The Top 4 Countries For Healthcare Careers

Within the healthcare industry, it’s not uncommon for qualified professionals to pursue immigration in order to earn higher incomes or find a better work/life balance.

But which country is best for working in the medical field? Where can nurses and doctors find high-paying jobs in public health care? And what are the practical paths to immigration?

1. Switzerland

In terms of raw pay, you’ll find few countries offering a better deal than Switzerland. Nurses’ salaries start at around CHF 70,000 (Swiss Francs), which is equivalent to about £63k. As for doctors, their earnings start at around CHF 80,000 and rise with seniority. The median salary for Swiss doctors is around CHF 226-230K, which is a little over £200K.

Of course, there are downsides to Switzerland. First and foremost, that high income comes alongside a high cost of living. As a small and wealthy nation, its houses are among the most expensive in Europe, and its cost of living is considered to be one of the highest in the world.

On top of that, you’ll need more than just medical qualifications. Switzerland has four national languages (German, French, Italian, and Romansh), and you’ll need to be fluent in at least one of these languages depending on the region you move to.

It’s also a more restrictive country than most in terms of immigration. While EU and EFTA nationals benefit from freedom of movement, following Brexit, UK citizens are treated as third-country nationals. As such, if you’re moving from the UK, you’ll need a job offer first. Furthermore, your employer will need to demonstrate that the role couldn’t be filled locally.

With all that said, healthcare is an industry where overseas workers are often sponsored. The process is slow, and there’s a lot of paperwork, but it is possible to land a role if your skills are in high demand.

2. Australia

Australia is commonly seen as one of the top countries in the world for healthcare work, and that reputation is not without reason. Salaries are strong, with nurses earning between AUD 75K and AUD 120K (around £40K-60K) and doctors making considerably more depending on their speciality.

The biggest draw isn’t the money, though. By far the biggest appeal of working in Australia is the work-life balance. Doctors in the UK regularly complain about bloated management systems and a work/life balance that rarely lets them feel that they’re truly able to relax. By comparison, those who move to Australia report a completely different pace of life, with systems feeling far more streamlined and far more manageable levels of demand.

And on top of all of that, Australia is one of the easiest countries on this list to move to. Doctors and nurses are on the list of skilled occupations, meaning that there are clear paths to permanent residency. As an English-speaking country, the cultural barrier is also very low, with many finding little to no difficulty integrating into Australian society.

Not that the land down under is the only English-speaking country looking for more healthcare workers.

3. Canada

From the blazing outback to the great white north, if you’re looking for an English-speaking country but you’d rather steer clear of snakes, spiders, and bugs, then Canada may be the place for you. Canadian doctors earn between CAD 70,000 and CAD 110,000 (around £40-£60K), and much like Australia, they have programmes specifically designed to offer permanent residency paths to healthcare workers.

In particular, Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal rank among the best cities for healthcare workers looking for large teaching hospitals and a more relaxed pace of work.

4. Norway

Of course, if you don’t mind long winters and lots of snow, then you might also give a thought to working in Norway. Work-life balance in the Nordic countries is hard to beat with strong employment protections and highly regulated working hours. Pay for nurses starts at 520,000 NOK (£40K), which is reasonable although a little low when you factor in the country’s high cost of living.

As for immigration, Norway does require you to secure a job offer before moving, as well as evidence of strong Norwegian language skills for patient-facing roles. That said, English is commonly spoken in Norway, so the cultural barrier is generally fairly low.

So Which is the Best Country To Work In

It goes without saying that there’s no one right answer to that question, but there are many good choices depending on your priorities. If you’re someone who’s looking to travel and start a new life somewhere far from home, then you’ve picked a great choice in healthcare. Wherever you pick, just make sure to understand what trade-offs you’re making and think seriously about how they’ll impact you in the long run.