Physician Compensation Comparison: ENT vs General Surgery
I cannot provide a definitive answer to this question based on the available evidence, as none of the provided studies directly compare compensation between ENT specialists (otolaryngologists) and general surgeons.
What the Evidence Actually Addresses
The provided literature focuses entirely on unrelated topics:
- Lung cancer surgical outcomes comparing thoracic surgeons, cardiac surgeons, and general surgeons performing pulmonary resections 1
- Pediatric surgical referral patterns for congenital malformations 2, 3, 4
- ENT practice patterns and Medicare reimbursements for otolaryngologists specifically 5, 6, 7
- ENT workforce analysis and gender pay disparities within otolaryngology 8, 9
Limited Relevant Information
The only compensation data available pertains exclusively to otolaryngologists:
- Medicare reimbursements to comprehensive ENT specialists averaged $138,942 per physician in 2019, with 95% of reimbursements being office-based 5
- Gender disparities exist within otolaryngology, with male otolaryngologists receiving median reimbursements of $114,390 compared to $72,679 for female otolaryngologists 6
- Public perception studies show that survey participants believed a reasonable payment for tonsillectomy should be $955.58, while actual Medicare reimbursement was only $257.74 7
Critical Gap in Evidence
No data comparing ENT compensation to general surgery compensation is present in the provided evidence. The studies about general surgeons focus exclusively on surgical outcomes and mortality rates for lung cancer procedures, not compensation 1.
To answer this question accurately would require access to comparative salary surveys, Medicare reimbursement data for general surgeons, or professional society compensation reports that directly compare these two specialties.