Re: How much do you get paid a year for being a brain surgeon?

I just composed a long response only to have this bloody response page crash.

My language does not approach that of a gentleman currently.

However, at least I may prove a bit more brief.

This is a complicated question, because the salary of a surgeon depends upon his level of training. After sinking into obscene debt as a medical student, a surgeon spends about 5-8 years training. This depends on the specialty. During this time he starts as an intern in America, or "Senior House Officer" in the British systems--both euphamisms for "peon"--making about $30,000 a year. This sounds good until you consider he works easily 100 hours a week. He also takes all night call--and works the next day-- about every other to every third night. Do the math and he makes less than the minumum wage per hour. Interns often ask patients, "do you want fries with that?"

I then rambled on and on about the increasing responsibilities of the training levels--"Residents" in the U.S.; "Registrars" in the U.K. systems. These are euphamisms for "slave." They train under "full-fledged" surgeons- -"Attendings" in the U.S. and "Consultants" in the U.K. systems. They will finish with a salary of $40-45,000.

Now the fun begins. . . .

Fully trained, a neurosurgeon either enters "private practice" or "academics." "Private practice" gives the reputation for $$$ A neurosurgeon can make between $250,000-1,000,000 a year. This sounds great; however, there are a few things to remember. The poor slob has made little money for over a decade--while his friends have advanced in their careers, bought big cars while his is held together by duct tape, eat at the fine restaurants, while he eats at McDonalds [Get on with it!--Ed.]

Right . . . sorry, so he is "behind" in earnings compared to others his age. He is also in debt that would make a third-world country shiver. He is also "private"--he pays for his equipment, office, and staff. Thus, his "big salary" must pay for all of this. It also has to pay for "malpractice insurance." The more "scary" the profession, the more money you make. Fine. However, when something goes "wrong"--the potential litigation can prove severe. Now, in the United States, anyone can try to sue. Granted, in the vast majority, nothing went "wrong"--doctors have no magic wands--but litigation costs money.

Most important, however, is the surgeon has to work for the money. Surgeons start work about the same time they did in training and can operate all day and into the evening. Also, as "private" the surgeon takes care of everything--paper work, patient care, clinic, and "call."

So . . . he is compensated, but he has to work for it. Weekends? People are sick on weekends, so the surgeon will work on the weekend.

Academics has some benefits. First, you have interns and residents who you train which take care of--let us be blunt--"crap"--paper work, day-to-day care. The nearly fully trained Chief Resident will go to the hospital at 3 A.M. to see the emergency while you sleep and call you only if you have to operate. In private practice YOU go in.

However, you do have to train young doctors. Academic programs tend to pay for things you would have paid for--insurance, staff, and offices. If you enjoy research, you may have a lab with scurrying graduate students doing your bidding to help you become famous--at least amongst your fellow surgeons.

You WILL get paid a lot less. The salary is $80,000-$250,000. However, you have benefits noted above that can balance. Finally, "academic" centers often attract the "wierd" cases--exciting stuff that is rare in general private practice. Thus, a neurosurgeon in "the real world" may see less than ten exciting cerebral aneurysms [A defect of the brain vessels that requires intresting surgery.--Ed.] while his academic counterpart may see 100 in some centers!

Apologies for the length, but this is a good but complicated question. I know of a spine surgeon who makes easily $500,000 a year if not more like $1,000,000. Neat!

However, he operates every day and nearly every weekend.

If you want to make a lot of money and not work for it, become a laywer [STOP THAT!!--Ed.] Sorry! Unfair insult to my lawyer friends.

-- Doctor X