who makes more lawyer or doctor

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.

Who are the people in the bottom 10 percent of lawyers?

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. What does all this add up to?

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.

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.

Are doctors or lawyers more respected?

Doctors topped the global list of most respected professions, followed by lawyers and then engineers.

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.

What's harder law or medicine?

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.

Median Salary Comparisons

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.

Highs and Lows

When you look at the highest and lowest earners, though, different comparisons emerge. The lowest paid physicians typically practice family medicine and in 2015 they earned a median salary of $230,456, according to the Medical Group Management Association.

Prestige and Geography

The more prestigious a law firm is, the more they pay their lawyers. In 2016, New-York-City-based law firm Cravath, Swaine and Moore made headlines by raising its first-year lawyers' salaries by $20,000 to $180,000. That's comparable to, or more than what many family practice physicians and pediatricians earn in various parts of the U.S.

Bases and Bonuses

At the same time that Cravath, Swaine and Moore announced the new first-year salary, they announced salary bumps throughout the firm. An eight-year associate received a base salary of $315,000 plus a year-end bonus which is on a par with many physicians.

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.

Technologists vs. Lawyers vs. Doctors: Who Earns More?

You can earn a lot of money as a technologist, especially if you specialize in a highly sought-after skill set such as machine learning or artificial intelligence (A.I.). But even with skills and experience, how does a technologist’s salary match up against that of a lawyer, doctor, or even someone in finance?

Compensation over 10 years in banking, medicine, technology, consulting and law

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