Surgeon Salary

The surgeon salary in the United States is $378,862 per year. In Canada, surgeons make C$367,257 ($291,115). Salaries for surgeons living in the United Kingdom stand at £73,543 ($105,156) and AU$156,595 ($121,717) for those living in Australia.

In Switzerland, surgeons win annual earnings of CHF196,527 ($204,758), while those in Norway make NOK2,662,582 ($342,913) per year. Read below the factors shaping surgeons’ pay, how surgeons obtain experience, the work hours and prospects for employment.

Surgeon Salary Influencers

The type of healthcare system in a particular country determines how fees and compensation for surgeons are set. Other influencers of pay include experience, the specialty of surgical practice and whether the surgeon is in private practice or the public sector. The information we have here is gathered from sources like Payscale, SalaryExpert, and BLS.

1. Industry

In the United States, private insurers generally compensate surgeons and other medical providers for their services. Patients who qualify may have surgeries paid by government programs such as Medicare.

• US Army surgeon salary – $150,381
• Sanford Health surgeon salary – $335,153
• Banner Health surgeon salary – $285,411

For surgeons who work under single-payer systems in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Norway and Switzerland, governments typically determine rates of pay, bonuses and other compensation. The specialty in which the surgeon practices can also influence earnings.

2. Geographical Area

Surgeon Salary	US	Canada	UK	Australia	Switzerland	Norway
Hourly Wage	$182	C$177 ($140.41)	£35 ($50.08)	AU$82.50 ($64.14)	CHF94.48 ($98.41)*	NOK1,280 ($164.86)
Annual Wage	$378,862	C$367,257 ($291,115)	£73,543 ($105,156)	AU$156,595 ($121,717)	CHF196,527 ($204,758)	NOK2,662,582 ($342,913)

*The figures are estimated based on the yearly pay information available.

Surgeon Salary in the US

The surgeon salary in the US stands at $378,862 according to SalaryExpert. While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, as of May 2017, surgeons made $251,890 per year. The hourly pay stands at $182, also, these professionals get $35,537 in yearly bonuses.

Surgeon Salary in Canada

Same professionals working in Canada make C$367,257 per year, with an hourly pay of C$177. They also make around C$34,449 as yearly bonuses. While the entry-level surgeon, with 1 to 3 years of experience wins C$239,115 per year, and the more experienced surgeon, with 8 or more years on the job gets an annual salary of C$507,000 each year.

Surgeon Salary in the UK

Surgeons living in the United Kingdom are paid between £33,948 and £124,625 per year. For a surgeon, pay depends upon experience. They also win yearly bonuses of £503 up to £39,149. While the total yearly pay ranges between £33,822 and £158,890 according to Payscale.

Surgeon Salary in Australia

General surgeons from Australia gain earnings of AU$156,595 per year. Accounting for salaries, bonuses of up to AU$20,000 per year, and overtime, total pay for general surgeons ranges between AU$97,467 and AU$354,842 per year. While the beginner surgeon makes only AU$151,000 per year, and the more experienced professional can win up to AU$205,000 each year.

Surgeon Salary in Switzerland

As per PayScale, general surgeons living in Switzerland earn CHF196,527 per year. While total earnings range between CHF86,365 and CHF1,183,591.

Surgeon Salary in Norway

Surgeons from Norway earn around NOK2,662,582 per year, while the hourly pay is of NOK1,280. These professionals also win bonuses of up to NOK249,750 per year. Moreover, the entry-level surgeon with less than three years of experience makes around NOK1,733,567, while the senior level surgeon with more experience earns about NOK3,675,705 per year.

3. Experience

Upon completion of medical school, surgeons must complete multi-year residence training programs. Surgeons in the United States usually have three to seven years of residency. In the United Kingdom, aspiring surgeons undergo two years of general physician training, two years of core surgical training and up to six years in a specialty. For would-be surgeons in Canada, residency training lasts five or six years depending on the school selected. During the training, residents must log 36 months of general surgical rounds.

In Switzerland, surgeons gain experience through six years of training. At least four years involve general surgery; the candidate must spend at least two years in university hospitals and at least one year in a smaller hospital. Training includes a maximum of two years in surgical specialties and two years of research.

In the United States, the beginner surgeon wins an average salary of $246,671 per year, while a senior level surgeon makes about $523,020 each year. Meanwhile, same professionals working in the UK when on an entry-level earn around ₤47,000 per year, the salary for this job keeps rising until ₤89,000 after 10-20 years experience. Then seeing a significant decrease and reaching ₤73,000 after more than 20 years experience.

Working Hours

Surgeons work full time, often exceeding 40 hours per week. They work long, irregular, and overnight hours. Also, physicians, as well as surgeons might need to travel between office and hospital, or nursing home in order to care for their patients. Cardiovascular/thoracic surgeons in Canada worked nearly 70 hours per week. Surgeons in Australia spent nearly 49 hours per week on the job. In the UK surgeons work on average 48 hours a week.

Shifts for surgeons often prove irregular. As hospitals remain open 24 hours per day and seven days per week, surgeons can expect to be needed nights, predawn hours, weekends and holidays as well as traditional 9 to 5 periods. Emergency surgeries occasioned by sudden illnesses, accidents or criminal activity require surgeons to be available during non-office hours. Depending on the number and complexity of procedures, a surgeon might work 12 hours or more at a single time.

Bonuses & Benefit Packages

Within single-payer countries, the governing authority may award or offer bonuses to surgeons based on certain factors. For example, in Canada, surgeons may obtain signing bonuses for working in rural areas or employing efficient techniques. Certain Australian states pay bonuses to emergency general surgeons. In the United States, bonuses typically are determined by the employer.

As to benefits, in the United Kingdom, surgeons in the National Health Service can draw pension starting at 55 years old. In Switzerland, employees in the health sector receive at least four weeks of holiday pay per year. A three-pillar system affords retirement benefits for employees in Switzerland. The first two pillars require participation and are intended to provide 60 percent of the employee’s salary. Salaried surgeons in Norway have their work benefits defined by their employers. In addition, Norwegian law affords employees the right to pensions, holiday pay, insurance and leave of absence.

Job Outlook

As a general rule, surgeons should have solid prospects for employment. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of surgeons should grow by 14 percent, or by 6,500, from 2016 to 2026. The Australian government projects up to 5,000 job openings for surgeons through November 2019, with employment expected to grow “very strongly.”

The demand for surgeons drives employment prospects. Factors such as longer life spans and access to health care help drive demand. Due to small numbers of entrants into the field, countries such as Norway face doctor shortages.

Conclusion

Location of practice can mold a surgeon’s pay, especially if the country operates a single-payer system. In such countries, surgeons can earn bonuses for meeting surgical standards, working in a particular area or offering certain surgical services. Entering a surgical specialty, such as neurological, orthopedic or cardiac surgery, can enhance the salary of a specialized surgeon.