New income study brings transparency
The incomes of physicians in Switzerland are significantly higher than previous surveys would have suggested. A study commissioned by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) shows that self-employed specialists have an annual median income of 257,000 Swiss francs. In some specialties, the median income is over 600,000 Swiss francs.
The from the BAG commissioned study presents comprehensive data on the income situation of self-employed and employed specialists in the years 2009 - 2014. It is based on income subject to AHV and achieves a high coverage of around 90 percent. The incomes were also standardized to full-time positions, which is important for a meaningful comparison due to the increasing part-time work.
Among self-employed physicians, there are large differences in income depending on the specialty. The highest median incomes are achieved in neurosurgery (697,000 Swiss francs) and gastroenterology (627,000 Swiss francs). Median income means that one half of the group has a lower income and the other half a higher income. Income achieved. For primary care physicians, the median income is 237,000 Swiss francs. The lowest incomes are recorded in the specialties of child and adolescent psychiatry (CHF 183,000) and psychiatry and psychotherapy (CHF 195,000). The incomes of self-employed physicians are probably underestimated, because purchases by self-employed physicians into the pension fund, as well as dividend payments to corporations, are not subject to AHV contributions.
The average incomes are significantly higher than the median incomes: Self-employed physicians have in the Neurosurgery an average income of 818,000, in gastroenterology of 684,000 and in oncology of 600,000 francs. Primary care physicians earn an average of 264,000 francs, psychiatrists 219,000 francs and child and adolescent psychiatrists 187,000 francs. Large differences between median and average incomes can arise when many lower to middle incomes are offset by a few very high incomes that pull up the average.
There are also major differences by specialty among salaried specialists. The highest median incomes, at over 300,000 Swiss francs each, are recorded by specialists in hand surgery, radiology, gastroenterology and cardiac surgery. Ten percent of these specialists earn over half a million francs a year.
Female doctors earn less
What stands out in the data analysis are the systematic differences in income between men and women. Physicians' incomes are substantially higher than those of female physicians at +29 percent. This difference remains even when professional experience, specialty and sector of activity are taken into account. At most, other factors play a role in the difference.
Between 2009 and 2014, self-employed physicians were able to record an increase in income in almost all specialty groups. On average, it amounts to 2.5 percent. The incomes of salaried physicians, on the other hand, fell by an average of 5 percent between 2009 and 2014. The proportion of women has risen particularly sharply among salaried physicians, which can at least partly explain the wage trend.
More info
