Dermatologists and radiologists with more than 10 years of experience in hospitals and private clinics in Barcelona, Girona, and Tarragona can reach an annual gross salary of 80,000 euros, according to the 2026 Salary Guide by LHH Recruitment Solutions. In public healthcare, the figure is around 70,000 euros for these same profiles. These two specialties lead the salary ranking in the medical sector, above other areas such as digestive system, occupational medicine, or intensive care.
Assistance pressure and lack of relief in radiology
The president of the Spanish Society of Medical Radiology warns that the specialty is going through a situation of high demand and healthcare pressure. The need for radiologists continues to grow in Catalonia and in the rest of the country, while the replacement rate will decrease in the coming years due to retirements and the pace of new incorporations.
"At this moment, the specialty is suffering from very high healthcare pressure. The needs for radiologists in Spain continue to increase, while the replacement rate, taking into account retirements and new incorporations, will decrease in the coming years" - José Carmelo Albillos, president of Seram
Albillos himself encourages new doctors to consider radiology as a solid professional option in the current context.
Salary differences and brain drain
The LHH Recruitment Solutions report highlights that the selection of specialties responds to the real demand of the healthcare labor market. Gastroenterology specialists can reach 75,000 euros annually in the private system and 72,000 in the public system, while occupational physicians receive 73,000 euros in the private system and 65,000 in the public system. Intensivists reach 70,000 euros in the private system and 68,000 in the public system. General practitioners with more professional experience are around 60,000 euros in both systems.
Other unspecified specialties can reach 80,000 gross euros annually in the private sector and 67,000 in the public sector. The report warns that the lack of doctors and nurses increases competition between centers and reinforces the need for profiles prepared to work in environments of high healthcare complexity.
Labor dispute and strike in the public system
In the public system, the doctors have been in a struggle for months with the Ministry of Health over the framework statute and their working conditions. The next national strike called by the unions is maintained in the week of March 16 to 20, despite the agreement reached between the Ministry and the Forum of the Medical Profession.
According to the Medical Demography Study 2025, in Spain there are 310,558 registered doctors, of whom 275,963 are active. In the healthcare network of the National Health System, 176,918 doctors work, while in private healthcare there are more than 70,000 medical professionals.
Reasons for the flight to the private and abroad
Ignacio Guerrero, president of the Professional Medical Union Association, points out that working conditions in the public sector are not improving. The obligation to be on call, the risk of burnout, and the lack of salary progression lead many doctors to opt for the private sector, where the volume of patients attended is rewarded.
"The conditions of the public sector do not improve, they force doctors to be on call, they cause burn out and doctors see that they do not progress nor can they improve their salary. That is why many opt for the private sector, where, despite the low rates, the volume of patients they visit is rewarded" - Ignacio Guerrero, president of Unipromel
Guerrero warns that the flight to the private sector and abroad will be massive if the situation is not reversed.