{"slug":"doctor-vs-lawyer","question":"Doctor vs Lawyer: Pay, Training and Job Outlook","answer":"Physicians and surgeons earned a median $275,930 a year in May 2025, held 862,800 jobs, and typically need a bachelor's degree, 4 years of medical school and 3 to 9 years of residency. Lawyers earned a median $159,670, held 863,700 jobs, and usually need about 7 years of study after high school, a law degree and a state license from passing the bar exam. Employment is projected to grow 4% for physicians and 5% for lawyers from 2025 to 2035. Choose by the work you want, not pay alone.","answer_curated":true,"verdict":"Doctor: median $275,930; bachelor's, 4 years of medical school and 3 to 9 years of residency.\n\nLawyer: median $159,670; about 7 years of study and a bar exam.\n\nPay varies widely by specialty, employer and location.","keyDifferences":[{"label":"Median pay (May 2025)","entityAValue":"$275,930","entityBValue":"$159,670","winner":"tie"},{"label":"Jobs (2025)","entityAValue":"862,800","entityBValue":"863,700","winner":"tie"},{"label":"Training after high school","entityAValue":"Bachelor's + 4 years medical school + 3-9 years residency","entityBValue":"About 7 years (bachelor's + 3 years law school)","winner":"tie"},{"label":"Projected growth 2025-35","entityAValue":"4%","entityBValue":"5%","winner":"tie"}],"winner":null,"confidence":"high","entities":[{"name":"Doctor (Physician)","slug":"doctor","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/entity/doctor","alternativesUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/alternatives/doctor"},{"name":"Lawyer","slug":"lawyer","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/entity/lawyer","alternativesUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/alternatives/lawyer"}],"faqs":[{"question":"Who earns more, doctors or lawyers?","answer":"In May 2025, the median annual wage was $275,930 for physicians and surgeons and $159,670 for lawyers. Pay varies widely by specialty, employer and location."},{"question":"How long does it take to become a doctor?","answer":"Typically a bachelor's degree, 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 9 years of internship and residency. A fellowship adds 1 to 3 years."},{"question":"How long does it take to become a lawyer?","answer":"Usually about 7 years of full-time study after high school: 4 years of undergraduate study and 3 years of law school, then a bar exam."}],"attribution":{"source":"A Versus B","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/doctor-vs-lawyer","license":"CC BY 4.0","citationFormat":"According to A Versus B (https://www.aversusb.net/compare/doctor-vs-lawyer), Physicians and surgeons earned a median $275,930 a year in May 2025, held 862,800 jobs, and typically need a bachelor's degree, 4 years of medical school and 3 to 9 years of residency. Lawyers earned ","dateModified":"2026-10-16T00:00:00.000Z"},"relatedQuestionsUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/faq/doctor-vs-lawyer","relatedComparisonsUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/related/doctor-vs-lawyer","knowledgeGraphUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/knowledge-graph/doctor-vs-lawyer"}