Alberta's doctors are not welcoming the premier's suggestion that they lower their expectations when it comes to a pay raise.

Alison Redford has said in recent weeks, that physicians shouldn't expect to get paid on the same scale that they are enjoying right now, given the tough budgetary times ahead.

The latest data shows that physicians in Alberta make on average $357,000 a year compared to the Canadian average of $307,000.

The Alberta Medical Association points out that the salary doesn't account for expenses which often eat up half of that cash.

“If you compare our profession to other professions or plumbers or electricians or teachers, or whatever, it's quite consistent across. In fact, even for politicians, MLAs, ministers, it’s all consistent across the board so really there is a bit of an oddity here that physicians are being singled out,” said Dr. Michael Giuffre from the Alberta Medical Association.

Doctors who run their own clinics pay for equipment, staff and other overhead expenses and the AMA says doctor’s wages haven't increased anymore than any others.

Dr. Joanne Mitchell is a partner with two others in a clinic in Canmore.

She brought into the business for $380,000 dollars last year which is even higher than the Alberta average.

Her costs for that year were $190,000, which is half of what she made, and Dr. Mitchell says you can't compare doctors here to those in neighbouring provinces.

“We probably get paid more but the cost of living is considerably higher in Alberta, to run a business, to hire employees, everything is up that much farther, so comparing us to a GP in Saskatchewan or Manitoba, they may have substantially lower costs,” said Canmore physician, Dr. Joanne Mitchell.

Dr. Mitchell's take home pay, after taxes, is significantly lower than that of an Alberta cabinet minister which is also, the highest in the nation.

The group that compiles data on doctor's salaries say it is tough to compare pay scales.

Those agreements are based on the unique circumstances within each province, for example the general economic conditions in a province, the way physicians are paid, the way health services are delivered even down to things like the age and health of population,” said Geoff Ballinger from the Canadian Institute for Health Information.

Dr. Mitchell says she will see how this all plays out but that her clinic and others will be in jeopardy if fees and wages are frozen.