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Why Do Doctors Make So Much Money?
The amount of money doctors make is often directly proportional to the specialty they practice and where they practice it. In many industrialized regions of the world, entrepreneurial drive, raw talent and charisma might also be factors to consider when determining how doctors make so much money. For many doctors, their pay must also account for the student loans that paid for medical school, the responsibility being assumed for life after life on a daily basis, and the rising cost of malpractice insurance.
The Price of Education
Although the price of medical school can vary significantly by country, it can be quite expensive. Most doctors don’t get educated on scholarships alone, so many will need to pay a significant amount of money back in student loans. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, the average cost of medical school in the United States at the beginning of the 21st century, plus living expenses, is approximately $140,000 US Dollars (USD) for a public school and $225,000 USD for private. Outside of the US, costs are often much lower.
Graduates from US public medical colleges in 2003 had a median debt of $100,000 USD, according to an Association of American Medical Colleges study, while private school graduates owed $135,000 USD. The study estimated that someone with $150,000 USD debt at 2.8% interest would be paying a $1,761 USD monthly repayment by the end of their residency.
Specialists may make more money in the long run than general practitioners do, but some specialties like anesthesiology and surgery can require as many as seven years of additional training prior to becoming board-certified. Many specialists have completed 10 or more years of post-graduate training. Though the median salary for an anesthesiologist with a few years of experience is greater than $320,000 USD, it's also likely he or she put more than 15 years into school, worked grueling hours as a resident, and accrued substantial student loans.
