There are many factors that contribute to how much surgeons make each year, including cost of living and practice setting.
Neurosurgery is the highest paying physician specialty in the U.S., according to Doximity's "2023 Physician Compensation Report," which lists the average neurosurgeon salary at $788,313.
Two neurosurgeons recently spoke with Becker's about whether they feel fairly compensated and the factors affecting compensation in their field.
Editor's note: These responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: Do you feel like you are fairly compensated as a surgeon? Why or why not?
Armond Levy, MD. St. Louis Neurosurgery: I do not feel fairly compensated as a surgeon. Practice overhead and cost of living are rising, reimbursement is decreasing and the hassles of insurance, various credentialing forms and worsening malpractice exposure render the daily joys of medical/surgical practice less and less net-positive.
Wilson Ray, MD. Professor of Neurosurgery, Executive Vice Chair of Neurological Surgery and Chief of Spine Surgery at the Washington University School of Medicine: In terms of compensation, I believe it is relatively fair considering the responsibilities and the complexity of the services provided. Surgeon compensation reflects not only the years of rigorous training and education required but also the ongoing commitment to innovation and best practices.
However, it's important to recognize that compensation varies widely depending on geographic location, practice and/or employment type and the healthcare system's structure.
The landscape is changing as surgeons recognize the value they provide to a hospital via ancillary services and facility fees along with providing call coverage. The fair market value for the aggregate of what surgeons provide to the hospital/facility is going to increase and the subsequent expectation of salary will also likely increase.