About Private Practice Doctor Salaries – Detailed Explanation from Differences with Employed Doctors to Business Risks

About Private Practice Doctor Salaries

Hello everyone. Today, let's learn about "private practice doctor salaries (doctors who operate their own clinics)."

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Introduction

It's often said that "doctors have high incomes," but actually the situation is quite different between employed doctors (doctors working at hospitals) and private practice doctors (doctors managing their own clinics). Private practice doctors don't receive "salary" but rather "business income," so their profit = annual income after deducting personnel costs, rent, medical equipment lease fees, etc., from revenue.

💡 Important Point: Private practice doctors are like "company presidents" and also bear business risks. To put it simply, employed doctors are like salaried workers, while private practice doctors are like company presidents.

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Average Salaries

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (medical economic reality survey) and the National Tax Agency's private salary reality survey:

• Average employed doctor salary: Generally around 12-15 million yen
• Average private practice doctor salary: Generally around 20-30 million yen

Especially in popular medical departments in urban areas (internal medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, orthopedics, ENT, etc.), there are many patients and stable revenue, so exceeding 30 million yen is not uncommon.

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Differences by Specialty

Everyone, when you go to the hospital, there are medical departments like "internal medicine," "ophthalmology," and "dermatology," right? Actually, salaries vary quite a bit depending on these medical departments.

Ophthalmology, Dermatology, ENT

Fast consultation speed and includes private practice (LASIK, cosmetic dermatology, etc.), tending toward high income. Many exceed 30 million yen annually.

Internal Medicine, Pediatrics

High patient numbers but relatively low medical reimbursement rates. Average around 20 million yen.

Orthopedics

Investment in rehabilitation and surgical equipment is necessary, but high local demand leads to stable high income.

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Expenses and Risks

Private practice doctors are like "company presidents" and also bear business risks.

Examples of Expenses

• Staff salaries (nurses, receptionists)
• Medical equipment and pharmaceutical purchases
• Tenant rent or loans
• Conference and training fees

For example, even with 100 million yen in revenue, if expenses cost 60 million yen, the remaining 40 million yen becomes the doctor's income.

Risks

• May incur losses depending on location and competition
• Income fluctuates due to changes in medical reimbursement system (national rules)
• Initial investment (startup funds) ranges from tens of millions to 100 million yen

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Comparison with Employed Doctors

To put it simply, employed doctors are like salaried workers, while private practice doctors are like company presidents.

• Employed doctors have stable salaries (10-15 million yen)
• Private practice doctors can earn big if successful, but also risk zero income if they fail

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Conclusion

Everyone, to summarize private practice doctor salaries:

• Average private practice doctor salary is around 20-30 million yen
• Depending on specialty and location, exceeding 50 million yen is possible
• However, business risks are high, and there are cases of accumulating debt
• Employed doctors are stable, private practice doctors are high-risk, high-return

The medical profession is a world that requires "medical knowledge + business management skills." It's important to note that beyond just the financial aspect, there's also the great mission of supporting local healthcare.