In the United States, neurosurgeons earn a total of $396,274 annually. While the neurosurgeon salary in the UK stands at £99,008 ($139,208) per year. People with the same job working in Canada make about C$314,296 ($240,103) each year.
Australian neurosurgeons win about AU$286,140 ($220,439) per year, while the same professionals living in Switzerland earn CHF561,271 ($590,339). While in Norway a neurosurgeon makes around NOK 4,171,201 ($538,919) a year.
Neurosurgeon Salary Influencers
Reading our article you will learn that a number of different factors determine the salary of a neurosurgeon. Although neurosurgery in a private practice or hospital setting can be quite lucrative, practicing neurosurgeons have very little time for life outside of their profession. The career path also involves intense study, training, and several years of residency.
1. Industry
There are two different types of jobs available for neurosurgeons. They either work in a hospital setting or private practice, earning a large salary, but having precious little free time, or return to academia to teach in medical school, making considerably less.
As far as a state to state level goes, neurosurgeons earn considerably more working in larger cities, like New York or California, than in rural areas or smaller hospitals.
2. Geographical Area
| Neurosurgeon Salary | US | Canada | UK | Australia | Switzerland | Norway |
| Hourly Wage | $99.93 | C$90.02 ($68.74) | £66.00 ($92.72) | AU$110 ($84.74) | CHF270 ($283.98) | NOK4,171,201 ($539,002) |
| Annual Wage | $396,274 | C$314,296 ($240,103) | £99,008 ($139,208) | AU$286,140 ($220,439) | CHF561,271 ($590,339) | NOK 4,171,201 ($538,919) |
Neurosurgeon Salary in the US
According to Payscale, a neurosurgeon working in the US will get paid around $396,274 per year. Salaries start at around $301,000 and go as high as $813,580 per year. In terms of an hourly salary, that comes to about $99.93 an hour.
Neurosurgeon Salary in Canada
In Canada, a neurosurgeon will make about C$314,296 per year. Salaries tend to start around C$299,000 and range as high as C$558,312. That’s about C$90.02 per hour.
Neurosurgeon Salary in the UK
Neurosurgeons working in the UK earn £99,008 per year, with an annual salary ranging from £39,171 to £362,067 per year. On average, that’s about £66.00 per hour.
Neurosurgeon Salary in Australia
Same professionals living in Australia earn AU$286,140 every year. While in terms of hourly wage, neurosurgeons bring in AU$110 per hour. Entry-level salaries start at AU$213,000 per year and range as high as AU$497,000 each year.
Neurosurgeon Salary in Switzerland
In Switzerland, neurosurgeons make about CHF561,271 per year, that boils down to CHF270 per hour. The entry-level salary begins at about CHF335.949 annually, with senior level neurosurgeons making as much as CHF881.439 per year.
Neurosurgeon Salary in Norway
Neurosurgeons from Norway make roughly NOK 4,171,201 each year according to SalaryExpert. Per hour, neurosurgeons make about NOK 2,005. They receive about NOK 1,003,174 bonus per year.
3. Experience
Becoming a neurosurgeon requires a degree in medicine from medical school, an expensive process that requires going into a significant degree of debt. These programs typically last four years. After medical school, students will be required to pass the Medical Licensing Exam, either during the end of medical school or towards the end of residency. These scores will determine placement into residency programs.
After passing this exam, an aspiring neurosurgeon requires a yearlong hospital internship, followed by 6 to 8 years of residency in a neurosurgical program. During this process, the aspiring surgeon will work closely alongside practicing surgeons, eventually assisting in surgical procedures.
Finally, neurosurgeons must become licensed and certified by the medical board. These certifications and licensure will require that neurosurgeons continue their education to maintain their board certified and licensed status. The level of experience and test scores will determine how quickly a surgeon moves through the residency program, thus affecting their income.
Working Hours
Most neurosurgeons work between 50 and 60 hours per week. They can work the regular 9 to 5 schedule or even make their own schedule. However, during the residency process, a typical day for a resident can last from 8 in the morning until midnight.
Bonuses & Benefit Packages
Neurosurgeons receive significant bonuses, which differ depending on the country. In the United States, bonuses average between $1,133 and $103,094 annually. On the other hand, neurosurgeons working in the UK can receive bonuses ranging between £993 and £94,225 each year. In Canada, the yearly bonus is around C$2,409 to C$103,646 at the end of the year.
Australians get bonuses between AU$1,987 and AU$51,521 per year. While in Switzerland neurosurgeons earn a CHF134.986 bonus at the end of the year.
In countries outside the United States, healthcare and maternity leave is provided as a basic human right. In the United States, by contrast, neurosurgeons will typically receive high-quality benefit packages from their hospitals, as well as reasonable student healthcare plans during their time in medical school.
Job Outlook
Working as a neurosurgeon means earning a significant amount of revenue, but having very little free time to spend any of it. Neurosurgeons must be dedicated to their profession, be weary of the difficulty of the task, the cost of malpractice, as well as ready to work long, difficult hours with very little sleep. The road to becoming a board-certified surgeon is long and arduous and leaves little time for friends or family.
In the United States and Australia, neurosurgery is extremely lucrative. In Australia, it makes up one of the highest paying professions in the country. While in Europe and Canada, neurosurgeons tend to make a bit less, but still take home a significant annual paycheck. In the United Kingdom, neurosurgeons make much less than other countries, making it far less lucrative.
Conclusion
While neurosurgery pays some of the highest salaries in medicine, it takes a great deal of dedication, concentration, difficult long hours, intense schooling, and leaves neurosurgeons with little to no time outside of their work. You can also look at how much a surgeon generally makes.
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