which is better doctor or lawyer

The reputation of the doctor is also more favorable than that of a lawyer. The medical profession is more prestigious, more interesting and doctors are more flexible in their work hours. I cannot say the same about the legal field. A physician has the flexibility to work fewer hours at the same rate.

Full Answer

What is the difference between a doctor and a lawyer?

Likewise, lawyers are the ones who defend physicians when the physician has been unjustly charged with medical malpractice. The examples are endless. The bottom line is that most doctors are wonderful members of society who deserve our profound gratitude.

Are there good doctors and bad lawyers?

There are good, ugly, bad doctors and lawyers alike. If one is preparing for a profession it isn’t ‘any will do’ - it relates to what a persons is interested is, has the abilities for.

Do lawyers make more money than doctors and engineers?

However, while the BLS lists a general salary for lawyers, the pay for doctors and engineers varies greatly by specialty. 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.

Is a law degree better than a medical degree?

Completing a law degree requires less time than a medical course however, a course design in such a so that person who is doing can learn most of the things in course duration so here duration does not matter and what is required to be learned to become a good profession that is matter.

How much do lawyers make?

The top 10 percent of lawyers earned over $208,000, according to the BLS, while the bottom 10 percent had a median salary of $56,910. Those in the bottom 10 percent are most likely either first-year lawyers or working in a small town in business for themselves. Lawyers in law firms tend to earn more than those who work alone.

How much do medical doctors make?

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. The difference alone is more than twice the average salary in the U.S., which was $37,040 in 2016. For $89,000, you can buy a house in many parts of the country or a new Mercedes and BMW, loaded, for you and your significant other. Or, you could take a lavish vacation every single month of the year. So, if median salaries were the only items compared, you should be a doctor for sure. It's a no-brainer.

How much do family practice physicians make?

That means there are just as many earning more than that number as there are earning less than that number. So it's reasonable to assume there are lawyers making more than $250,000 and family practice physicians earning less than $200,000.

How much does an anesthesiologist make?

What does all this add up to? Basically, there are a lot of different ways to compare salaries. For example, an anesthesiologist earning $453,687 compared with one of the lowest-paid lawyers at $56,910, is a shocking difference. But it isn't a fair comparison because an anesthesiologist, even one just starting out, has already spent years practicing as an intern and resident and more years in the specialty. A recent law school grad can expect a job clerking for a judge or researching for more senior lawyers rather than serving as the main lawyer on a case.

Is a doctor more than a lawyer?

At first glance, it seems easy to determine that a medical doctor is paid much more than a lawyer. The Bureau of Labor Statistics gives median salaries for both doctors and lawyers, so it's clear that the doctors' number is higher.

Why do people choose law school over medical school?

In the end, many still opt to enter the legal field because they have an interest in the law, they want to help individuals through a difficult times in their life or for other noble reasons. If these are the reasons an individual chooses law school over the medical school, most individuals will not regret it. However, if the decision is one based on finances, the statistics show that many lawyers will be disappointed.

How much does a doctor make a year?

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. These average numbers take doctors and lawyers who are in the peak of their careers — meaning that those just starting out do not take this amount.

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 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 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.

Do doctors get paid hourly?

But doctors have an incentive to work fast. They don’t get paid hourly. In fact, when they spend more time with someone it reduces their economic productivity.

Do lawyers have to work at night?

I guess both doctors and lawyers must take their work home at night. But when you are a doctor and someone is in the hospital, you must field calls from nurses all night. Lawyers don’t really have the same sort of torture and can sleep.

Do lawyers get paid more for longer cases?

One final note is that I think it is interesting that the payment mechanism in law has not changed. Lawyers continue to get paid exorbitant hourly wages. The more senior attorney you are the higher your hourly rate. Lawyers get paid more for longer cases or more complicated ones. And most importantly, there is no incentive for lawyers to make things short and sweet — doing so decreases their billable hours.

Is medicine harder than law?

I’ve always felt that doctors worked harder than lawyers. That medicine is a profession with no restrictions to work hours and that law is a corporate type of job with restrictions. I understand that in every profession there are difficult and less difficult specialties. Radiologists, physiatrists, and dermatologists are all doctors but they definitely don’t work as hard or as long of hours as surgeons, traumatologists, or intensivists. Similarly, litigators are under a lot of stress and must work after hours to prepare for cases. If clients get in trouble after hours, they must attend to them. On the other hand, there are contract lawyers that review contracts and don’t spend time in front of judges or juries. So in both professions there are those that work hard and long hours.

What is the difference between a lawyer and a doctor?

Law or medicine can be boiled down to one major point: lawyers resolve legal problems for their clients, and doctors resolve medical problems of their patients. And often legal problems are “dirtier” than medial ones.

What is the similarity between law school and medical school?

Similarity also lies with intense studies of advanced topics. Law school requires a deep study of theoretical legal concepts. Medical school requires a deep study of medical theories and concepts.

What do you need to know to go to medical school?

The choice law vs. medicine depends on what student knows best. Medical students must know mathematics, biology, chemistry, for example. This means that the med school requires scientific understanding. Law students do not need to know anything really, besides law and ability to read a lot and write well and spin the truth. Both programs require a very good memory.

How long does it take to become an attorney?

Another important difference is that law school is three years of studying law and then three to six months preparing for the bar exam – that is how to become an attorney. Once law graduates pass the state bar exam, they obtain an attorney license and then are allowed to practice law in the state which issued the license.

Do doctors make more money than attorneys?

Kind of. Doctors on average make several times more than attorneys. Doctors are almost guaranteed to become millionaires if they work hard. Medical school is more practical, while law school is more theoretical. Doctors learn how to do their job hands-on in medical schools.

Can doctors argue their side?

Unlike lawyers, doctors cannot “argue their side” with the human physiology to prove their point. And should not. between law school or medical school I think medical school offers more straightforward and clear education program than law school.

Do medical rules stay the same?

In the medical field, they stay the same as adopted by the industry. In law there are rules, then exceptions, then exceptions to the exceptions, then new rules come up, then lawyers twist the rules depending on their client’s needs.

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.