Doctor (Physician) 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 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.
Lawyer
Lawyers advise and represent clients on legal proceedings and transactions.
People drawn to argument, research and writing
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.
Deciding factor: Medicine for patient care with longer training; law for advocacy and a shorter path to practice.
Key fact: Median pay in May 2025: $275,930 for physicians and surgeons, $159,670 for lawyers.
Doctor: median $275,930; bachelor's, 4 years of medical school and 3 to 9 years of residency. Lawyer: median $159,670; about 7 years of study and a bar exam. Pay varies widely by specialty, employer and location.
Choose Doctor (Physician) if
People drawn to patient care and science
Choose Lawyer if
People drawn to argument, research and writing
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Median pay (May 2025):$275,930 vs $159,670
- Jobs (2025):862,800 vs 863,700
- Training after high school:Bachelor's + 4 years medical school + 3-9 years residency vs About 7 years (bachelor's + 3 years law school)
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Key Differences
4 attributes compared head-to-head
- $275,930Median pay (May 2025)$159,670
- 862,800Jobs (2025)863,700
- Bachelor's + 4 years medical school + 3-9 years residencyTraining after high schoolAbout 7 years (bachelor's + 3 years law school)
- 4%Projected growth 2025-355%
- Median pay (May 2025)
Doctor (Physician)
$275,930
Lawyer
$159,670
- Jobs (2025)
Doctor (Physician)
862,800
Lawyer
863,700
- Training after high school
Doctor (Physician)
Bachelor's + 4 years medical school + 3-9 years residency
Lawyer
About 7 years (bachelor's + 3 years law school)
- Projected growth 2025-35
Doctor (Physician)
4%
Lawyer
5%
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Doctor (Physician) |  Lawyer |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | M.D. or D.O. | Juris Doctor (J.D.) |
| License | State medical license | State bar admission |
| Lowest 10% earned less than | $76,560 | $78,360 |
| Highest 10% earned more than | $488,320 | $351,600 |
| Openings per year (projected) | About 22,100 | About 28,700 |
Show 1 more attributeMain settings Physicians' offices and hospitals Legal services (52%), self-employed (11%) | ||
LawyerShow 1 more attribute
Pros & Cons
6 pros·4 cons across both
Doctor (Physician)
Pros
Cons
Lawyer
Pros
Cons
Frequently Asked Questions
6 questions
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.
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.
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.
Lawyer employment is projected to grow 5% and physician employment 4% from 2025 to 2035.
Physicians and surgeons held about 862,800 jobs and lawyers about 863,700 jobs in 2025.
Among physicians in May 2025, pediatric surgeons had a median of $559,030 and cardiologists $496,010. Among lawyers, the federal government had a median of $178,380.
Analysis: Doctor (Physician) 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 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.
Key takeaways
- Median pay, May 2025: physicians and surgeons $275,930; lawyers $159,670. - Jobs in 2025: physicians and surgeons 862,800; lawyers 863,700. - Training: physicians need medical school plus 3 to 9 years of residency; lawyers need about 7 years after high school and a bar exam. - Projected employment growth, 2025 to 2035: physicians 4%, lawyers 5%. - Projected openings each year: about 22,100 for physicians and surgeons, 28,700 for lawyers.
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Education and licensing
Physicians need a bachelor's degree, then an M.D. or D.O., which takes 4 more years. Residency lasts 3 to 9 years depending on specialty, and a fellowship adds 1 to 3 years. All states require a license. Lawyers typically complete 4 years of undergraduate study and 3 years of law school for a Juris Doctor (J.D.), then pass a bar exam to be admitted in a state.
Pay range
Physician pay ranged from under $76,560 for the lowest 10 percent to more than $488,320 for the highest 10 percent, and varies widely by specialty, from $210,040 for general pediatricians to $559,030 for pediatric surgeons. Lawyer pay ranged from under $78,360 to more than $351,600; lawyers in the federal government had a median of $178,380.
Work settings
1. Physicians work in offices and hospitals, often with long or irregular shifts and on-call duty. 2. Lawyers work mostly in offices; 52% work in legal services and 11% are self-employed.
Who should pick which
Choose medicine if you want patient care and can commit to residency. Choose law if you want advocacy, research and writing, with a shorter path to practice.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Wikipedia
External Resources
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Physicians and Surgeons (opens in new tab)
Median $275,930 (May 2025); 862,800 jobs; 4% growth 2025-35; 3-9 years residency.
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Lawyers (opens in new tab)
Median $159,670 (May 2025); 863,700 jobs; 5% growth 2025-35; about 7 years of study; bar exam.
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