Salary comparison · 2026
Surgeon salary by country
The pay gap between the highest and lowest market for the same surgeon role is 3x. Employer location is the single biggest salary lever in this career.
A surgeon earns the most in United States, with a 2026 median of $350,000 per year, and the least of these 12 markets in Spain at $115,000. Full comparison below, entry level to senior.
| Country | Entry | Median | Senior | Local median | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | $250k | $350k | $650k | $350k | Details → |
| 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | $215k | $300k | $555k | AED 1100k | Details → |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | $210k | $295k | $550k | CHF 260k | Details → |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | $200k | $280k | $520k | A$420k | Details → |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | $200k | $280k | $520k | S$375k | Details → |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | $190k | $265k | $490k | C$360k | Details → |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $130k | $180k | $335k | €165k | Details → |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $125k | $175k | $320k | €160k | Details → |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | $125k | $175k | $325k | €160k | Details → |
| 🇫🇷 France | $110k | $150k | $280k | €140k | Details → |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | $100k | $140k | $260k | £110k | Details → |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | $82k | $115k | $215k | €105k | Details → |
Career guide
How to become a surgeon
What surgeons really earn in the US, UK and EU, why the American premium is enormous, and the brutal 13+ year path from undergrad to the operating room.
Read the full profile →
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Gross annual estimates from the Paygrade research dataset, updated 7 July 2026. Method explained on the methodology page.