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

1.

Expert Witness / Medical-Legal

$375-$750/hr

What You'll Do

Physicians review emergency medicine cases for lawsuits, provide testimony on standard of care, and prepare reports on negligence or causation. Work centers on analyzing records, depositions, and court appearances related to ER malpractice claims. Involves consulting for attorneys in Pennsylvania legal matters.

Requirements

  • Active or recent Pennsylvania license
  • Board-certified Emergency Medicine experience (5+ years preferred)
  • Strong documentation and communication skills

Malpractice Insurance: No

Where to Find Work

  • SEAK

Pennsylvania notes: Philadelphia high-volume litigation; Pittsburgh moderate demand; Trial testimony $550-$750/hr; Deposition $375-$550/hr; Record review $275-$425/hr
Typical start timeline: 2-6 weeks

2.

Healthcare Consulting / Advisory

$175-$425/hr

What You'll Do

Emergency Medicine experts advise hospitals, insurers, or firms on ER protocols, quality improvement, and operational efficiency. Involves policy development, training programs, and risk management strategies for Pennsylvania healthcare systems. Projects focus on optimizing workflows and compliance in high-acuity settings.

Requirements

  • Active Pennsylvania license
  • Board certification
  • 10+ years EM leadership or operational experience

Malpractice Insurance: No

Where to Find Work

  • GLG, AlphaSights, Guidepoint, PhysicianSideGigs

Pennsylvania notes: Philadelphia pharma corridor (multiple HQs); Strong academic research base; Expert networks $200-$400/hr; Pharma advisory $300-$425/hr; Academic consulting $175-$300/hr
Typical start timeline: 4-10 weeks

3.

Locum Tenens / Per Diem

$190-$340/hr

What You'll Do

Emergency Medicine physicians provide temporary staffing coverage in hospital emergency departments, handling acute cases, shifts, and patient care during shortages. Work involves on-site shifts, often 12-24 hours, in Pennsylvania facilities like Harrisburg hospitals. Per diem roles offer similar short-term, flexible shift work without long-term commitment.

Requirements

  • Active Pennsylvania medical license
  • ABEM board certification or board eligible with ACLS/BLS/PALS
  • Minimum 3 years EM experience

Malpractice Insurance: Typically provided by employer

Where to Find Work

  • Weatherby Healthcare

Pennsylvania notes: Philadelphia metro competitive rate; Pittsburgh similar; Rural PA +20-30% premium; Critical Care $260-$340/hr; General EM $190-$275/hr; Toxicology $250-$325/hr
Typical start timeline: 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

Pennsylvania 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

$120-$185/hr

What You'll Do

Emergency Medicine physicians deliver remote consultations for urgent care, triage, and follow-ups via video or phone from anywhere. Involves assessing virtual patients, ordering tests, and coordinating care without physical exams. Pennsylvania licensure enables cross-state telehealth under specific compacts.

Requirements

  • Active Pennsylvania license
  • Board certification in Emergency Medicine
  • Telehealth platform training, reliable internet and tech setup

Malpractice Insurance: Typically provided by employer

Where to Find Work

  • ZipRecruiter

Pennsylvania notes: Strong academic telehealth adoption (Penn/Temple/UPMC); Night tele-EM $145-$185/hr; Daytime virtual $120-$155/hr
Typical start timeline: 4-8 weeks

Common Questions People Ask

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

A: Based on current market data, the top 3 are: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal ($375-$750/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory ($175-$425/hr), Locum Tenens / Per Diem ($190-$340/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 ($375-$750/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory ($175-$425/hr), AI Training & Annotation ($125-$315/hr). This can save $20-$50K annually compared to options requiring coverage.

Q: Can emergency medicine physicians work remotely in Pennsylvania?

A: Yes, 4 options are fully or partially remote: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal ($375-$750/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory ($175-$425/hr), AI Training & Annotation ($125-$315/hr), Telemedicine / Telehealth ($120-$185/hr).

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

A: An active Pennsylvania license from State Board of Medicine - Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 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 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?