Engaging in an economic conversation about the conventional compensation of a physician leads one to believe that doctors are well-to-do. In the minds of most citizens, school-tuition board members and even local neighbors, if you’re a physician the presumption is that you are economically prosperous, maybe even rich. This sociological assumption probably sounds false to most whom honorably don the white coat. Perhaps a decade or two ago, when medical school tuition was less and compensation was relatively higher, this adage would be true. But in 2018, when medical school debt can easily set one back $350,000 (before interest rates), this is false.
Reading annual publications on specialty-specific incomes leads one to believe that every radiologist and surgeon should be driving a Porsche and living a luxurious life. The reality is quite different from what is written on paper. A doctor only accumulates that level on income after surviving an arduous period of residency and fellowship training, which only becomes relevant after they’ve completed four years of medical school. Mind you, the latter portion of that equation costs most students over $500,000 when you include interest rates on their educational loans.
Let’s examine a hypothetical scenario of Amie and Bill. These two friends earned their bachelor’s degrees at a prestigious undergraduate institution. Amie majored in economics and finance and entered the workforce after graduation; her starting salary was $90,000. Bill majored in molecular biology, struggled to maintain a stellar GPA as he competed with other pre-med students and entered medical school after working for $12.50 an hour as a research technician the year after completing his degree.
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