Compare high-paying freelance options for Michigan 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 Michigan? Whether you want to supplement your income or transition to independent practice, Michigan offers several high-paying options. Here's how the top opportunities compare.

1.

Expert Witness / Medical-Legal

$350-$700/hr

What You'll Do

Expert Witness work requires Emergency Medicine physicians to review cases, provide testimony, and offer opinions on standards of care in legal proceedings involving ER malpractice or injuries in Michigan. Duties include report writing, depositions, and court appearances based on clinical expertise. Assignments come from law firms handling medical litigation.

Requirements

  • Active Michigan license
  • Board certification
  • 5+ years Emergency Medicine experience
  • Strong documentation skills

Malpractice Insurance: No

Where to Find Work

  • SEAK

Michigan notes: Detroit/Grand Rapids litigation markets; Moderate volume; Trial testimony $500-$700/hr; Deposition $350-$525/hr; Record review $250-$400/hr
Typical start timeline: 2-6 weeks

2.

Healthcare Consulting / Advisory

$175-$400/hr

What You'll Do

Healthcare Consulting in Emergency Medicine involves advising Michigan hospitals on ER operations, protocol development, staffing, and quality improvement. Physicians analyze workflows, train staff, and recommend efficiencies for trauma care or patient flow. Projects may include policy reviews or compliance audits.

Requirements

  • Active Michigan license
  • Board certification
  • 7+ years ER leadership experience
  • Consulting or administrative background

Malpractice Insurance: No

Where to Find Work

  • GLG, AlphaSights, Guidepoint, PhysicianSideGigs

Michigan notes: Detroit auto-industry occupational health consulting niche; Strong academic systems (U-M, Henry Ford); Expert networks $175-$350/hr; Pharma advisory $275-$400/hr; Auto industry injury consulting $200-$350/hr
Typical start timeline: 4-10 weeks

3.

Locum Tenens / Per Diem

$200-$375/hr

What You'll Do

Locum Tenens or Per Diem work in Emergency Medicine involves providing temporary coverage in Michigan hospitals or clinics, handling acute patient cases, trauma level IV procedures, and shifts like days/nights averaging 54 patients per day. Physicians manage emergency room operations using EMR systems such as Cerner or Meditech. Assignments vary from short-term shifts to ongoing support, often with travel and housing arranged.

Requirements

  • Active Michigan medical license
  • Board certification (ABEM preferred)
  • DEA certification
  • ACLS, ATLS, PALS
  • Emergency Medicine experience

Malpractice Insurance: Typically provided by employer

Where to Find Work

  • AMN Healthcare

Michigan notes: Detroit metro competitive; Rural Upper Peninsula/Northern MI +25-40% premium; AMN reports avg $539k-$603k/yr for MI locums; Critical Care $275-$375/hr; General EM $200-$290/hr; Pediatric EM $240-$320/hr
Typical start timeline: ASAP to 6-12 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

Michigan 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.

Telemedicine / Telehealth

$115-$180/hr

What You'll Do

Telemedicine in Emergency Medicine entails remote consultations for urgent care triage, virtual assessments, and follow-ups for patients in Michigan via video platforms. Physicians advise on acute conditions without physical exams, coordinating with on-site teams when needed. It supports overflow from ERs or rural access.

Requirements

  • Active Michigan license
  • Board certification in Emergency Medicine
  • Telehealth platform training
  • Reliable internet and equipment
  • 2+ years ER experience

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

Where to Find Work

  • ZipRecruiter, Indeed, DocCafe

Michigan notes: Lower COL reflected; MI telehealth regulations favorable; Night tele-EM $140-$180/hr; Daytime virtual $115-$150/hr
Typical start timeline: 4-8 weeks

Common Questions People Ask

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

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 ($200-$375/hr).

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

A: 3 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).

Q: Can emergency medicine physicians work remotely in Michigan?

A: Yes, 4 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), Telemedicine / Telehealth ($115-$180/hr).

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

A: An active Michigan license from Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Professional Licensing 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 2-6 weeks, while Healthcare Consulting / Advisory typically takes 4-10 weeks, while Locum Tenens / Per Diem typically takes ASAP to 6-12 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 Michigan 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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How do I get started with freelance emergency medicine work in Michigan?