Should I Be a Doctor or Lawyer?

Doctors work long hours and are often on call.

Doctors Make More Money

Doctors earn more than those in almost any other occupation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In 2008, a primary-care physician earned, on average, $186,044. The disadvantage of being a doctor is having to complete four years of college, four years of medical school, and three to eight years of internship.

Lawyers Graduate Sooner

Lawyers do not make as much money as doctors. The BLS claims that the average wage of salaried lawyers was $110,590 in 2008. However, lawyers spend less time in school. They have to earn a four-year college degree and complete three years of law school before sitting for the bar exam.

Bottom Line

The BLS indicates that the legal profession is expected to grow 13 percent between 2008 and 2018, and competition for employment is high. But the medical profession is expected to grow 22 percent during the same period, and employment prospects for doctors willing to work in rural areas are excellent.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Physicians and Surgeons
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Lawyers