These discussions appear regularly and I have yet to have to responded to one until now. I too shared the same fears, doubts and confusion about choosing a career and after a year of reading these depressing forums, I decided to just quit for a while. It gave my confidence a bit of a boost. With regards to your question and I a don't know your age or your background so will assume you are still young, 20s perhaps? Everyone's situation is different... a clique I know but damn it, so important to keep in mind when you are trying to make a career decision.
Some graduates will have loans, and will spend years paying them off while at the same time living a lifestyle that I would not consider (wealthy) but upper middle class perhaps or even slightly lower. You cover your monthly bills, have a decent home, a couple cars, spending money for luxuries (shopping) etc. but again all in perspective.While others make it rich very quickly.
I only started college at the age of 28; cannot share all my details but i am now in engineering at a small company making $80k. Some would consider this ok salary, but realistically consider what you bring home after tax, insurance (which is damn costly if your family has health issues), school loans etc, debt you ran up while in college to pay bills.
I hate my job; its stressful, boring and cut throat competitive and this is a small company and I know of others working for Fort 500 companies sharing the same sentiment. But also those that love it.
Take these examples: person A graduates from dental school with no loans (parents paid for education), person B graduates from dental school with loans (but parents help pay off significant portion, person C graduates from dental school with loans & has to pay it off themselves but gets help from parents/family with child care, other kinds of support etc, person D graduates from dental school with loans & has to pay it off & support their parents or (no parents at all) or has no family for any support.
Which person is better off? I mention these examples simply to illustrate that in any career choice, there are pros and cons. You may enjoy your first choice and life treats you well or you may choose a career and end up hating it. Its a chance you take but can be a calculated choice based on choosing a career that you feel you will enjoy not a career, like in my case - choose something quickly that is shortest path & decent salary. By the way, in college we were told, starting salaries would be around $70-$80k. I started with $50k and after 6 years up to $80k, I could have chosen to move to another company but for the last 2-3 years it helped me to stay here as it was flexible and allowed me to take the science prereqs I need to change my career.
Make the decision based on what you want to do for the next 20+ years, how you see yourself in retirement, what kind of lifestyle you want, what is most important to you(money or happiness), what you excel at etc. I can tell you this, I am pushing 40 and every doctor, dentist I have met....from my perspective as I can only view the material things (home, car etc) live decent lives. A few I know well, and they fall into person category A or B above.
Just to add as well. This country is not what it once was and things are going to change in coming years. It may be hard to accept but just looking at the rate of poverty, unemployment, number of wars, spending, rise of other countries; who know how long we have to enjoy life's simple pleasures before things change to an extent where the US $ no longer holds any value and inflation hits sky high, civil unrest etc. A doctor may always have a job even then, but one thing is certain, life styles will change.
Good luck to you and hope this was somewhat helpful.
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