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This post is to save those out there who are only interested in dentistry for the $. Feel free to ignore this if you're not doing it for the $. I understand if you don't want to be an accountant/CPA, but this post is talking strictly in financial terms. I'm so glad that I realized this sooner rather than later. You won't be rich until you're old. If you want financial independence, this is NOT the career for you. The opportunity cost/time value of $ is simply too great.
But how can that be?
Well, if we want a truly accurate comparison, the CPA has to live like a dental student while he/she's in school. So after age 25, they can increase their expenses for luxuries, but both the CPA and dentist live on the same income age 26 and up. We'll assume interest on debt is 4% after inflation and so are investments (real estate, index funds, etc). I'll be doing a simple analysis by age and some of the numbers I use are ballpark and for easier calculations on my part.
CPA/Accountant
22: Graduate (Make 50k - 10k(20% taxes) - 20k(living expenses) = 20k (investments/4%))
23: 20k (investments/4%) -->40.8k
24: 20k (investments/4%) -->62.4k
25: 20k (investments/4%) -->84.9k
26: 20k (Salary bump to 62k - 12k(20% taxes) - 30k(living expenses)) = 20k(investments/4%))
27: 20k (investments/4%) -->108.3k
28: 20k (investments/4%) -->132.7k
29: 20k (investments/4%) -->184.3k
30: Salary bump (75k - 19k(25% taxes) - 30k(living expenses))-->26k(investment/4%)-->217.7k
31: 26k (investments/4%) -->252.4k
32: 26k (investments/4%) -->288.5k
33: 26k (investments/4%) -->326.0k
34: 26k (investments/4%) -->365.1k
35: 26k (investments/4%) -->405.7k
36: 26k (investments/4%) -->447.9k
37: 26k (investments/4%) -->491.8k
38: 26k (investments/4%) -->537.5k
Dentist
Starting with -400k
26: Graduate (Make 120k - 24k(25% taxes) - 30k(living expenses) - 16k(debt interest)) --> -350k
27: --> -298k (this isn't 300k because debt interest is on less $ (14k instead of 16k))
28: --> -244k (12k debt interest)
29: --> -188k (10k debt interest)
30: Salary bump (150k - 45k(30% taxes) - 30k(living expenses)) --> 75k - 188k (8k) --> -111k
31: --> -41k (5k debt interest)
32: 75k (investment/4%) --> 34k
33: 75k (investment/4%) --> 110.3k
34: 75k (investment/4%) --> 189.8k
35: 75k (investment/4%) --> 272.4k
36: 75k (investment/4%) --> 358.3k
37: 72k (investment/4%) --> 447.6k
38: 72k (investment/4%) --> 540.5k
So it takes the dentist until practically age 40 to catch up to the CPA. However, that's assuming 400k of debt. If you're talking about half a million or above, it'll take you till your mid 40s to catch up. This also doesn't account for working overtime from ages 22-26 as a CPA since dentists study way more than 40 hrs per week. Factor that in and it'll take till almost age 50 for dentists to catch up. Are you sure you want to do this for the $. Also, if you think half a million by age 40 is great, keep in mind that this dentist is living on 35k a year and I have yet to see a dentist who actually does this.
But how can that be?
Well, if we want a truly accurate comparison, the CPA has to live like a dental student while he/she's in school. So after age 25, they can increase their expenses for luxuries, but both the CPA and dentist live on the same income age 26 and up. We'll assume interest on debt is 4% after inflation and so are investments (real estate, index funds, etc). I'll be doing a simple analysis by age and some of the numbers I use are ballpark and for easier calculations on my part.
CPA/Accountant
22: Graduate (Make 50k - 10k(20% taxes) - 20k(living expenses) = 20k (investments/4%))
23: 20k (investments/4%) -->40.8k
24: 20k (investments/4%) -->62.4k
25: 20k (investments/4%) -->84.9k
26: 20k (Salary bump to 62k - 12k(20% taxes) - 30k(living expenses)) = 20k(investments/4%))
27: 20k (investments/4%) -->108.3k
28: 20k (investments/4%) -->132.7k
29: 20k (investments/4%) -->184.3k
30: Salary bump (75k - 19k(25% taxes) - 30k(living expenses))-->26k(investment/4%)-->217.7k
31: 26k (investments/4%) -->252.4k
32: 26k (investments/4%) -->288.5k
33: 26k (investments/4%) -->326.0k
34: 26k (investments/4%) -->365.1k
35: 26k (investments/4%) -->405.7k
36: 26k (investments/4%) -->447.9k
37: 26k (investments/4%) -->491.8k
38: 26k (investments/4%) -->537.5k
Dentist
Starting with -400k
26: Graduate (Make 120k - 24k(25% taxes) - 30k(living expenses) - 16k(debt interest)) --> -350k
27: --> -298k (this isn't 300k because debt interest is on less $ (14k instead of 16k))
28: --> -244k (12k debt interest)
29: --> -188k (10k debt interest)
30: Salary bump (150k - 45k(30% taxes) - 30k(living expenses)) --> 75k - 188k (8k) --> -111k
31: --> -41k (5k debt interest)
32: 75k (investment/4%) --> 34k
33: 75k (investment/4%) --> 110.3k
34: 75k (investment/4%) --> 189.8k
35: 75k (investment/4%) --> 272.4k
36: 75k (investment/4%) --> 358.3k
37: 72k (investment/4%) --> 447.6k
38: 72k (investment/4%) --> 540.5k
So it takes the dentist until practically age 40 to catch up to the CPA. However, that's assuming 400k of debt. If you're talking about half a million or above, it'll take you till your mid 40s to catch up. This also doesn't account for working overtime from ages 22-26 as a CPA since dentists study way more than 40 hrs per week. Factor that in and it'll take till almost age 50 for dentists to catch up. Are you sure you want to do this for the $. Also, if you think half a million by age 40 is great, keep in mind that this dentist is living on 35k a year and I have yet to see a dentist who actually does this.