FL large retiree telehealth market; No geographic variation (remote); Night tele-EM $140-$185/hr; Daytime virtual urgent care $120-$155/hr
Typical start timeline: 2-6 weeks

Common Questions People Ask

Q: What are the highest-paying freelance options for emergency medicine physicians in Florida?

A: Based on current market data, the top 3 are: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal ($350-$700/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory ($175-$400/hr), Locum Tenens / Per Diem ($180-$325/hr).

Q: Which freelance options for emergency medicine physicians don't require malpractice insurance?

A: 4 options don't require malpractice insurance: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal ($350-$700/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory ($175-$400/hr), AI Training & Annotation ($125-$315/hr), Chart Review / Utilization Review ($125-$250/hr). This can save $20-$50K annually compared to options requiring coverage.

Q: Can emergency medicine physicians work remotely in Florida?

A: Yes, 5 options are fully or partially remote: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal ($350-$700/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory ($175-$400/hr), AI Training & Annotation ($125-$315/hr), Chart Review / Utilization Review ($125-$250/hr), Telemedicine / Telehealth ($120-$185/hr).

Q: What Florida license do emergency medicine physicians need for freelance work?

A: An active Florida license from Florida Board of Medicine is required for most clinical freelance options.

Q: How quickly can emergency medicine physicians start freelance work?

A: Timeline varies by option: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal typically takes 1-4 weeks, while Healthcare Consulting / Advisory typically takes 4-8 weeks, while Locum Tenens / Per Diem typically takes ASAP to 13 weeks.

Q: What's the pay range for emergency medicine physicians doing AI training work?

A: AI training pays $125-$315/hour for emergency medicine physicians, varying by experience level and project complexity. No malpractice insurance required.

Getting Started with AI Training

Folio connects Florida emergency medicine physicians with frontier research labs and healthcare AI companies looking for clinical expertise. The platform vets AI companies for project quality, handles contracting and payment, and matches projects to your area of expertise.

Typical timeline:
- Application: 3 minutes
- Credential review: 2-3 business days
- Platform orientation: 1 hour
- First project: 3-7 days from application

Current project focus (February 2026): Triage algorithm training, clinical decision support, trauma assessment

Most emergency medicine physicians start with 5-10 hours weekly, then scale based on preference. No minimum commitment.

Explore AI Training Opportunities

Questions? Email experts@folioworks.com

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Frequently asked questions

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Do I need malpractice insurance for freelance emergency medicine work in Florida?
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How do I get started with freelance emergency medicine work in Florida?