Doctors in Russia and other CIS countries are usually dissatisfied with their salaries. And this is even despite the fact that the government is constantly taking some measures to increase it. After all, no matter how much is added to earnings, the ruble rapidly depreciates against the dollar, and essential goods in the store become more expensive without stopping.
It is possible to accurately answer the question of whether our doctors receive good money if we compare the salary with the payment for similar work of medical workers in a country where this same dollar is the main monetary unit, that is, in the USA. And despite the fact that Americans usually calculate their salaries not per month, but per year or per hour, it is still possible to determine their average monthly earnings by calculations.
How much do doctors earn in the USA?
The highest paid medical professionals in the United States are orthopedists, cardiologists, and dermatologists. Family doctors and pediatricians earn less. In general, doctors' salaries are among the highest in the United States. It is even several times higher than programmers’ earnings. Only managers of the main sectors of the state can compare with medical workers in this regard.
In addition, the earnings of American doctors are growing by several percent every year. The services of doctors are in great demand among Americans whose age exceeds 60 years.
Much depends not only on the specialty and qualifications of the doctor, but also on his place of work. According to statistics, health workers in North Dakota have the highest incomes. The average figure characterizing their annual earnings is $350,000. Doctors in New Hampshire and Nebraska make an average of $320,000 per year. Well, the lowest incomes are among health workers who provide their services in medical institutions located in Columbia, Maryland and Rhode Island. Their average salary is just over $220,000.
Salary also depends on the gender of the doctor. Men earn more. Thus, the average salary of men is $320,000, and that of women is $240,000.
Salaries of American doctors 2020 and 2021
About the salary of doctors in America (USA), the material has been supplemented and updated with information about the earnings of doctors in 2020-2019.
Before we learn about the salaries of specialized doctors and other health care workers, we note that the average salary for a doctor in the United States at the end of April 2021 was $276,311 per year, or an impressive $23,026 per month. But taking into account other professions in the entire medical and healthcare system, it was only $122,000, according to other sources - $129,000 ($10,200 per month). Here, the lowest average salary per year is $37,700, and the highest average in the industry is 388,000. We will start from these figures when considering the earnings of medical workers in the context of their specialization.
Before rejoicing at the decent earnings of American doctors, let's evaluate their hourly workload. For example, the annual (2020) average salary of an orthopedic doctor in America is $150,712, and his hourly wage is $72.46. This means that for such a salary he must work 173.3 hours per month. With a five-day work week, he must be in the clinic for approximately 8 hours every day and work with many patients per shift.
Among medical specializations, the most amazing and largest salary in the USA is that of a neurosurgeon; it has become more than 51 thousand dollars per month or $ 616,823 per year (however, this information is for 2021, how the salaries of doctors and in general in the country are changing - more on that below) . Pediatric infectious disease doctors earned more modest earnings over the same period—$185,892 per year. The average salary of a surgeon in the United States in 2021 is also one of the highest among physicians (thoracic surgeon - $584,287, orthopedic surgeon $526,385, vascular surgeon - $484,740, general surgeon - $403,000). A radiation oncologist earns a high salary, earning an average of $486,089, or $40,507 per month. How much do other doctors earn in America (USA) are provided with equally detailed information for most specialties below.
The list of the most paid doctors includes a cardiologist - $454,000, a plastic surgeon - $433,000, a gastroenterologist - $432,000. A urologist in America earns on average 427,000 (declining in 2021 to $378,4380, an anesthesiologist - $405,000, an oncologist - $383,000. The average salary of an emergency doctor (as we call an ambulance) is $336 000, and an obstetrician-gynecologist - 335,000 US dollars.
An American neurologist earns on average $303,000, a sports medicine physician earns $233,831, a psychiatrist earns $281,000, and an ophthalmologist earns $294,915.
This is how we got closer to knowing how much doctors in America with more modest incomes earn in specialties. Among them are the salaries of pulmonologists - $271,421, allergists - $263,000, infectious disease specialist - $262,000, ophthalmologist - $125,654, pediatrician - $222,942, and other children's doctors.
It should be noted that American statistics recorded an increase in the average salaries of doctors in the United States in 2021 by 4.6% year-on-year. But in general, it is said that in the United States, health and medical professionals show salary increases of approximately 9% every 15 months, while all professions in the country see increases of 8% every 16 months. For example, every 12 months, salaries in the field of information technology grow by an average of 3%, in the energy sector by 8%, and in education by only 1%.
However, the growth was uneven, with accelerated growth in such physicians as pediatrics (+ 9% from $232,000 per year to $330,200 per year), pediatric hematology / oncology (+ 7% increase from $ 208,524 to $ 222,953 / year) and earnings in pediatric cardiology increased by 7% (from $283,000 to $303,000 on average per year).
In contrast, doctors' salaries were declining in 2019/2018, plastic surgery was the biggest change: minus 8.5% from $473,212 to $433,000 per year, otolaryngology (ENT) decreased by -7.6% from $431,000 to $398,000 dollars per year, endocrinology -7.5% from 266,000 to 246,000 dollars per year.
In any case, if in 2021 the average salary of a doctor in the USA was $24,917 per month (299 thousand per year), then in 2021 it will be $26,083 or per year - $313,000.
The salary of a particular specialist, of course, depends on many factors, including education and experience. American statistics show an increase in the earnings of medical workers after 5 years of experience in relation to two years of experience by 32%, 10 years of experience to 5 years by 36%, 15 years of experience to 10 years of experience by 21%, 20/15 - by 14%, and over 20 years - by another 9%.
It has been observed that a health worker’s earnings double after 10 years of independent work.
Doctors' salaries during Covid-19
But there was a big “but” due to the Covid-19 pandemic. If in post-Soviet countries doctors and paramedics were paid extra for working with coronavirus-infected people, in the United States since March there has been... a drop in the salaries of medical workers. And why? People are less likely to seek medical help for their illnesses. The demand for doctors itself has decreased by 30%. The income of clinics and medical centers dropped by $200 billion by mid-2021 and by 55 percent over some period of the entire healthcare system. Many doctors have downsized their practices themselves, switching to telemedicine. And hospitals and clinics began to look less for doctors for vacancies.
READ ALSO: GREEN CARD. Green card for moving to (USA) America
Obviously, this phenomenon is temporary. It projects a shortage of up to 139,000 doctors by 2033, up from its 2021 forecast of 121,900 doctors by 2032. COVID-19 is expected to contribute to the physician shortage.
In the meantime, you can see what were
How much does a nurse earn in the USA?
American nurses earn about $30 an hour. At a rate of 40 working hours per week and 160 working hours per month, their income will be approximately $1,200 and $5,000, respectively. In a year, a nurse in America earns approximately $60,000 , which, of course, is small compared even to the salary of the same family doctors, whose annual income exceeds $200,000.
Features of the medical services sector in the USA
Medicine in America is one of the priority areas; the state makes quite large financial investments into its development. The head of the Ministry of Health reports directly to the President of the States. The maintenance of the industry falls on the shoulders of citizens, since there is no compulsory medical insurance system in the country, and health insurance is not cheap.
Any aspect of medical activity is honored here: both practice and research. The field is constantly developing and attracts a large number of people interested in making good money. It is noted that wages in the sector have been growing for a decade, and no negative changes are expected.
Today, about 10 million citizens are employed in the industry, and about 2 million more are engaged in obtaining higher education in this area. The US Institute of Medicine also willingly admits promising specialists from other countries.
How much do dentists earn in the USA?
American dentists earn approximately $80 for every hour they work, and their annual income is about $150,000. Of course, these numbers are not the same in all states. Thus, the work of a dentist is least valued in Utah and Montana. Here they earn about $115,000 a year. Well, the highest salaries for dentists are given in New Hampshire and Iowa (more than $200,000 per year).
If we translate it into a more familiar monthly salary, it turns out that for 30 days of work an American dentist will receive about $12,000, which is equivalent to almost a million rubles. For comparison, our dentists receive an average of $3,000 per month, that is, about 200,000 rubles.
The salary of American dentists also depends on the premises in which the work is carried out. The doctor who is engaged in private practice and uses his own office receives the most.
The highest and lowest paid professions
In America, the work of medical workers is highly valued. Studying at a university for such a prestigious specialty as a doctor is very expensive and lasts up to 8 years. Therefore, many simply cannot afford to obtain a highly qualified specialty. How much do doctors earn? The salary of a doctor in the USA is one of the highest. In the ranking of the most paid professions, doctors are in first place. Among medical workers, anesthesiologists (about $235 thousand) and surgeons (about $233 thousand) earn the most. Specialists with a broader profile, such as therapists and family doctors, are also in great demand, and their work is well paid (approximately $150 thousand).
Airplane pilots earn approximately the same amount as doctors. Lawyers occupy only 17th place in the ranking, with an average salary in the United States of about $120 thousand. In addition, the profession of a pedagogical worker is a highly paid one. A teacher's salary per year is $100 thousand.
In-demand professions in the United States also include those of IT specialists, mining employees, and insurance companies. Average annual income is about $100 thousand.
Police officers and drivers, with the same employment as the above specialists, earn less. The salary in the USA in 2018 for these workers was about $50 thousand per year. The work of hairdressers, manicurists, and fitness trainers is well paid. Their income is about $40 thousand.
Low-paid professions include workers in the so-called “physical labor” - loaders, gardeners, janitors, as well as fire fighters and maintenance personnel. Their average annual salary in the USA is about $20 thousand.
According to statistics, the average salary in the United States in 2018 for male workers across the country is higher than for women (per month, on average, $900 versus $750).
A specialist with a high level of education and professional retraining can count on decent wages. Income level is also influenced by knowledge of English, length of service and work experience. Accordingly, the income of a dentist is higher than that of mid-level doctors. In addition, the salary level depends on the place of work. Thus, the average salary in New York for a programmer is higher than for a similar specialist from some outback. Therefore, many Americans tend to change jobs and travel long distances in search of better work.
How much does a neurosurgeon earn in the USA?
Neurosurgeons earn the most in American healthcare. Their annual income is about $500,000. In a month they earn more than $40,000. This is simply a huge amount compared to what is given as a monthly salary to our neurosurgeons.
Australia - surgeons' salaries
Average salaries for Australian surgeons are:
| Level | Monthly in Australian dollars | Monthly in US dollars |
| Elementary | A$12,580 | $ 8 030 |
| Average | A$13,040 (A$82.5 per hour) | $8,320 ($53 per hour) |
| Highly paid | A$17,080 | $ 10 900 |
In some Australian states, annual bonuses reach A$20,000 and are paid to surgeons who perform emergency operations.
The average weekly work time of Australian surgeons is approximately 49 hours.
How much does a gynecologist earn in the USA?
A huge gap also exists between the salaries of Russian and American gynecologists. Of course, by our standards, a salary of 100,000 rubles per month is a fairly large figure. However, for American healthcare workers it is simply negligible. Gynecologists in America receive an amount corresponding to approximately a million rubles per month of work.
And if you compare it with the salary of 20-30 thousand rubles for Russian gynecologists who get a job in their specialty in interdistrict clinics, the difference will become even greater.
Average salaries for dentists by state
The average base salary for dentists nationwide is $17,344 (excluding tax $12,732) per month, but salaries vary from state to state and by region, according to Indeed statistics, as follows:
Highest paying states
Ranking of states with the highest base salaries for dentists.
| State | Monthly - Gross | Monthly - Net |
| Hawaii | $ 20 986 | $ 13 353 |
| South Dakota | $ 20 812 | $ 13 261 |
| Colorado | $ 19 945 | $ 12 798 |
| Utah | $ 19 078 | $ 12 335 |
| California | $ 18 558 | $ 12 058 |
| Arizona | $ 18 558 | $ 12 057 |
| Kansas | $ 18 552 | $ 12 055 |
| Missouri | $ 18 384 | $ 11 965 |
| Louisiana | $ 18 379 | $ 11 962 |
| South Carolina | $ 18 375 | $ 11 960 |
| Idaho | $ 18 211 | $ 11 873 |
Lowest paying states
List of states with the lowest incomes for dentists.
| State | Monthly - Gross | Monthly - Net |
| Indiana | $ 14 569 | $ 9 807 |
| Connecticut | $ 14 558 | $ 9 801 |
| Kentucky | $ 13 701 | $ 9 254 |
| Rhode Island | $ 10 926 | $ 7 452 |
| Wyoming | $ 9 018 | $ 6 326 |
Use a currency converter to convert to the equivalent of a currency unit that you understand, for example, the Russian ruble
How much does a veterinarian earn in the USA?
In the United States, high incomes are earned not only by those who treat people, but also by those who treat animals. Every American veterinarian falls into one of two categories: either he works with large animals, or he helps get rid of ailments of small pets. The former deal with cows, horses, etc. and usually work outside the city, while the latter deal with cats, dogs, small birds, etc.
Currently, the country has a shortage of veterinarians in rural areas, but the state is trying to eliminate this problem by providing benefits to those who decide to devote their lives to treating large animals.
Veterinarians work in private American veterinary clinics. Many of them receive a license and then open their own clinic.
Of course, the salary of doctors who provide care to animals is not as high as that of the above-mentioned health workers who treat people, but it still remains at a fairly high level. The average annual salary for an American veterinarian is $75,000 (about $6,000 per month). Employees of large private clinics have the highest income. According to statistics, pet owners in America spend a total of about $50 billion a year on the treatment of their pets.
In our country, the work of veterinarians is valued at only 30,000 rubles per month.
How to become a doctor in the USA
If a person trained as a doctor in the territory of the former USSR, then he should check whether his university is on a special list.
You can view the list by following the link.
The majority (about 90%) of domestic universities are on this list. If the university is on the list, then to become a doctor in the USA, a person who has already received an education does not need to retrain.
Next, you need to translate your diploma into English. You can send your diploma in the original, in Russian - specialists from ecfmg will translate it. But this is a rather long and expensive process.
Having received a package of documents, ecfmg specialists send them to the university from which the Russian graduated and request confirmation signed by the dean and rector. The university may also be asked to provide a transcript (a printout of all hours and grades).
After this, the Russian receives the “verified” status. This means that his diploma and transcript have been verified. Next, you will need to register for the exam as soon as possible.
The exams are very difficult. At stage 1, knowledge of biology, basic psychology, pharmacology, anatomy, histology and microbiology is tested. This exam must be passed 1 time, and with a high score. If this is not done, then the doctor's career may end.
Then comes registration and passing the remaining exams. The next stage is residency work. Only after this the foreigner is allowed to work as a doctor. All in all, it can take up to 10 years.
Find out in the video: tips for applying to a general surgery residency in the USA.
The easiest way to become a doctor in the USA is if the student studied in America. Required to graduate from medical school and obtain a bachelor's degree. This takes at least 8 years. After this, the person is allowed to go to work in residency.
How much do psychologists earn in the USA?
Most New York psychologists charge about $200 an hour for their services. If it is expensive, then you can move to Detroit and use similar services there, but pay three times less for it.
The average income of a clinical psychologist in the United States exceeds $60,000 per year. But corporate psychologists who improve staff performance and engage in corporate training receive one and a half times more.
The highest salaries are not psychologists, but psychiatrists, whose income exceeds $100,000 per year.
A doctor's salary can reach up to $400,000 per year
I came from Russia to the States with my family and quite quickly found a job in my profession
. This says a lot - a specialist will not be lost here.
About medicine in the USA
Medicine in the USA is high-quality, high-tech and developing.
The healthcare system, the role of insurance and the services provided are well developed here. Medical services are expensive, but the level of care provided is several times higher than in the CIS countries. The hospitals have good technical equipment, and there are many private clinics.
America has a high cost of living, high taxes and mandatory insurance.
. Therefore, a doctor will not be left without money in this country. The status of a doctor is much more honorable than in Russia.
About employment
To obtain the right to practice, a foreign doctor must pass licensing exams
. This is a two-stage test. American doctors take the same exams. Questions include different areas, as well as behavioral science - knowledge in psychiatry and medical ethics. Then the practical part is taken in the form of a trial medical consultation. After successfully passing the exam, you will be offered a residency.
Then you get a job at a clinic, where you also undergo training, but already receive a salary.
Depending on your specialization, you can earn from $150,000 per year. The highest paid specialists are surgeons, radiologists and anesthesiologists. After this, you can find a position in a private clinic or open your own.
Switzerland - surgeons' salaries
In Switzerland, training to become a surgeon takes about 6 years, which includes experience in general surgery (practice in hospitals), research and two years of specialization.
According to PayScale, the average salary for Swiss surgeons is as follows:
| Level | Monthly in Swiss francs | Monthly in US dollars |
| Average | ₣ 16,370 (₣ 94.5 per hour) | $16,800 ($97 per hour) |
