Let’s find out which countries in the world pay their doctors the most.
Doctors are some of the best-paid professionals in the world. Given the expensive cost of education and years of practice, it is only fair for them to earn a competent amount for all those years of struggling at medical school. Also, doctors put themselves at risk to save the lives of patients. Thus, to become a doctor means a tremendous amount of responsibility.
Source: General physician salaries across the world
So, where can doctors find huge compensation for their skills? The USA is one country that boasts high salaries for healthcare professionals. But how about the rest of the world?
To answer your question, we’ve compiled the most available data from Statista.
Source: Medical school fees per country
But before we dive in, let us define the term doctor.
Types of Medical Doctors
There are two types of physicians in medicine: general practitioners and medical specialists. Doctors in the medical field include:
- A general practitioner is a doctor who does not specialize in a single field of medicine. They treat both male and female patients in different health groups. They can refer you to a specialist as well.
- A medical specialist is a doctor with specialized expertise in a specific area of medicine. Pathologists, cardiologists, internists, surgeons, and opticians are among them.
Source: Graph of salaries and gender worldwide
With this in mind, here is a list of the highest-paying countries for doctors in the world.
1: Luxembourg
Luxembourg’s financial sector accounts for the bulk of the country’s capital. Not only do bankers and accountants make good money, but so do doctors. Doctors earn an average of $357,300 per year, according to the OECD. A general practitioner’s salary is $278,900 per year, while a specialist receives $352,300.
Besides the monthly average wage, their salaries include other benefits such as transportation and housing. However, because of the country’s small population, there is fierce competition for jobs among doctors.
2: The Netherlands
The Netherlands is a doctor’s paradise and a dream workplace. They not only pay their healthcare professionals well, but they also provide good working conditions and plenty of vacation time for their employees. It comes as no surprise that doctors enjoy working there.
They also have a world-class healthcare system for their citizens. Every family, for example, has a personal doctor. Therefore, medics go home with a good earning. Specialists rake in about $253,000 per year, while general practitioners make about $117,000 per year.
Source: Annually Specialist salaries
3: Switzerland
Switzerland is one of the best places to work as a doctor. The government strives to supply sufficient health care and education to its citizens. Besides, they provide high living standards and generous salaries to their doctors. A medical specialist’s salary is an impressive $130,000 per year, while general practitioners get around $116,000 per year. But despite that, working in Switzerland requires knowing other languages like French, Italian, and German.
4: The United States of America
The US’ average primary care physician job makes $223,000, while that of a medical expert is $329,000 per year. According to Medscape’s survey of 2018, a physician’s average wage is $299,000 per year. Other than better wages, medics enjoy professional growth. Here’s the catch: To practice medicine in the USA, you’ll need to pass the three-part UMLE exams.
Source: US general practitioners’ salaries
5: Belgium
Doctors have a negative impression of this country, which has beautiful cities and medieval towns. In Belgium, doctors work for 51 hours per week—much more than any other European country.
On the other hand, general practitioners struggle to make a good living because of high tax rates. Despite the expensive taxes, healthcare professionals can make a decent income. In this region, specialists earn about $188,000 per year, while general practitioners get only $61,000.
6: Canada
Canada is facing a significant doctor shortage because of the continuous doctor migration to the United States. Most of their doctors leave for better pay and working conditions. As a result, Canadian doctors are dealing with a significant number of patients. Patients must also wait for long periods to see a doctor. Although challenged, doctors in Canada have better salaries compared to other nations. Specialists make approximately $161,000 per year, while general practitioners rake in roughly $107,000 per year.
Additionally, the Canadian government provides doctors with malpractice insurance and health benefits like sick leave, study leave, vacation, maternity, and paternity leave.
7: United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is another European country perfect for doctors. By introducing the NHS, UK citizens enjoy a better healthcare system and fast service delivery. Therefore, it is no surprise its doctors boast competitive wages. A general practitioner’s salary is an average of $85,250 per year, while specialists get around $174,068. Besides, doctors have the chance to earn extra income from private practice and locums. NHS doctors also enjoy comprehensive pensions and life assurance benefits.
Source: Specialist salaries in the world
8: New Zealand
For high-paying medical jobs, Australia traditionally outperforms New Zealand in most professions. On the other hand, New Zealand is the best place to work when it comes to medicine. Although no estimates for average salaries are available, specialists should expect to receive an average of $138,261. New Zealand, a private and public healthcare system, is a common destination for most English-speaking doctors. So if you’re thinking of making the switch, your bank account will thank you.
9: Australia
The “island continent” pays its doctors well. Because of this, healthcare professionals are migrating from Europe to Australia for higher salaries. Furthermore, there are many reasons to work in Australia.
Excellent working conditions and a human resource support system are available. The Australian government also supports education for healthcare providers. For example, doctors learn and interact on the job. Specialists make around $247,000, while general practitioners earn approximately $91,000.
10: The Republic of Ireland
On the list of highest pay for physicians is the North Atlantic Island. Specialists in Ireland receive an average of $143,000 a year, while general practitioners make about $90,000. Here, the pay is equivalent to that of other nations and healthcare professionals in the private and public sectors.
Doctors can charge $200–$300 depending on the type and level of specialist. A 15 to 20-minute consultation costs more. As a result, their overall income is higher than the national average of $143,000. If you are an English-speaking doctor who is unconcerned about the weather, you might want to move to Ireland.
Conclusion
Working as a doctor in these countries is well worth the tension, hard work, and schooling, so if you’re thinking about going into the field or are already trained, why not try bringing your skills abroad?
- : public
