Economic factors that influence Doctors salary?

I have been always wondering why most MDs and Doctors in the US get paid more then other professions. Is it the insurance industry, or the standard of living, or the legal litigations, or is it merely a bubble? What has jacked up the salary of Doctors in the US only whereas in other parts of the world such as Great Britain, some EU, and India you could get the same or better treatment for fractions? What would be the influence on the US economy if insurance industry is forced to “cool down”? I do not believe that doctors perform risky tasks and hence they should get paid more. It’s the nature of their profession and it should be expected going in. An airline pilot takes as much or more risk as do doctors and yet they are no way nearly as compensated. Also, if risk were the influencing factors, why do doctors in other countries not make as much? Any thoughts?

It takes more education to become a doctor in the US, since you have to go to college first and then go to medical school. There are also fewer medical school spots/population in the US compared to other countries like the UK. This makes the field more competitive and reduces the supply of doctors. Additionally, much of the medical care in other countries is provided by the governments of those countries. Naturally, doctors who work in government hospitals get paid peanuts. I disagree about the care in other countries being the “same or better” than the US, at least for people who are not poor. I also disagree that doctors do not perform risky tasks.

Contrary to your original suggestion, the average salaries for physicians have actually gone down with the emergence of HMO’s a couple decades ago, as well as recent changes in healthcare policy and reimbursement schedules, primarily for Medicaid but also for Medicare. So, while salaries for doctors in the US may be higher than those of doctors elsewhere, the quality of life and pay prospects have actually deteriorated tremendously since the mid-1970’s.

Doctors and surgeons are probably the most underpaid professionals in the country.

^I sure as hell know I wouldn’t want to have their jobs for the money

achilles Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I have been always wondering why most MDs and > Doctors in the US get paid more then other > professions. Is it the insurance industry, or the > standard of living, or the legal litigations, or > is it merely a bubble? > > What has jacked up the salary of Doctors in the US > only whereas in other parts of the world such as > Great Britain, some EU, and India you could get > the same or better treatment for fractions? > > What would be the influence on the US economy if > insurance industry is forced to “cool down”? > > I do not believe that doctors perform risky tasks > and hence they should get paid more. It’s the > nature of their profession and it should be > expected going in. An airline pilot takes as much > or more risk as do doctors and yet they are no way > nearly as compensated. Also, if risk were the > influencing factors, why do doctors in other > countries not make as much? > > Any thoughts? Airline pilot as much risk as a doctor? Are you f’ing kidding me?

So how much do you guys think doctors should get paid? $300-500k seems pretty good to me.

^It depends on the work they do. A brain surgeon has a high-stress job, may not necessarily work more hours, but should get paid that much. A small-time family practitioner I guess should get 150 - 200? I’m not entirely sure how much they do or should make.

Why the hell dentist get 140-200K?

pupdawg82 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Why the hell dentist get 140-200K? Is that how much dentists make? I’m jealous :slight_smile: One of my college friends just became a dentist after graduating from a top dental school. It must be a pretty nasty job though.

Extra points for anyone here who can name a “top dental school”.

Not sure where it ranks, but a really good friend of mine just graduated from UF’s dental school. She’s ridiculously smart and would only have gone to a top school. So my vote goes to Florida. Edit - Agree with numi. Every list has completely different top schools. Maryland, Texas, Havard, Michigan, Penn were some standards.

Hello Mister Walrus Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Extra points for anyone here who can name a “top > dental school”. Harvard, Penn, Columbia, UCSF, Michigan, UCLA, Washington…those are all pretty good I think? That’s according to some family members that are in orthodontics or oral surgery, but there seem to be less clarity about rankings for dental schools as there is for medical schools, business schools, or undergraduate institutions…

Hello Mister Walrus Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Extra points for anyone here who can name a “top > dental school”. Easy bro, Colgate. /sarcasm

I think Tufts’ dental school is supposed to be pretty good.

Nice one, nuppal…

Physician compensation varies considerably in the US depending on specialty, geography and patient population. Family docs clear far less than people actually think, while cardiologists and neurologists can pull down a mint.

Tuft is good, Washington is a top medical school though

It makes sense that doctors should make more if they specialize, but the disparity between a general practitioner and, say, a radiologist, cardiologist or orthopedist is kind of appalling. I actually think it is a symptom of some of the issues with HC in the States: focus resources on treating the sickness, not prevention or early detection. Specialists should definitely make more, but I think making multiples of general practitioners is excessive.