The main reason for the Doctor salary difference between Canada and the USA is the healthcare system of each country. In Canada, private insurance is not allowed, which means that doctors are paid for by public money. On the other hand in the US, doctors are paid through various sources such as: patients with private insurance, patients with Medicare or Medicaid, government(taxpayers) etc.
Doctor Salary In Canada Vs Usa
Introduction
Though it may not seem like it, the United States and Canada are more similar than they are different. Both countries are known for their friendly people and their love of hockey. However, there is one major difference between these two countries: healthcare. While universal healthcare has long been a source of pride for Canadians, it’s also long been a source of scorn in the United States. However, with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) firmly in place in America, that divide is starting to close—but if you’re a doctor working in Canada or America, you’re going to see some very different things when tax time rolls around.
Anesthesiologists in Canada earn $497,000 a year, while radiologists earn $429,000, and family physicians earn $301,000.
Anesthesiologists in Canada earn $497,000 a year, while radiologists earn $429,000 and family physicians earn $301,000. These numbers are in Canadian dollars and are the average salary for these professions in Canada. In the United States, anesthesiologists make around $380,000 (average), radiologists make about $250,000 (average) and family physicians make around $149,000 (average).
The average salary for an anesthesiologist in the United States is $412,000, while radiologists earn $401,000 and family physicians earn $216,000.
- The average salary for an anesthesiologist in the United States is $412,000, while radiologists earn $401,000 and family physicians earn $216,000.
- In Canada, the average annual income for doctors is CA$307,000.
The median household income in Canada was CA$62,100 in 2017 according to Statistics Canada; this means that half of households earned less than this amount and half earned more.
Though doctors in Canada make less money on average than their peers to the south, they get major government benefits.
A Canadian doctor would make an average $51,000 per year in the United States. In Canada, the average income for a doctor is $136,000. That’s almost twice as much!
But there’s more to it than that: In addition to receiving free medical care and subsidized child care and elder care services (which cost them between 3% and 5% of their income), Canadian doctors also keep about 80% of what they’re paid by patients compared with only 50% for American doctors. So even though American physicians have higher salaries, they still aren’t keeping as much cash from each session or procedure as their Canadian counterparts do—and they often have to pay out-of-pocket for malpractice insurance.
Simply put: if you want to be paid more and your goal isn’t solely financial success but also career fulfillment and job satisfaction, then moving across the border may not be worth it; after all, being able to provide free healthcare isn’t exactly an easy feat!
Doctors in Canada pay between 3% and 5% of their income into the national healthcare system and receive free medical care as well as subsidized child care and elder care.
Doctors in Canada pay between 3% and 5% of their income into the national healthcare system and receive free medical care as well as subsidized child care and elder care.
This is not a tax, but rather a contribution to cover healthcare costs for all Canadians. Doctors in Canada pay the same amount of taxes as other citizens do on their income.
Doctors in the U.S. make more money than their Canadian counterparts but also have to pay a large amount of it toward medical and liability insurance.
The difference in salary between Canada and the United States is due to two main factors:
- The cost of living.
- Taxes.
Doctors in the U.S. do get to keep some of their income but lose many benefits that their Canadian peers receive free of charge.
In the United States, doctors keep more of their income but pay much more for medical and liability insurance, as well as malpractice insurance. In Canada, doctors don’t have to worry about paying for any of these things.
Conclusion
While it might seem like the U.S. is a better place for doctors to practice, there are a lot of factors that affect their income and quality of life. Between medical insurance, liability insurance, and other benefits, the average doctor in America can end up spending thousands out of pocket every month just to work as a physician. In Canada, doctors have all those expenses covered by the national healthcare system and don’t need to worry about paying for their own health care or retirement savings. The moral of this story? Choose your career wisely!