So basically the glorious NHS is possible because doctors aren’t paid a living wage? I seriously doubt one can afford to buy a house with that kind of income.

A SWE in London makes like the equivalent of like USD$65K or something. I think that wages are just much lower across the board for skilled labor once you leave the major cities in the USA.

(I'm curious how this shakes out on the low end, and if it's just that in the USA, skilled labor captures more of the total labor compensation than in the UK, 'cause I didn't think our per-capita gdp was that far off. In silicon valley, unskilled labor pays around USD$15/hr. the rest of the country it's closer to USD$8/hr. There are a lot of people who try to live on that. What would the equivalent be in London?)

And taxes are much higher, too, and goods are significantly more expensive as well.

We’re talking about skilled, professional labor specifically, and boy, professionals are getting screwed over there. Here in the US you can afford a decent lifestyle on a doctor or SWE salary even if your spouse doesn’t work. I don’t know what folks in eg London do. Shit’s crazy expensive in London.

But how are things different for the poor? The per capita gdp isn't as different as the salaries for skilled labor, so I wonder if the poor make more over there or if there is something I am missing.

Well, $22k in London is “the poor”.

Huh. In San Francisco, USD$30K/year puts you above the 20th percentile, below the 40th percentile for a household - I mean, I guess, sure, that seems poor but it's not uncommon. two people making USD$30K/yr would be getting close to the median.

(median household income in SF is USD$75K/yr. I don't see how you could live in SF on that money without serious rent control or owning your place, but fact is it's the median household income. Come to think of it, I know a fair number of people in that situation; making under $75K/yr and living in a rent-controlled place.)

Interestingly, median household income in london, as far as I can tell, is GBP40.000 which is like USD$55K - which isn't nearly as large a difference as I see in, say, SWE wages.

Just checking but you know a midwife isn't a doctor, right?

Sure. Still a professional though. Nurses make pretty good money in the US, too.