<p>In my d’s field, her Ph.D. will take on average seven years (and far more competitive to get into than medical schools, taken as a whole). After that, (and from a top 5 program), she’ll be lucky to make $50k a year. Top out (with some few exceptions) at around $140k, usually after 20 or so years.</p>
<p>Thats good money, mini.</p>
<p>"In my d’s field, her Ph.D. will take on average seven years (and far more competitive to get into than medical schools, taken as a whole). "</p>
<p>Which field is this??</p>
<p>47% of public school kids in 2011 were on free & reduced lunch. In order to qualify for a free lunch, a family of four would have to earn less then $32,968 per year, while a reduced-cost lunch would require a family to earn less then $46,916 per year. The price of a reduce-cost breakfast is 30 cents, while a reduced-price lunch is 40 cents.</p>
<p><a href=“http://hawaiirealestateandlifestyle.blog.com/2011/02/28/hawaii-real-estate-free-and-reduced-cost-lunch-increases-in-public-schools/[/url]”>http://hawaiirealestateandlifestyle.blog.com/2011/02/28/hawaii-real-estate-free-and-reduced-cost-lunch-increases-in-public-schools/</a></p>
<p>I don’t know how these folks manage and suspect it’s because MANY live in very close quarters. When there are fires, MANY more people were living in the housing that would be approved by building code, like 17 people in a 3-4 bedroom house. It’s scary and many do fall through the cracks.</p>
<p>It’s a different world here with people talking about being middle class and grumbling about how to pay tuition with their LOW income of “only $150K”! Very interesting to see how both halves live, as we do with the public health outreach of our organization.</p>
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<p>The protocol changed not too long ago. My D no longer takes antibiotics before teeth cleanings, but she didn’t stop because the dentist told her to. She relied on what her cardiologist said. I have a hip replacement and my surgeon advises me to take antibiotics prior to the dental exam for the rest of my life.</p>
<p>“Which field is this??”</p>
<p>Historical musicology/Italian Studies</p>
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<p>Yes, and the law schools that “admit anyone with a pulse and tuition money” seem to be cranking out mostly unemployed lawyers these days. Is there a comparable problem of unemployed doctors? I don’t hear about it.</p>
<p>Even “good, accreditted” law schools are graduating attorneys who are facing a tough employment market and having trouble job-hunting. Personally, do NOT know know unemployed doctors, but there may be some from the 2 hospitals that recently closed their doors in our state. I do know a doc from another country who is studying to take the exams so she can practice medicine in the US but is daunted by the grueling requirements. She is licensed in her home country.</p>
<p>“In my d’s field, her Ph.D. will take on average seven years (and far more competitive to get into than medical schools, taken as a whole). After that, (and from a top 5 program), she’ll be lucky to make $50k a year. Top out (with some few exceptions) at around $140k, usually after 20 or so years.”</p>
<p>After all that work, all that education? That’s awful. Apparently there is little demand or respect for that field. That seems completely wrong for so much effort.</p>
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This is generally true for most professions. So? CPA’s need 5 years of education (undergraduate included) and a year of apprenticeship. MBA is a couple of years post-graduate. PhD.s take up to 5 or more. Every profession is different. But simply comparing different professions financially, the average income of physicians in the 15 years after getting the bachelor’s degree is going to be higher - and that includes postgraduate and residency years.</p>
<p>I don’t begrudge doctors their income or job security. I’m just letting a little air out of the self-pity balloon. Doctors have far lower risk of unemployment (virtually zero) and higher average income than just about any other profession in America. For any young person who qualifies for admission to medical school, from a strictly financial perspective it’s a good deal, student loans, residency and all. That’s just dollars and cents. So stop whining about the money.</p>
<p>There are lots of good non-financial reasons not to become a doctor. (My Dad was a doctor - I had no interest.) But unless a person thinks that they’re the 0.001% who will make it big as an entrepreneur of some sort, medicine is a very good financial option. Remember - the average household income in America is only about $50,000. $120,000 will put you in the top 10%. That’s the frame of reference for income potential in this country - for people of all ages and experience levels.</p>
<p>Still missing the fact that PhD may or may NOT have a job. MD WILL have a job, actually choices of jobs. Income is secondary, as even $50k is OK for individual and in case of family, most likely it is over $100k as most professionals are married to professionals. Again, we are talking about $50K during residency, I have never heard about MD making $50K AFTER residency just as I have never heard of unemployed MD. But maybe somebody else can share a story about unemployed MD’s or the ones who are making $50K after residency, it would be interesting to hear. That would definitely be a blow after 8 years at school and several more in residency.</p>
<p>“After all that work, all that education? That’s awful. Apparently there is little demand or respect for that field. That seems completely wrong for so much effort.”</p>
<p>She’s okay with it (and routinely works 60-hour weeks). The biggest issue is that the only job available might turn out to be at Muskogee Beauty College. It’s not something where you can set up a private practice. At any rate, I hope this punctures this notion that M.D.s are the only ones who go to school for a long time at low pay, and don’t reap necessarily reap great financial rewards. (There aren’t ANY million-dollar musicologists.)</p>
<p>“The biggest issue is that the only job available might turn out to be at Muskogee Beauty College.”</p>
<p>And what do beauticians make? I pay over $200 each month to have my hair cut and colored once - and I’m sure the prices are a lot higher in major cities. That rivals what I pay some M.D.s./visit.</p>
<p>I doubt the musicologist at Muskogee Beauty College makes that much, but if you’d like to contribute $200+ a month, don’t let me stop you.</p>
<p>Job market needs to be researched before plunging into any field of study. We did it when my D. was in 8th grade and announced that she wants to be a Marine Biologist (there are no jobs in this field). My S. did the same in the same 8th grade. He is a good artist, but figured very quickly (even without an internet at that time) that he better pursue Graphic Design. Well, he is a Graphic designer and my D. is in Med. school, as it was closest to Marine Bio as she could figure out at 14, seems to be still interested at 22. Both of them knew at 12 - 14 that our family cannot spend $$/time on something that does not lead to job prospects.<br>
Others might be way too passionate about certain field that does not lead to a job. Then they might need to investigate possibility of “day” job prospects in different field or related field that allow them to support themselves (as many artists do, for example). On the other hand, there are people with unlimited resources who can afford to pursue whatever…not many though. But I knew H. trained lawyer who never practiced, she was staying at home mom and I heard that she was not good at it at all, beside personally enjoying to be at home.</p>
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One of my law firm’s clients was one of the top celebrity colorists in NYC. (Not one of the people with lines of products and stuff, just the owner of a very exclusive salon.) He has made seven figures for as long as I’ve known him. Of course, that’s just because he’s got a huge celebrity clientele. My cousin also owns a shop. Decent living, control of her life and hours, enjoys the work and social interaction. Very happy woman.</p>
<p>Median salaries for beauticians is in the high 20s.</p>
<p>My BF in grad school was pursing a PhD in ecology. He watched his classmates get their degrees & then very low-paid jobs in the field (forestry, underpaid faculty, etc.) He opted to get his masters, which he decided for his personal gratification (enjoys nature). He went on to transfer to another U & get a masters in computer science, where he got a 2nd masters in computer science so he could get a marketable degree.</p>
<p>Right HImom, MD’s get paid a lot because that’s what the market pays them, not because the went to school for 8+ years. The market no longer allows extra money for thriving and successful private practices due to the market. That’s capitalism. The market doesn’t care how long you sent to school.</p>
<p>My “passion” job is my private practice (where i am curerently on hold, trying to get a prior auth…at least 30 minutes so far). Pay for this, and for the patient that no showed this morning?..priceless! (sarcasm)</p>
<p>My “day” job is working for the county.</p>