which gets paid more a doctor or lawyer

by Lucienne Huels 9 min read

However, on average, the data shows that doctors make more than lawyers. To the surprise of some, the reality is that the discrepancy is not even close. Specifically, the average doctor makes $208,000 per year, while the average lawyer makes $118,160.Apr 26, 2018

Full Answer

Do doctors make more than lawyers?

Certainly every lawyer or doctor is probably in a unique situation where the pay scale can vary. It is true as well that different medical and legal fields can have their own unique averages. However, on average, the data shows that doctors make more than lawyers. To the surprise of some, the reality is that the discrepancy is not even close.

Why do some lawyers make more money than others?

Other factors, including specialties, make a difference, too, with some types of doctors earning hundreds of thousands of dollars more than others, and the same is true for different types of lawyers. But one thing is certain; when you have to go to one or the other, they both take a lot out of y_our_ paycheck.

What is the average salary of a doctor?

According to the BLS, medical doctors which include both medical doctors (MDs) and doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) earned an annual median salary of $208,000 per year in 2016. Lawyers, according to the BLS, had an annual median salary of $118,160 in 2016, a significant difference between them of $89,840.

How much does a lawyer make a year?

Lawyers, according to the BLS, had an annual median salary of $118,160 in 2016, a significant difference between them of $89,840. The difference alone is more than twice the average salary in the U.S., which was $37,040 in 2016.

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Which job has the highest salary doctor or lawyer?

Physicians make the most, with a median annual salary of $180,000. Lawyer and research and development manager come int at numbers two and three, with median annual salaries of $144,500 and $142,120, respectively.

Is it better to be a doctor or a lawyer?

According to the BLS, medical doctors which include both medical doctors (MDs) and doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) earned an annual median salary of $208,000 per year in 2016. Lawyers, according to the BLS, had an annual median salary of $118,160 in 2016, a significant difference between them of $89,840.

Who is smarter lawyer or doctor?

A recent analysis (via KevinMD) of average IQs of individuals in certain professions revealed that doctors have a mean IQ of almost 10 points higher than lawyers.

Which is harder law or med school?

In short, medical school is hands-on and requires a lot of memorization. Law school requires analytical work and critical thinking. Law school requires heavy reading and writing while medical school requires learning about problems through clinical studies and hands-on training.

Is law school an easy choice?

Others might not be scientifically minded at all, but they enjoy the law, and so law school is an easy choice. But for some individuals, they might have an affinity for both. They might reasonably have the ability to be a good doctor or a good lawyer.

Is medical school easy?

There is something about medical or law school that attracts many individuals to contemplate one career or the other. Obviously, the decision is relatively easy for many individuals. Some are scientifically or medically minded such that medical school is the easy choice. Others might not be scientifically minded at all, but they enjoy the law, ...

Is student loan debt a problem for law school graduates?

They might not have looked at the data on average salaries before making this decision. Student loan debt is also another significant issue for law school graduates.

Does JD Supra use automatic decision making?

Please note that JD Supra does not use "automatic decision making" or "profiling" as those terms are defined in the GDPR.

Lawyer or Doctor – How to Become One?

A person aspiring to be a lawyer must have good analytical skills, research skills, speaking skills, problem-solving skills and writing skills.

Which Is A Better Career Option – Lawyer or Doctor?

If you consider all the expenses and the amount you will be earning after completing the course, being a lawyer does seem to be a better option. The course will end in three years, and you spend less in comparison to medical school and start earning much early.

Salaries for Doctors

As a general rule, doctors earn the highest salaries in the country. Anesthesiologists are the top earners with an annual mean wage of $232,800, while surgeons are in second place with $230,540. Obstetricians and gynecologists make $216,760, while oral and maxillofacial surgeons are the highest paid dental surgeons at $216,440.

Salaries for Engineers

At $147,470, petroleum engineers are the highest paid engineers, ranking 16th out of the top twenty highest salaries. However, they are the only engineers in the top twenty. Nuclear engineers are a distant second with $107,140, while aerospace engineers are the third highest engineering specialists, earning $104,810 annually.

Salaries for Lawyers

Lawyers barely made the list of the top twenty salaries in the country. At $130,880, they were in 19th place. They are paid less than most doctors, but more than all of the engineers – except petroleum engineers.

Educational Requirements

The educational requirement for doctors is a medical degree and three to eight years of residencies and internships, depending on the specialty area. Lawyers must complete three years of law school to earn a Juris Doctor (J.D.). Engineers need a bachelor’s degree in their specialty area.

Job Outlook

The BLS projects a 24-percent increase in demand for physicians and surgeons through 2020, which is faster than the 14-percent average growth rate predicted for other U.S. occupations. However, the demand for lawyers is only projected to increase by 10 percent through 2020. The job outlook for engineers varies by specialty.

Does Medical Doctor earn more than a Lawyer?

Yes, Doctors do earn more than Lawyers. The median wage of a Doctor is $208,000 compared to a Lawyer $126,930 per annum.

Does Medical Doctor earn more than an Accountant?

Yes, Doctors do earn more than Accountant. The median wage of a Doctor is $208,000 compared to an Accountant $73,560 per annum

Does a Lawyer earn more than an Accountant?

Yes, Lawyers do earn more than Accountants. The median wage of a Lawyer is $126,930 compared to Accountant $73,560 per annum.

Final Thoughts

While statistically, Doctors earn more than Lawyers and Accountants, that doesn’t mean that’s the median wage you can expect to earn through your whole career.

Skills Required

Everyone has a different set of skills due to their unique personality, hobbies, and education. While choosing a suitable career, you need to match your hard and soft skills with the ones expected from you in that particular field.

Skills required to become a doctor

Effective communications skills. It will be important for you to communicate well with your patients about their treatment plans, health, diagnosis, and medication.

Skills required to become a lawyer

Scrutinizing the topic. You must go deep into the causes and the conclusion of a situation and inspect it at lightning speed.

Investment Needed

This is what you must know to prevent yourself from falling into financial issues. On average, a public medical school costs $207,866 and for a private medical school, it can go up to $278,455 for four years. This also comprises the cost of books and other expenses.

What are the average salary of a doctor and a lawyer?

In general, a doctor has to work for a longer duration than a lawyer. This is because emergencies in the medical field are not uncommon and the doctor has to be available at all times in case of an emergency. Also, their normal work time is mostly decided by the hospital administration.

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