We're both in our junior year (I'm a physics major, he's premed; biochem major). We'll be in school for roughly the same amount of time:
I'll be doing: 4 years of undergrad, 3 years masters degree, 4-5 years phD, and possibly 5 years postdoc. Maximum total years it should take: 17.
He'll be doing: 4 years of undergrad, 4 years of medical school, 7 years of residency+fellowship. Maximum total years it should take: 15
I'll probably be working a standard 40 hours/week as a scientist, while he'll be working 80 hour+/week. He'll also be paying for malpractice insurance, while I won't have to pay for any insurance at all nor a professional license. Given all these variables that will reduce his initial growth salary, would it be possible that I will ever out-earn him during my career? I know it's wrong to ask for any sort of financial compensation if I want to be a scientist, but doing 17 years of study after high school in one of the most relatively difficult programs just so I can gain full-time employment as an independent scientist, I also believe I should be paid a middle-class salary. I could also take my skills into quantitative finance if that doesn't work out.
Monday: I'm not the least bit interested in medicine or dentistry.
Monday
Chances are your cousin will out-earn you, especially if you work in academia. If you can do physics, why not write the MCAT or DAT?
Chuckles
3 years for a masters?? It can be done in 2 years. My daughter did hers in 3 semesters + one semester off for a fellowship.
She figures on 3 years for her PhD in civil engineering. SHe completed all her academic requirements in the first year. As for the post doc she already has an offer for a tenure track faculty position at a state university. As well ac consulting positions and the offer of a high federal government position.
But no matter what, it is unlikely you will out earn your cousin unless you discover anti-gravity or a reactionless space drive. If you do these you will be wealthy in the Bill Gates class and your name will go down in history. But you will do well.
Orignal From: If I become a physicist, will I ever out-earn my cousin who will be a doctor?
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