How Much Can I Earn as a QME in California?
Income for a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) depends on your specialty, how many evaluations you accept, and how efficiently you produce reports. Because California sets flat statutory fees for medical-legal services, your revenue is unusually predictable compared with private-practice reimbursement.
The Base Fee Structure
The Medical-Legal Fee Schedule pays $2,015 for a standard comprehensive evaluation (ML200). Add-on modifiers increase payment for record review (billable in 15-minute increments), evaluation of multiple body parts, and language translation when needed. On average, an uncomplicated single-body-part case with moderate records yields $2,300–$2,600.
Deposition and Testimony Fees
If attorneys depose you—or if the case proceeds to trial—you bill $325 per hour for deposition time (ML400) and the same rate for court testimony, portal-to-portal. Many evaluators schedule depositions in one- or two-hour blocks on Friday afternoons, creating an additional revenue stream without disrupting clinic time.
Putting It Together: Three Earning Scenarios
| Monthly Volume | Evals/Month | Gross per Eval | Monthly Income | Annual Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-volume side gig | 2 | $2,400 | $4,800 | $57,600 |
| Moderate supplement | 6 | $2,500 | $15,000 | $180,000 |
| Full-time focus | 12 | $2,600 | $31,200 | $374,400 |
These estimates exclude deposition revenue. If even one-third of your cases generate a two-hour deposition at $325/hour, add roughly $215 per evaluation to the figures above.
Specialty Matters
Orthopedic surgeons, pain physicians, and psychologists see the highest panel volumes, making it easier to reach double-digit monthly caseloads. Less common specialties—dermatology, pulmonology, nephrology—receive fewer panels but face almost no competition: if you hold the only examination office in a region, your scheduling calendar can still fill quickly.
Expenses to Factor In
- Annual activation fee ($110–$250, sliding scale)
- Medical-legal CME (≈ $300–$600 every two years)
- Dictation or report-management software ($150–$500)
Even after overhead, many physicians net well above $1,800 per evaluation, which is why QME work is a popular adjunct for clinicians seeking schedule flexibility and stable cash flow.
For the current official rates and modifiers, consult the Medical-Legal Fee Schedule in California Code of Regulations Title 8, §9795, available on the DWC website: Medical-Legal Fee Schedule.