February 8, 2025

Singapore’s healthcare system is among the most advanced in Asia, and doctors here are some of the highest-paid professionals. Salaries vary significantly depending on specialization, experience, and whether a doctor works in the public or private sector. General practitioners, specialists, and surgeons all fall into different earning brackets, with some commanding significantly higher salaries than others.
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General practitioners, who serve as the first point of contact for patients, earn an average monthly salary ranging from S$3,750 to S$6,500 in their early years. As they gain experience, senior doctors in this category can expect monthly earnings between S$10,000 and S$25,000. While these figures represent stable earnings, they do not reach the upper salaries seen in specialized medical fields.
Specialists undergo years of additional training and earn significantly more than general practitioners. Internal medicine specialists in Singapore make an average annual salary of around S$240,825, translating to approximately S$20,000 per month. Cardiology, oncology, and orthopedic surgery are among the highest-paying medical specialties, with top consultants earning well over S$500,000 per year in private practice.
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The private sector offers even greater earning potential. Doctors working in private hospitals or running their own clinics often surpass public sector salaries. While government-employed doctors follow a structured pay scale, private practitioners have greater control over consultation fees and patient volumes, often pushing their earnings significantly higher. On average, a doctor in Singapore earns about S$16,550 per month, but those in private practice can see much higher incomes depending on their specialization and reputation.
Experience plays a critical role in determining how much a doctor can earn. Junior doctors fresh out of medical school earn lower salaries, but income rises steadily with years of practice. A newly qualified specialist in a hospital may earn around S$12,000 per month, while an experienced consultant can make more than S$30,000 per month in public healthcare settings. In private practice, these numbers can double.
Surgeons consistently rank among the highest-paid medical professionals. Specialists in neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery, and plastic surgery command salaries that far exceed other medical disciplines due to the complexity of their procedures and the high demand for their expertise. A top private surgeon in Singapore can earn well over S$1 million annually, making them some of the best-compensated professionals in the country.
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While salaries in the medical field are lucrative, becoming a doctor in Singapore requires years of training, long working hours, and significant financial investment. Medical school tuition, licensing exams, and specialization training come with high costs. The payoff is clear for those who complete their training and build a strong reputation in their field, but the journey to high earnings is long.
Despite the high salaries, some doctors face burnout and work-life balance challenges. Public sector doctors often work extended hours, while private practitioners must continuously manage patient relationships and clinic operations. The financial rewards are substantial, but the demands of the job remain equally high.
For aspiring doctors, understanding salary structures in Singapore helps in making career decisions. Whether working as a general practitioner, pursuing specialization, or transitioning into private practice, earnings will largely depend on experience, discipline, and market demand. Those who climb the ranks in high-paying specialties and enter the private sector will ultimately earn the most in Singapore’s competitive medical field.
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