Post by @yunggeeski

Why are doctors so far behind financially at age 30? People hear that doctors make $300K a year and assume they’re automatically wealthy. But nobody talks enough about what happens before that salary arrives. We compared three hypothetical career paths from age 18 to 30. No degree: Starts working at 18. College graduate: Takes on $35K in debt, graduates at 22, and starts earning. Doctor: Four years of undergrad, four years of medical school, $255K in education borrowing, and four years of residency. At age 30, their cumulative gross earnings minus student debt: No degree: $552K College degree: $535K Doctor: -$96K The doctor isn’t making nothing during residency. They’re earning $65K–$74K annually. But interest on their education loans keeps accumulating. Here’s the catch: The doctor hasn’t started earning an attending physician’s salary yet. Extend this simulation to age 40 or 50, and the rankings could change completely. Medical school isn’t a shortcut to wealth. It’s a long, expensive investment in a career. Hypothetical financial model based on BLS, AAMC, and federal student loan benchmarks. Not actual net worth or take-home pay.