You want to pursue a profession in the medical field but first, you want to know the kinds of doctors that earn the highest amount of money. Then you are at the right place. In this blog post, you will discover the highest paid doctors specialty in the world and from here make a decision on which one to go for.
Careers in the medical field are highly rewarding, both financially and otherwise and this is because of the amount of value placed on these medical professionals. Doctors and others in the medical field are among the top list of the world’s most important people and it is hard not to see why. There will always be a high demand for medical practitioners which increases their value and worth in the world.
While medical professions can be highly rewarding, let’s not forget how tough, demanding, expensive, and rigorous the journey to get there can be, well, unless you want to become a medical assistant or become a paramedic which is easy compared to typical medical specialties. And even when you finally become a doctor, it doesn’t get any easier.
Physicians and surgeons often work long, unpredictable hours, they may work on-call, and their work-life continues to be demanding. While it is a tough profession, they are handsomely rewarded and not just in cash also but also provided some extra benefits which are granted by the state and federal government.
Some people that cannot handle being a physician but still want to be involved in the healthcare field go on to enroll in dental assistant programs and other high paying medical jobs with little schooling. And others take it a little step higher by getting an MBA degree in healthcare, these are other alternatives in the healthcare industry.
To become a physician, you are going to have to choose your specialty. Since this is a career that you are interested in then you should, at least, know that there are different specialties within the medical field. While they may all be referred to as “doctors” or “physicians” there are still diverse medical practices.
Different medical specialties mean that their practices are different with varying income which is the main purpose of this article. In this article, we will see the top-paying doctor specialty in the world and that should help you make a decision on which of the medical specialties you will be going for.
But from my research on the World Wide Web and from personal observations, I concluded that the highest-paid doctors’ specialties in the world are actually the most difficult ones. More years and even much more money are required to study them and even when you start working, they require the most task and demand a lot of time.
But of course, this is just from my personal observation. You might conclude differently. Now, let’s dive into the top 10 highest-paying medical specialties.
Top 10 Highest Paid Doctor Specialty In The World
Below is a curated list of the top 10 highest paying medical specialties in the world with their specific responsibilities which can help you make better-informed decisions on which of the medical professions to get into.
- Neurosurgeon – $645,701
- Thoracic Surgeon – $509,632
- Invasive Cardiologist – $450,784
- Orthopedic Surgeon – $516.190
- Gastroenterologist – $401,383
- Plastic Surgeon – $416,760
- Radiologist – $438,790
- Urologist – $401,060
- Dermatologists – $366,500
- Anesthesiologist – $411,400
1. Neurosurgeon
Neurosurgeons are first on the list of the highest paid doctors specialty in the world with an average annual salary of $645,701 according to salary.com. A neurosurgeon is a medical doctor that provide both surgical and non-surgical treatments concerning the nervous system, brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
They are also involved in diagnosing and preventing disorders of the above-mentioned body parts. It takes between 14 to 16 years to become a neurosurgeon. The education includes undergraduate education, med school, internship, and residency. This is the medical specialty with the longest training periods.
Some of the top best universities for neurosurgery are Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University, and Stanford University.
2. Thoracic Surgeon
A thoracic or cardiothoracic surgeon is a physician that specializes in diagnosing, preventing, and treatment of diseases in the heart, lungs, and other organs in the chest. They handle complex medical procedures such as heart transplants, lungs transplant, and treating chest wall tumors.
A thoracic surgeon is one of the highest paying medical specialties with an average base salary of $509,632. If you decide to enter this medical profession, it will take you about 15 years or more. The top best medical schools for cardiothoracic surgery are Duke University, Harvard University, and NYU.
3. Invasive Cardiologist
Invasive cardiology is a field within medicine that deals with the diagnoses and treatment of conditions relating to the heart such as coronary artery disease. Vascular disease, congenital heart disease, and congestive heart failure. Invasive cardiologists are some of the highest paid in the medical profession with an average base salary of $450,784.
The best medical schools for invasive cardiology are Harvard University, Imperial College London, and Columbia University according to the US News & World Report. After completing their undergraduate degree and medical school, students will spend about 8 additional years to specialize in invasive cardiology.
4. Orthopedic Surgeon
Orthopedic surgeons are some of the highest paid doctors specialty in the world with an average base salary of $516.190 by salary.com. Orthopedic surgery is a branch of surgery that deals with the musculoskeletal system. This means that you will be involved in the treatment, prevention, and diagnosis of musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, and tumors.
According to the US News & World Report, it takes 4 years of med school and, at least, 5 years of residency to become an orthopedic surgeon. If you add compulsory pre-med education to the number, it totals to 13 years. The top best schools for orthopedic surgery are Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, and the University of Michigan.
5. Gastroenterologist
This is a medical specialty that is focused on the digestive system and its disorders and it is one of the highest paying medical professions in the world. As a physician of gastroenterology, you will be involved in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of gastrointestinal and hematological diseases.
According to salary.com, the average base salary of a gastroenterology doctor is $401,383. To become a gastroenterologist, you must complete 4 years of undergraduate education, 4 years of med school, 3 years of internal medicine, and then 3 years of gastroenterology fellowship. The best med schools for gastroenterology are Harvard University, UC San Francisco, and Amrita School of Medicine.
6. Plastic Surgeon
A plastic surgeon is a popular medical specialty because of its use in the cosmetology industry. It is a branch of medicine that deals with restoring, reconstructing, and alteration of the human body. Plastic surgeons are among the highest paid medical professions in the world with an average base salary of $416,760.
The education of plastic surgeons is very rigorous and it takes about 16 years to become a practitioner in the field. The world’s leading medical schools for plastic surgery are NYU Grossman School of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.
7. Radiologist
With an average base salary of $438,790, radiologists are one of the highest paid doctors specialty in the world. Radiology is a branch of medicine that uses imaging technology in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. It takes approximately 13 years to study radiology, and some of the best schools in this field are Harvard, Stanford, and John Hopkins Universities.
8. Urologist
The average base salary of a urologist is $401,060 which makes it one of the highest paying medical professions. Urology is a branch of medicine that focuses on the surgical and medical diseases of the urinary-tract system and reproductive organs.
To become a urologist, you will complete a 4-year premed program, 4 years of medical school, then 5 years in a urology medical program, and finally 1 to 3 years of subspecialty training in a fellowship. The top best universities to study urology are Stanford University, Harvard University, and UC San Francisco.
9. Dermatologists
Dermatologists have a lot of presence in the cosmetology industry. Dermatology is a field of medicine that focuses on the skin, hair, and nails. You will spend up to 13 years studying to become a dermatologist and you can earn an average base salary of $366,500. Some of the best universities for dermatology are Yale University, NYU, and the University of Sao Paulo.
10. Anesthesiologist
And last but not least the highest paid doctors specialty in the world is anesthesiology. It is a field of medicine that focuses on the relief of pain before, during, or after a surgical process. The field encompasses anesthesia, intensive care medicine, critical emergency medicine, and pain medicine. Doctors who administer anesthesia and manage pain are known as anesthesiologists.
If you are interested in this route, it will take you between 12 and 14 years to become a specialized anesthesiologist. The average base salary of an anesthesiologist is $411,400. The best schools to study anesthesiology are Johns Hopkins University, Duke University, and UCLA.
These are the top 10 highest paid doctors specialty in the world with their average base salaries and other important info that will influence your decision-making on which of the medical professions to get into.