The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that Lawyers have an average annual salary of $148,030, while Doctors earn an average of $235,930 per year. This indicates that Doctors earn much more than Lawyers.
However, it's worth noting that salaries can vary depending on factors such as location, experience, and the specific setting in which the employee works. As an example, Lawyers who work in Washington DC (with an average salary of $198,820) may earn more than those who work in Wyoming ($92,410). And Doctors in Idaho earn 76% more on average than those in Louisiana.
Lawyers vs Doctors overview
Lawyers and Doctors are two important occupations in the Federal, State, and Local Government industry. There is a common interest in understanding the differences between these job titles, as well as the average pay for each.
Lawyer job description
Alternative names: Attorneys
Lawyers represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.
Lawyer education and experience
The majority of Lawyers (68%) have obtained a First Professional Degree. However, among employees in this occupation, there are also some with a Doctoral Degree (31%). Regarding experience, more than half of Lawyer jobs require a 2 to 4 years of experience in the field. A smaller percentage of jobs (15%) require no previous experience.
Lawyer average salary
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 681,010 Lawyers employed in the United States in 2021, and they earned a mean annual income of $148,030. The bottom 10 percent earned $61,400 or less, and the top 10 percent earned $208,000 or more. Compared to the previous year, the average salary has declined by 0.6%.
Do Lawyers make good money?
Lawyers usually receive good salaries, as their average salary is 154% higher than the average wage in the United States ($58,260). Additionally, they earn 62% more than the average wage of the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry ($91,150).
Lawyers usually receive good salaries, as their average salary is 154% higher than the average wage in the United States ($58,260).
Lawyers job growth
There has been an increase in the employment of Lawyers in the last two years. In 2021, there have been 22,890 more positions than the previous year nationwide, which marks a rise of 3.5%. Job growth has averaged 2% for the last 3 years.
Doctor job description
Alternative names: Family Medicine Physicians, General Practitioners, Physicians
Doctors diagnose, treat, and provide preventive care to individuals and families across the lifespan. May refer patients to specialists when needed for further diagnosis or treatment.
Doctor education and experience
Most Doctors (59%) have completed a Doctoral Degree. But additionally, among employees with this job title, there are also some with a Post-Doctoral Training (29%) and a Master's Degree (9%). Regarding experience, the majority of Doctor occupations require a 2 to 4 years of previous experience working in the field. A smaller number of roles (17%) require no previous experience.
Doctor average salary
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that in 2021, there were 102,930 Doctors working in the United States, and on average, they earned $235,930 per year. The bottom 10 percent earned $63,580 or less, and the top 10 percent earned $208,000 or more. Compared to the previous year, the mean salary has increased by 10.1%.
Do Doctors make good money?
Doctors typically make good salaries, since their mean salary is about three times above the average pay in the United States ($58,260). Additionally, they make over two times more than the mean earnings of the Health Care Services industry ($70,360).
Doctors typically make good salaries, since their mean salary is about three times above the average pay in the United States ($58,260).
Doctors job growth
In 2021, there have been 4,340 more Doctor job opportunities than the previous year across the nation, and that shows an increase of 4.4%. Job growth has averaged -2.7% over the past 2 years.
FAQ
Do Lawyers or Doctors make more?
Doctors earn 59% more than Lawyers. The average annual pay for Lawyers is $148,030, compared to $235,930 for Doctors.
How long does it take to become a Lawyer vs Doctor?
Becoming a Lawyer typically requires a First Professional Degree. A First Professional Degree itself usually takes between 3 years and 4 years to obtain. And, given that a Bachelor's Degree is a prerequisite, the full educational process could take around 8 years to complete. On the other hand, becoming a Doctor typically requires a Doctoral Degree. A Doctoral Degree itself usually takes between 4 years and 6 years to obtain. And, given that a Master's Degree is a prerequisite, the full educational process could take around 13 years to complete.
Is it harder to become a Lawyer vs Doctor?
Becoming a Doctor is more difficult than becoming a Lawyer, since it takes 5 more years of education.
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