The salary of a doctor in Europe might surprise you. See the comparison with the pay in your country and also learn how to validate your medical degree in Europe.
If you intend to pursue an international career and work as a doctor in Europe, it’s important to research how to validate your medical degree, understand the job market in each European country, and find out what doctors’ salaries are in Europe.
It’s important to know that in Europe salaries are less unequal than in other developing countries, there is greater equality between different professions, and even if a doctor is extremely competent (even in the private sector), they must adhere to a table of maximum prices for consultations and procedures.
Doctors’ salaries in Europe
In Europe, a doctor’s salary is quite different from that of doctors in developing countries or continents. This is because, on the European continent, the prestige of the profession takes on a different dimension, and, being a less unequal and more developed society, the medical profession is viewed differently.
Check out the salaries for doctors in hospital settings with a workload of 35-40 hours per week. These figures are averages for entry-level (recently graduated) professionals:
- Malta: €2,000.00
- Italy: €2,000.00 to €2,500.00
- Spain: €2,500.00
- Portugal: €2,746.24
- United Kingdom: £2,200.00 pounds (€2,464.26 euros)
- Denmark: DKK 20,000.00 Danish kroner (€2,700 euros)
- Germany: €4,442.00
- Sweden: SEK 35,000 Swedish krona (€3,288.00 euros)
- Austria: €4,000.00
- Ireland: €4,083.00
- France: €4,569.00
- Switzerland: CHF 6,250.00 Swiss francs (€ 5,575.00 euros)
- Belgium: €6,250.00
- Netherlands: €6,300.00
The salary figures for doctors in Europe listed above are gross and before income tax deductions. Tax rates vary by European country.
In some countries, such as Sweden, for example, taxes can exceed 50% depending on salary. Therefore, the most important thing is always to know and understand the tax situation of the country where you intend to work. Also research the benefits offered by the government, such as infrastructure, education, health, security, etc.
Typically, Nordic countries have a higher tax rate, but the return for the citizen is worthwhile. Public services function very well and the quality of life is very high.
England
England, for example, has an income tax rate between 20% and 25%. Meanwhile, a doctor with more than 8 years of experience earns around £3,800.00 per month, according to the British Medical Association.
Foreigners consider the cost to be among the lowest in the world. This is because the salaries for these professions are much more similar and egalitarian.
Salaries for doctors in private practices (liberal medicine) in Europe vary considerably from country to country, but they typically have salary scales with maximum limits for each medical specialty.
Do doctors in Europe earn more?
The answer is: no. If you want to live in Europe to earn a lot of money, the best option may be to take a look at some other countries. As Doctors in some other top tier countries earn much more. Europe is a good option for those seeking quality of life, culture, and security. If salary is a fundamental factor for you, it’s best to carefully consider the pros and cons.
How does the medical field work in Europe?
In general, European countries have an aging population that needs more healthcare. The pandemic exacerbated the health crisis, exposing many imbalances and shortcomings facing the European healthcare sector. Therefore, it is clear that Europe needs more doctors than it previously thought necessary.
Also, in Europe, the healthcare system doesn’t focus as much on disease prevention. The organization of the countries differs, but generally, there isn’t as much control or a strong emphasis on prevention and family health. In other words, doctors and healthcare professionals are often sought out only when the situation has already worsened.
Find out if studying medicine in Europe is worthwhile.
It’s worthwhile, but not for the salary. In fact, the WHO (World Health Organization) says that at least 40 million jobs in the health sector should be created worldwide by 2030. However, in Europe, the WHO expects the shortage to persist, despite the number of doctors and nurses having increased by about 10% in the last decade.
Knowing this, if your concern is about job opportunities for a doctor in Europe, studying medicine is definitely worthwhile. However, salaries are not the highest, and there is constant dissatisfaction among healthcare professionals regarding the pay they receive in their job markets. You can apply to jobs with work visa to take advantage of this opportunity.
Time required to become a doctor in college abroad.
Medical school programs in Europe are shorter than in the United States, for example. Medical school in Europe generally lasts 8 to 10 years, while a medical program in the United States takes 11 to 15 years.
Medical specializations that pay the most in Europe
According to the Work the World website, in the United Kingdom, a doctor’s salary ranges from £40,037 to £74,661 per year. Salaried general practitioners earn between £58,808 and £88,744 per year. As a consultant, their basic salary ranges from £79,860 to £107,668.
In the United Kingdom, the five highest-paying medical specialties are:
- Plastic surgery;
- Trauma and orthopedic surgery;
- Neurosurgery;
- Otorhinolaryngology;
- Cardiology.
Doctor’s salary in Europe: countries with the best salaries
Certainly, knowing which countries in Europe pay doctors the best is invaluable. Therefore, see below the list of countries that best remunerate doctors and how much they pay per year of work (on average), according to the Medic Footprints portal:
Netherlands
In the Netherlands, a specialist doctor earns €195,000 per year. General practitioners earn just over €130,000 per year. The country offers a good quality of life, safety, and a healthcare system that provides professionals with good working conditions.
Austria
In Austria, the average salary for a specialist doctor is €209,000 per year, and for a general practitioner, just over €137,000 per year. It’s worth noting that this European country speaks German, so fluency in the language is essential for practicing medicine there.
Ireland
In Ireland, a specialist doctor earns around €204,000 per year, while general practitioners earn €160,000 annually. However, despite the natural beauty, if you dislike rain, think twice before choosing to live and work in Ireland.
Switzerland
Specialists in Switzerland earn just over €220,000 per year, while a general practitioner earns around €168,000. The European country is divided into German, French, Italian, and Romansh-speaking cantons (states). However, it’s important to note that, despite the high salaries of doctors, according to Eurostat, Switzerland has the highest cost of living in Europe.
Germany
In Germany, a specialist doctor can earn over €216,000 per year, and a general practitioner, €208,000. Of course, fluency in German is essential. A very positive aspect is that, in addition to better salaries than in several other countries mentioned here, the country has an affordable cost of living, which means that the amount Germany pays its healthcare professionals is truly a good salary.
Belgium
In Belgium, specialist doctors earn an average of €323,000 per year, and general practitioners around €135,000. The country speaks French, Flemish, and in some parts, German. It offers good hospitals for healthcare professionals to work in.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg is the undisputed leader in Europe and offers the highest salaries for doctors. The small country pays specialist doctors an average of around €343,000 per year and general practitioners an average of €270,000 per year.
Tips on how to validate your diploma in Europe.
When we talk about Europe, we are referring to 50 countries. When the subject is the European Union, we are talking about 27 countries. Therefore, it is only correct to begin by saying that there is no automatic recognition of academic degrees throughout the European Union.
According to the website europa.eu, a doctor who wants to validate their diploma in Europe needs to go through a national procedure to obtain their academic degree or diploma recognized in another European Union country if they intend to be admitted to a course of further study in that country.
Therefore, if you already know that you eventually intend to continue your studies in another country, check before you begin whether your degree will be recognized there. The individual governments of the European Union countries remain responsible for their education systems and are free to apply their own rules, including the recognition, or not, of academic qualifications obtained in another country.
Therefore, ideally you should seek specific information about the country in Europe where you intend to validate your medical degree. After that, pay attention to the requirements and legal procedures involved in the validation process.
European healthcare system
Most European countries offer high-quality healthcare to their residents, regardless of their economic or social status. Furthermore, all countries in the European Union also offer a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to their citizens, meaning you can use it in case of a medical emergency.
However, we are talking about European citizens. If you are a visitor, it is mandatory that you present health insurance to the European immigration authorities for use during your visit to the continent.
It’s worth noting that almost all European countries have a universal healthcare system. Therefore, many people call it a “free healthcare” system, but in reality, it’s not free. Each country has its own rules, but a common characteristic is that all citizens must pay for their healthcare.
These are co-payments and, in Portugal, for example, a visit to the emergency room of a public hospital costs around €18. The idea is that low-income Europeans can have access to health services that they otherwise could not afford.
It’s important to note that to call an ambulance in Europe for serious medical conditions, such as injuries from car accidents or cardiac arrest, the universal emergency number for the European Union is 112. Here are some tips about healthcare in Europe:
Pharmacy: Europeans generally go to a pharmacy first for non-serious illnesses. Pharmacists in Europe are experienced and prescribe medication for simple health conditions such as fever, colds, stomach problems, coughs, joint pain, muscle aches, etc. Most European cities have 24-hour pharmacies.
Furthermore, it is important to point out that the use of medication in Europe may differ from how it is done in your country of origin. For example, in Europe, you may need prescriptions for certain medications that are readily available without a prescription in your country. Even the names may be different in many cases.
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Clinics and hospitals: Europe has some of the best clinics and hospitals in the world, and you will be amazed by their professionalism and efficiency. However, good care comes at a cost. If you are not European and do not have health insurance, you could practically go bankrupt if you have to pay for hospitalization or surgery, for example.
