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Salary Intelligence
Estimated doctor (physician) pay in 43 countries — gross, after-tax net, and purchasing-power-equivalent net — ranked by how far the take-home actually goes.
Where does a doctor (physician) earn the most after tax?
A mid-level doctor (physician) earns an estimated $165,865 net in the US (~3.9× the national median). After tax and local prices, that level of pay stretches furthest in lower-tax, lower-cost destinations — Singapore (~$250,406 PPP-equivalent net), United Arab Emirates (~$186,583 PPP-equivalent net), Switzerland (~$186,324 PPP-equivalent net) — while nominal take-home is highest in Switzerland (~$248,205/yr). Figures are modelled from each country's national median wage; a planning guide, not a job offer.
Key facts
US benchmark: $230,000EstimatedWhereNext modelled estimate · scaled to each country's national median.
⚠️ Licensing & credential recognition required
Practising medicine abroad requires recognition of your medical degree plus local licensing exams (e.g. USMLE in the US, PLAB/GMC registration in the UK, or the national medical board elsewhere) and often language certification. The pay below is only attainable after you are licensed to practise.
Set your experience level, rank by purchasing power or nominal take-home, and highlight your country.
| # | Country | Est. gross | PPP-equiv net |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | $209,097 | $250,406 |
| 2 | United Arab Emirates | $134,617 | $186,583 |
| 3 | Switzerland | $312,909 | $186,324 |
| 4 | United States | $230,000 | $165,865 |
| 5 | Germany | $217,957 | $149,853 |
| 6 | Poland | $73,398 | $145,865 |
| 7 | Canada | $178,662 | $142,814 |
| 8 | Australia | $217,333 | $133,690 |
| 9 | Lithuania | $100,197 | $132,617 |
| 10 | Estonia | $108,959 | $131,771 |
| 11 | Finland | $182,904 | $129,934 |
| 12 | United Kingdom | $192,207 | $124,512 |
| 13 | Luxembourg | $247,130 | $121,417 |
| 14 | Hungary | $86,212 | $120,980 |
| 15 | Iceland | $254,821 | $115,939 |
| 16 | Netherlands | $188,352 | $114,317 |
| 17 | Slovakia | $92,075 | $112,388 |
| 18 | Czechia | $86,091 | $112,307 |
| 19 | Thailand | $43,400 | $109,359 |
| 20 | Latvia | $95,022 | $108,206 |
| 21 | France | $140,999 | $108,154 |
| 22 | Japan | $133,961 | $106,492 |
| 23 | South Korea | $116,897 | $106,202 |
| 24 | Denmark | $251,698 | $104,113 |
| 25 | Ireland | $187,750 | $102,844 |
| 26 | New Zealand | $138,038 | $99,296 |
| 27 | Norway | $207,523 | $99,154 |
| 28 | Spain | $121,398 | $98,131 |
| 29 | Austria | $168,757 | $97,295 |
| 30 | Turkey | $41,593 | $93,122 |
| 31 | Sweden | $174,111 | $87,684 |
| 32 | Italy | $123,039 | $87,048 |
| 33 | Belgium | $185,086 | $84,914 |
| 34 | Portugal | $94,239 | $73,577 |
| 35 | Chile | $46,615 | $72,687 |
| 36 | Slovenia | $119,143 | $71,323 |
| 37 | Israel | $149,280 | $67,332 |
| 38 | Greece | $78,531 | $64,197 |
| 39 | South Africa | $40,458 | $59,320 |
| 40 | Brazil | $32,331 | $55,900 |
| 41 | Mexico | $24,723 | $43,948 |
| 42 | Vietnam | $15,010 | $41,420 |
| 43 | Colombia | $16,869 | $39,757 |
Ranked by purchasing power (after-tax pay restated in US price terms). Experience tiers scale the role's base pay and are re-taxed per country — a modelled estimate, not a survey.
Doctor (Physician) estimates · Source: National median wage surveys (OECD AV_AN_WAGE, Eurostat SES, national statistical offices) + WhereNext tax engine · Last verified Jun 22, 2026 (3 weeks ago)
Gross pay erodes to take-home after tax, then adjusts for local prices — a mid-level estimate, every step sourced.
Verified · National medians (Eurostat / national stats) · US BLS OEWS May 2024 · World Bank ICP 2021 (PPP)
Keep rate 89% · net $186,219 · real value $250,406 (your money goes further here)
| Step | USD/yr | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $209,097 | Estimated gross for the role. |
| − Income tax & social | −$22,878 | Resident tax brackets; you keep 89%. |
| Net (after tax) | $186,219 | Take-home in nominal USD. |
| + Local prices (PPP) | +$64,187 | Cheaper than the US — your net buys more. |
| Real value (PPP-equiv. net) | $250,406 | What the net is worth in US price terms. |
Grey = take-home in nominal USD · green = what it's worth after local prices (PPP). The gap is why the highest-paying country isn't always where you keep the most.
Verified · National medians (Eurostat / national stats) · US BLS OEWS May 2024 · World Bank ICP 2021 (PPP)
| Country | Nominal net | Real value | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | $186,219 | $250,406 | +$64,187 |
| United Arab Emirates | $134,617 | $186,583 | +$51,966 |
| Switzerland | $248,205 | $186,324 | −$61,881 |
| United States | $165,865 | $165,865 | +$0 |
| Germany | $123,410 | $149,853 | +$26,443 |
| Poland | $62,020 | $145,865 | +$83,845 |
| Canada | $136,639 | $142,814 | +$6,175 |
| Australia | $149,048 | $133,690 | −$15,358 |
Net take-home (up) against cost of living (right). Top-left = high pay, low cost — where the money goes furthest. Lines mark the medians.
Verified · National medians (Eurostat / national stats) · US BLS OEWS May 2024 · World Bank ICP 2021 (PPP)
● sweet spot (high pay, low cost) · ● other countries · cost of living = World Bank ICP 2021 price level relative to the US.
| Country | Net take-home | Cost (US=100) | Real value | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | $186,219 | 74 | $250,406 | Sweet spot |
| United Arab Emirates | $134,617 | 72 | $186,583 | Sweet spot |
| Switzerland | $248,205 | 133 | $186,324 | |
| United States | $165,865 | 100 | $165,865 | |
| Germany | $123,410 | 82 | $149,853 | |
| Poland | $62,020 | 43 | $145,865 | |
| Canada | $136,639 | 96 | $142,814 | |
| Australia | $149,048 | 111 | $133,690 | |
| Lithuania | $67,613 | 51 | $132,617 | |
| Estonia | $85,424 | 65 | $131,771 | Sweet spot |
| Finland | $126,496 | 97 | $129,934 | |
| United Kingdom | $119,739 | 96 | $124,512 | |
| Luxembourg | $140,668 | 116 | $121,417 | |
| Hungary | $57,331 | 47 | $120,980 | |
| Iceland | $140,602 | 121 | $115,939 | |
| Netherlands | $104,482 | 91 | $114,317 | |
| Slovakia | $65,513 | 58 | $112,388 | |
| Czechia | $60,180 | 54 | $112,307 | |
| Thailand | $36,925 | 34 | $109,359 | |
| Latvia | $62,436 | 58 | $108,206 | |
| France | $88,621 | 82 | $108,154 | |
| Japan | $95,570 | 90 | $106,492 | |
| South Korea | $80,801 | 76 | $106,202 | Sweet spot |
| Denmark | $112,200 | 108 | $104,113 | |
| Ireland | $113,540 | 110 | $102,844 | |
| New Zealand | $97,424 | 98 | $99,296 | |
| Norway | $115,093 | 116 | $99,154 | |
| Spain | $72,311 | 74 | $98,131 | |
| Austria | $85,293 | 88 | $97,295 | |
| Turkey | $25,930 | 28 | $93,122 | |
| Sweden | $90,081 | 103 | $87,684 | |
| Italy | $67,060 | 77 | $87,048 | |
| Belgium | $74,295 | 87 | $84,914 | |
| Portugal | $48,475 | 66 | $73,577 | |
| Chile | $40,050 | 55 | $72,687 | |
| Slovenia | $47,214 | 66 | $71,323 | |
| Israel | $79,552 | 118 | $67,332 | |
| Greece | $40,988 | 64 | $64,197 | |
| South Africa | $28,849 | 49 | $59,320 | |
| Brazil | $23,680 | 42 | $55,900 | |
| Mexico | $20,622 | 47 | $43,948 | |
| Vietnam | $12,067 | 29 | $41,420 | |
| Colombia | $13,766 | 35 | $39,757 |
The cost axis is a country-level index. For a category-by-category breakdown (rent, groceries, transport…) across 95 countries and 380 cities, use the cost-of-living calculator.
Modelled estimate, not survey data. Each profession figure is the country's national median wage scaled by the role's skill premium — a directional model, not a per-role salary survey. It is for a mid-level professional and varies widely by employer, seniority, bonus, equity, contract type and tax regime. Net is modelled via WhereNext's tax engine and is not tax or employment advice — verify with an employer or qualified advisor before making decisions.
Turn this into a decision built around your real salary, family situation and shortlist — with tax, cost-of-living and next-step checks.
On purchasing-power-equivalent net income, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Switzerland lead for a mid-level doctor (physician). On raw nominal take-home, Switzerland is highest (~$248,205/yr). High nominal pay doesn't always win once local prices are factored in.
The countries near the top of the purchasing-power ranking — where after-tax pay buys the most locally — give a doctor (physician) the most room to save. Use the cost-of-living calculator for a city-level rent and living-cost breakdown before deciding.
They are a model, not a per-role salary survey. Each figure is the country's primary-sourced national median wage (OECD, Eurostat, national statistical offices) scaled by the doctor (physician) skill premium and a tradability factor, then netted through WhereNext's tax engine. Treat them as a directional planning guide and verify any specific offer with the employer.
No. They model base salary with domestic resident tax only. Bonuses, equity and special expat regimes (e.g. Portugal's IFICI, Spain's Beckham Law, the US FEIE) can change take-home pay substantially.
Local-market salaries for the role in each country — not a foreign salary paid while living abroad. If you keep your current salary and relocate, use the salary calculator's remote-worker mode and check tax residency rules.