Investment Banking
Investment Banking
How to Compare Banker, Lawyer, and Doctor Salaries for Maximum Career Growth
A Comprehensive Compensation and Loan Repayment Guide for Ambitious Professionals
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Ben has enjoyed helping his peers and students crush their career goals ever since he was in college at U.C. Berkeley. Upon graduation, he worked as an investment banker at J.P. Morgan, where he was also a recruiting captain. He later founded rareliquid.
Ben has enjoyed helping his peers and students crush their career goals ever since he was in college at U.C. Berkeley. Upon graduation, he worked as an investment banker at J.P. Morgan, where he was also a recruiting captain. He later founded rareliquid.
, Last Updated :
Feb 28, 2025
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Choosing a career with strong earning potential can be a game-changer for professionals and entrepreneurs who want to maximize their long-term financial rewards. Few paths are as renowned for high salaries as banking, law, and medicine. Yet, each route comes with unique requirements—from rigorous schooling to substantial student debt—that can significantly impact your financial timeline.
In this post, you’ll find a detailed look at banker, lawyer, and doctor compensation, complete with estimated salaries, typical career trajectories, and the time it takes to pay off student loans. By the end, you’ll have clear insights to help you make an informed decision about which path might serve your future goals best.
TLDR:
Bankers can earn impressive six-figure salaries within a few years of starting and see bonuses grow with performance.
Lawyers typically face substantial student debt but benefit from relatively predictable salary increases in large firms.
Doctors invest the most time in formal education, often amassing higher debt, but can eventually command significant salaries in specialized fields.
Loan repayment strategies and timelines differ greatly, with law graduates often taking four years to clear debts and physicians needing up to five.
Long-term fit is crucial—career satisfaction and day-to-day passion can outweigh even the most attractive compensation packages.
TLDR:
Bankers can earn impressive six-figure salaries within a few years of starting and see bonuses grow with performance.
Lawyers typically face substantial student debt but benefit from relatively predictable salary increases in large firms.
Doctors invest the most time in formal education, often amassing higher debt, but can eventually command significant salaries in specialized fields.
Loan repayment strategies and timelines differ greatly, with law graduates often taking four years to clear debts and physicians needing up to five.
Long-term fit is crucial—career satisfaction and day-to-day passion can outweigh even the most attractive compensation packages.
TLDR:
Bankers can earn impressive six-figure salaries within a few years of starting and see bonuses grow with performance.
Lawyers typically face substantial student debt but benefit from relatively predictable salary increases in large firms.
Doctors invest the most time in formal education, often amassing higher debt, but can eventually command significant salaries in specialized fields.
Loan repayment strategies and timelines differ greatly, with law graduates often taking four years to clear debts and physicians needing up to five.
Long-term fit is crucial—career satisfaction and day-to-day passion can outweigh even the most attractive compensation packages.
TLDR:
Bankers can earn impressive six-figure salaries within a few years of starting and see bonuses grow with performance.
Lawyers typically face substantial student debt but benefit from relatively predictable salary increases in large firms.
Doctors invest the most time in formal education, often amassing higher debt, but can eventually command significant salaries in specialized fields.
Loan repayment strategies and timelines differ greatly, with law graduates often taking four years to clear debts and physicians needing up to five.
Long-term fit is crucial—career satisfaction and day-to-day passion can outweigh even the most attractive compensation packages.
TLDR:
Bankers can earn impressive six-figure salaries within a few years of starting and see bonuses grow with performance.
Lawyers typically face substantial student debt but benefit from relatively predictable salary increases in large firms.
Doctors invest the most time in formal education, often amassing higher debt, but can eventually command significant salaries in specialized fields.
Loan repayment strategies and timelines differ greatly, with law graduates often taking four years to clear debts and physicians needing up to five.
Long-term fit is crucial—career satisfaction and day-to-day passion can outweigh even the most attractive compensation packages.
