If you won $10 MILLION+... would you continue?

[IndyZX]

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As a pure class, it seems reasonable that doctors would be the highest paid - more so than MBAs and JDs, which encompass a much wider range of incomes (because MBAs include those from the U of Phoenix and those from Wharton). The thing I'm curious about is comparing the income of top ten MBA and JD school grads with doctors from any school. For many pre-meds considering other careers, the choice is not between any old JD and any old MD, but say, between a top ten law school versus any old MD. Money wise, I'd wager it comes closer (though doctors would still be on top).

That's true, it would be closer. But, you're confounding those variables (I'm using the word "confounding" without knowing what it means.), because I think if you take those top tier JDs, you are selecting for lawyers who are likely much more ambitious than your typical lawyer. I would think that the same type of ambition found in medical students tends to result in a lot of high paying specialities.

I dunno.

 

[slackerjock]

There are exceptions to the rule, but doctors are the highest paid people in the country.

dentists

 

[shadowy onion]

If I had a billion dollars I would hire an army to fire bomb all the mediacal schools so my asian parents wouldnt force me to become a doctor. Then I would hang myself from the rafters with hooks all throughout my body.

summer orgo must have been really bad...

 

[Fermata]

dentists

Yep.

The valedictorian from my HS class wanted to be an orthodontist.

I now know why.

 

[NYCmed]

If I was set for life financially I'd still pursue medicine as a career:

1. It's something I've always wanted to do since I was around 3 years old, back when I didn't even know medicine was one of the more supposedly "lucrative" professions.

2. I get bored easily. My hobbies alone don't fill up enough time in my life to truly satisfy me, like the knowledge I've just helped save a life does. There's always charity work, but because my passion lies in the medical field I would still end the day unhappy.

3. Considering I would already have enough $$$ to take care of myself, I could use the money I earned to help make easier the lives of my family and friends, and any non-profit organizations I support.

Maybe some would consider me foolish for continuing a medical career as a millionaire, but then I would be happy, so what would I care? 😛

 

[IndyZX]

dentists

I don't understand. Are any of you actually bothering to look this stuff up?

 

[Fermata]

I don't understand. Are any of you actually bothering to look this stuff up?

If more dentists worked the hours that docs do then the salaries would be pretty similar.

The lifestyle is part of what makes it such a sexy career.

 

[Fed Meat]

and maybe also become an art historian like the "Robert Langdon" in The Da Vinci Code.

The guy who conveniently forgot to mention the common knowledge that Leonardo clearly labelled his sketches of the Last Supper? And that Mary Magdalene wasn't there?

ha ha. Just kidding. I do hope, however, that you're not drawing history from the DaVinci Code. It's a fun read, but it ain't history.

 

[IndyZX]

If more dentists worked the hours that docs do then the salaries would be pretty similar.

The lifestyle is part of what makes it such a sexy career.

Where are you seeing this?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Physicians make around $51/hr and Dentists make around $35/hr. Dentists do work less (30hrs/wk) than Physicians (40hrs/wk), but only exacerbates the salary difference.

http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ocs/sp/ncbl0539.pdf


Oh, and I agree, the tradeoffs for a career in dentistry are probably worth it if lifestyle is extremely important, but I'm just disputing this commonly held belief that physicians aren't paid that well anymore.

 

[Fed Meat]

No way I'd go through all of this if I had that much cash.

I'd probably just buy a big ranch out west--probably in Montana--and live a good, productive life punctuaged by spells of leisure. Maybe do some mission work. Become a jack of all trades. Live happy.

 

[Fermata]

Where are you seeing this?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Physicians make around $51/hr and Dentists make around $35/hr. Dentists do work less (30hrs/wk) than Physicians (40hrs/wk), but only exacerbates the salary difference.

http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ocs/sp/ncbl0539.pdf


Oh, and I agree, the tradeoffs for a career in dentistry are probably worth it if lifestyle is extremely important, but I'm just disputing this commonly held belief that physicians aren't paid that well anymore.

It goes far beyond that.

Dentists also tend to have patients who can actually pay, etc.

And yes, physicians do make good money.

It's amusing to me that a lot of premeds think that the majority of docs make 500k, though.

Honestly though.....if you can't get by on 150k/year then I feel bad for you.

 

[IndyZX]

It goes far beyond that.

Dentists also tend to have patients who can actually pay, etc.

That would factored into the data.

 

[Fermata]

That would factored into the data.

What I'm talking about is the stress that's related to it.

(Like the ER docs who don't get paid for so much of their services rendered.)

 

[2badr]

Honestly though.....if you can't get by on 150k/year then I feel bad for you.

I'm with you on this one. Seriously, I've survived (and I use the word loosely here) 😉 on waaaaaay less than that. I had to learn to manage with just a little so if I blow* a 6 figure salary, I have only myself to blame.



*Edit: Which is why I have little sympathy for celebrities who "go broke". Please. 🙄 Yeah, you really need 5 cars to be happy in this life. 🙄 🙄