Radiologists earn most among individual clincs

Radiology clinics top the list of medical disciplines in terms of income, while Oriental medicine practitioners are at the bottom.

According to a survey by the National Tax Service (NTS) on the income of 62,260 hospitals and clinics from 2006-2008, radiologists made an average 913 million won in 2008, up 34 percent from 681 million won in 2006. The growth of their income reached 15.5 percent.

Ophthalmologists came second with the 2008 average income of 728 million won.

Third were orthopedists and “general surgeons,” who reported an average income of 676 million won, and then OB/GYN specialists, with 650 million won.

Neuro-psychiatrists came next with 535 million won, while dermatologists and urologists made 450 million won.

Also on the list were otorhinolaryngology clinics that reported an average income of 374 million won and plastic surgeons with 391 million won.

Despite the widespread myth about wealthy dentists, they reported about 388 million won in annual income.

Oriental medicine practitioners were surveyed to make 234 million won, reflecting the declining popularity. Their income growth over the three-year period was less than 3 percent, the lowest among those surveyed.

Veterinarians’ average income was 58 million won.

General hospitals reported their income down 19.5 percent from 3.62 billion won in 2006 to 2.91 billion won in 2008. During the three-year period, their number rose from 158 to 1,673.

Hospitals specializing in Oriental medicine saw their income up 41 percent in the same period.

Tax officials say that the hospitals and clinics reported a combined 27.7 trillion won in income in 2008, up from 22.5 trillion won. Their average income was 446 million won, up 15.1 percent from that in 2006.