Who makes more money, surgeons or lawyers?

Asked by: Miss Heloise Pfeffer Sr.  |  Last update: November 14, 2025
Score: 5/5 (65 votes)

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.

Can you make $500,000 as a lawyer?

Yes. These days, BigLaw starts at about $215k plus bonus for newly-hired attorneys, and goes to $415k plus bonus (often enough to take one over $500k) for senior associates on the verge of making partner. Therefore, people who make it to this level and beyond generally bring home more than $500k/yr.

Is it better to be a doctor or a lawyer?

Lawyers: Lawyers generally have more flexibility in their practice area, work environment, and location. Some lawyers choose to work as solo practitioners, in small practices, or in-house legal positions that may offer more control over their work-life balance. Doctors: Doctors tend to have limited flexibility.

Which type of doctor makes the most money?

A neurosurgeon is the highest-paid doctor on our list. Neurosurgery encompasses surgery of the brain, spinal cord/column, and peripheral nerves. Aspiring neurosurgeons must complete at least a seven-year residency. The average annual compensation for neurosurgeons is $763,908, putting them at the top of our list.

Which type of lawyer is the richest?

As of 2024, the top five highest paid types of lawyers are:
  • Patent Attorneys.
  • Intellectual property (IP) Attorneys.
  • Trial Lawyers.
  • Tax Attorneys.
  • Corporate Lawyers.

Doctors Reveal You How Much Money They ACTUALLY Make

19 related questions found

Who is more rich a lawyer or a doctor?

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.

Which field of law pays the most?

Highest-Paid Types of Lawyers
  • Patent attorney: $180,000.
  • Intellectual property (IP) attorney: $162,000.
  • Trial lawyer: $134,000.
  • Tax attorney: $122,000.
  • Corporate lawyer: $115,000.
  • Medical lawyer: $113,000.
  • Real estate lawyer: $98,000.
  • Family lawyer: $93,000.

What is the lowest paid doctor?

1. Medical Genetics and Genomics. In the number 1 spot for lowest paid medical specialty is medical genetics and genomics at $244,517. Medical geneticists focus on the relationship between genes and health.

What is the hardest surgeon to become?

What is the hardest surgeon to be? It's difficult to become any type of surgeon, but if you want to equate “longest” with “hardest,” then the answer is neurological surgery, which has a seven-year residency—the longest of all postgraduate surgical residencies. It is (often) brain surgery, after all.

Is it harder to become a doctor or dentist?

Both include a mix of classroom learning and hands-on training. However, the curriculum for medicine is generally more intense, with more hours spent in the classroom and clinical rotations. In contrast, dental students often have more flexible schedules and less time in class.

Is being a lawyer hard?

Lawyers often work long hours under intense pressure. Many grapple with high volumes of cases, work to extremely strict deadlines, and come into conflict with clients and opposing counsel. This also impacts lawyers' work-life balance, affecting their life outside working hours.

Has anyone ever been a doctor and a lawyer?

When Francis R. Coughlin Jr., M.D. '52, decided to quit surgery at age 58, he reinvented himself as a medical malpractice lawyer.

Can lawyers make 7 figures?

Corporate Lawyer (Partner)

Though that's far from pocket change, it's certainly not landing you in the earnings tier of a millionaire. That said, corporate lawyers generally stand to make the most and can pull in seven figures a year — if they make partner.

Is 700k a good salary?

Earning $700,000 a year would put your household in the top 1% nationwide — and well above the middle class — and in any state in the South or Midwest. But that still won't cut it in seven states. The Northeast dominates the rankings, with five of the 10 states with the highest 1% thresholds lying in this region.

Can lawyers make 300k a year?

Well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for attorneys in the US is just over $125,000. The highest-paid lawyers (10% of the legal workforce) make over $208,000 However, the top 1% of attorneys make $500,000 or more per year.

What is the highest paying job in the world?

Topping the list, being a CEO gets you the highest paying job in the world, no matter where you work. A CEO is the highest-ranked position in any organisation's structure. Irrespective of the company's size, a CEO handles all its day-to-day corporate affairs, manages resources and handles all managerial processes.

Why is it difficult at med school?

Even the core courses in a medical school curriculum are extremely rigorous and require mastery of the basics of anatomy, physiology, biology, and other science disciplines. From the very first day, medical students are expected to build upon their strong foundational knowledge and apply what they know.

How long does it take to become a surgeon?

To become a general surgeon, it typically takes a minimum of 13 years of post-secondary education (after graduation of high school) and training. Additional training, termed a fellowship, can be completed after residency. If this is done, training can take up to 16 years or more.

What is the richest paid doctor?

Neurosurgeons are the highest paid doctors, earning an average salary of $763,908 per year.

What is the easiest doctor to become?

Easiest Doctor to Become
  • Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) ...
  • Emergency medicine. ...
  • Family medicine. ...
  • Internal medicine. ...
  • Pathology. ...
  • Pediatrics. ...
  • Psychiatry. ...
  • Anesthesiology.

Are surgeons underpaid?

Surgeons earned an average annual income of $423,000 in 2023, representing a modest $11,000 increase from the previous year's average of $412,000. In the past five years, surgeons have never been the top earners compared to their peers, often falling behind orthopedists, plastic surgeons, cardiologists, and urologists.

What type of lawyer is the richest?

Corporate and tax lawyers tend to be the highest earners, with patent and IP lawyers not far behind. Trial lawyers also pull down a lot of money, particularly in the civil litigation field. Other lawyers are more motivated by getting justice for their clients than by collecting the largest possible paycheck.

How hard is the bar exam?

The bar exam is hard. In fact, it may be one of the most difficult challenges you ever embark on. You must memorize numerous laws and consume a lot of knowledge to answer questions correctly. For many, it feels like trying to hold sand in your hands, knowing that you'll inevitably lose much of it.

Which law has highest salary?

11 of the highest-paying lawyers
  • Civil litigation attorney. ...
  • Real estate attorney. ...
  • Intellectual property attorney. ...
  • Bankruptcy lawyer. ...
  • Family lawyer. ...
  • Tax attorney. ...
  • Corporate attorney. ...
  • Patent attorney.