Registration & Pathways
Doctor Salaries Around the World: Which Country Pays the Most?
Oct
Working as a doctor abroad offers both high social status and competitive pay.
In this article, we’ll compare doctors’ salaries across major English-speaking countries, focusing on three key career stages that IMGs often experience:
- Resident (Junior Doctor)
- Fellow (Specialty Doctor)
- Attending (Consultant)
Note that job titles and responsibilities vary slightly between the U.S. and U.K. systems, but for clarity, we’ve aligned these three ranks across all countries.
All salary data is sourced from Glassdoor, based on self-reported figures from doctors working in each country. The data reflects 2024 averages.
Resident (Junior Doctor)
Residents are doctors still undergoing clinical training—equivalent to medical interns or early trainees in many systems.
Below are the 2024 estimated base salaries for residents in each country:
| Country | Annual Salary (Local Currency) |
|---|---|
| United States | US$52K – US$93K |
| Canada | CA$59K – CA$74K |
| United Kingdom | £31K – £44K |
| Australia | AU$68K – AU$78K |
| New Zealand | NZ$65K – NZ$71K |
| Singapore | SG$96K – SG$150K |
These figures represent base pay only.Overtime, weekend, and night-shift allowances can increase actual income by about 1.5× on average.
Singapore is a special case: although junior doctors start around SG$6,000 per month, they receive a full annual bonus—effectively doubling their income. Post-internship Resident Physicians (RPs) earn between SG$96K and SG$150K annually, among the highest in the world.
Graduates from certain accredited universities may even be eligible to begin directly as RPs in Singapore (see our related article for details).
Fellow (Specialty Doctor)
The medical fellow or specialty doctor typically corresponds to a newly certified specialist.
Salaries vary by specialty and experience, but 2024 base ranges are as follows:
| Country | Annual Salary (Local Currency) |
|---|---|
| United States | US$62K – US$114K |
| Canada | CA$63K – CA$96K |
| United Kingdom | £39K – £49K |
| Australia | AU$100K – AU$147K |
| New Zealand | NZ$94K – NZ$111K |
| Singapore | N/A |
While differences appear small, cost of living makes a major impact.
For example, U.K. salaries under the National Health Service (NHS) are strictly regulated, and actual take-home pay may differ from official pay scales.
For IMGs entering the system, note that you’ll usually start at the lower end of the salary band until your prior experience is formally recognized.
Attending (Consultant)
The attending physician—called a consultant in the U.K.—is the most senior hospital doctor, responsible for both patient care and trainee supervision.
Below are 2024 base salaries for this level:
| Country | Annual Salary (Local Currency) |
|---|---|
| United States | US$192K – US$341K |
| Canada | CA$100K – CA$276K |
| United Kingdom | £40K – £97K |
| Australia | AU$248K – AU$458K |
| New Zealand | NZ$102K – NZ$140K |
| Singapore | N/A |
The U.S. and Australia clearly lead in compensation, with base salaries exceeding US$190,000 and AU$240,000 respectively.
However, for most IMGs, entry at this level is rare; typically, one begins as a specialty doctor or fellow before promotion to consultant.
Summary
Across major English-speaking countries:
- Salary differences are modest at the resident and fellow levels.
- At the attending/consultant level, compensation rises sharply—especially in the U.S. and Australia.
- Specialty choice also matters: surgeons and procedural specialists often earn several times more than general physicians.
For IMGs planning to work abroad, strong English proficiency is the first step.
All these countries require test results such as OET for licensing or registration.
If you’re preparing for OET, consider exploring our practice resources at OET Bank.
We’re designed not just as mock tests, but as powerful review tools that make it easier to analyze weaknesses and focus on what’s needed to pass.
