Forbes' best paying jobs for doctors, 2014

[Magoun]

Finally, a list of high paying specialties that doesn't have anesthesiologists on it:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kathryndill/2014/07/25/the-best-paying-jobs-for-doctors/

One of the biggest reasons that the CMS anesthesia conversion factor has never been fixed is because we are constantly showing up in the top 3 specialties for pay, so there is no political will to fix the problem -- even though the General Accounting Office picked up on this in a 2007 report (see http://www.anesthesiallc.com/index....blem-the-low-low-anesthesia-conversion-factor for more info on this).

As medicare continues to expand (as Blade would forecast to all citizens in the not-to-distant-future) this will be more and more of a problem. How can we as a specialty be shifting the public perception of anesthesiologists to fix the private/public insurance reimbursement discrepancy?

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[BLADEMDA]

The Best-Paying Jobs For Doctors

1. NeurosurgeryAverage: $591,000

2. Urology
Average: $504,000

3. Orthopedic Surgery
Average: $488,000

4. Cardiology (Invasive)
Average: $454,000
(Tied with Gastroenterology)

4. Gastroenterology
Average: $454,000
(Tied with Cardiology – Invasive)

6. Cardiology (Non-Invasive)
Average: $442,000

7. Hematology/Oncology
Average: $377,000

8. Otolaryngology
Average: $372,000

9. Pulmonology
Average: $358,000


10. General Surgery
Average: $354,000

 

[BLADEMDA]

Every one of my private opractice colleagues is earning more money than I posted above. The numbers listed are about $200k off in my opinion. Only ENT is close but even then you can easily add $100k to the income of a busy ENT Physician.

 

[gasdoc77]

Every one of my private opractice colleagues is earning more money than I posted above. The numbers listed are about $200k off in my opinion. Only ENT is close but even then you can easily add $100k to the income of a busy ENT Physician.

Blade,
I assume you mean your PP colleagues of THOSE respective specialties. I don't want someone trolling to interpret that you meant each one of your anesthesiology private practice colleagues makes more than those numbers, which I couldn't imagine to be the case.

 

[gasdoc77]

I only point this out because I frequently feel that other specialties' incomes are under reported (compared to ours) on the articles that are used as fuel against us.

 

[BLADEMDA]

Blade,
I assume you mean your PP colleagues of THOSE respective specialties. I don't want someone trolling to interpret that you meant each one of your anesthesiology private practice colleagues makes more than those numbers, which I couldn't imagine to be the case.

Yes. My comments refer to those specialties.

 

[Spinach Dip]

I thought OMFS would be on the list (or is that included under another heading)???

 

[BuzzPhreed]

Finally. A list that is actually correct. Every one of those specialists in my hospital are making far more than those averages. A neurosurgical friend of mine is closer to $950k. So, I still think these lists are "conservative".

 

[Mman]

Every one of my private opractice colleagues is earning more money than I posted above. The numbers listed are about $200k off in my opinion. Only ENT is close but even then you can easily add $100k to the income of a busy ENT Physician.

You ever see what they collect for things like BMT or tonsillectomy? Pretty sure our ENTs are right around $1M per year. I mean when you can do 15 or 20 procedures in a day and operate 3 days a week you tend to bring in some serious dough.

 

[IlDestriero]

Our ENT non research clinical beasts make in the 900s.
Neuro, ortho spine, and cardiac are all over 1M.

 

[dmk5n]

These surveys that are fed to the public... they never take into account the fact that many of these surgical sub specialties own ambulatory surgery centers. Or that facility fees are 3X as much as Pro fees...So those guys are earning much much more...Many ortho centers employ PMR docs for rehab AND pain and take the lion's share of those profits. A dirty business. All GI centers are moving to that F-ing company model and double bill for anesthesia services on top of other services. A dirty business. A shame our organization is not more effective.

 

[sleepallday]

But do any of you think these numbers are a little deceiving? Most of my surgical and pain doc friends always complain of 40%ish overhead they have.

 

[BLADEMDA]

But do any of you think these numbers are a little deceiving? Most of my surgical and pain doc friends always complain of 40%ish overhead they have.

No. Despite the overhead the numbers are low.

 

[IlDestriero]

But do any of you think these numbers are a little deceiving? Most of my surgical and pain doc friends always complain of 40%ish overhead they have.

No because these income figures are what the physicians earn, not what they bill, etc. so overhead is already out. They are all a bit different and may or may not contain bonuses, incentive comp, etc. But they are all after expenses.