Figures released by the Bureau of Labour statistics and published by Vox show the nine highest paid jobs in the U.S. in 2013 were in health care.
The results have once again drawn attention to the controversial costs of American health care
Anesthesiologists were paid the highest mean wage at $235,100 annually followed closely by surgeons at $233,200.
Behind the 10th highest paid profession—chief executives ($178, 400)—spots 11 through 14 were also comprised of health-care professionals including pediatricians ($170,500), dental specialists ($170,300), dental generalists ($164,600) and nurse anesthetists ($157,700).
The data, originally compiled into chart form by Reddit user Dan Lin, can be viewed here.
The results have once again drawn attention to the controversial costs of American health care, especially when contrasted with the cost of the same services in other countries.
According to a study published in the policy journal Health Affairs, primary care physicians in the U.S. earned an average of $186,582 while those in the U.K. earned $159,532 and those in Australia only earned $92,844.
Orthopedic surgeons earned an average of $442,450, compared to only $154,380 in France and $324,138 in the U.K.
In Canada, fees for hip replacement paid to these orthopedic surgeons are about $625 while in the U.S. it’s about $1,634.
That said, one doctor, Kevin Pho, has argued that while these salaries seem rather high, they make up only a small portion (20%) of total national health spending and much of that percentage goes towards professional expenses such as malpractice premiums.
He also commented on the French health care comparisons, explaining that medical education and malpractice premiums are almost non-existent.
So, “if you want to pay me like a French doctor, also give me the French cost of medical school and the French medical malpractice system,” he wrote.
(Written by Tristan Bronca on June 25, 2014 for The Medical Post)
