excuse me!   See 1 other reply

Your medical loans are deferred until after residency is completed. So therefore you get to keep your 45k salary just like everyone else does, minus taxes, or if you choose to pay off some of the interest on your loans, you can do that. Bottom line - residents are not paying off 200k in loans on a 45k salary. When they become RDs (real doctors) aka get a job when done with residency, which takes 4-6 years depending on specialty, the average family practice doctor starts at 120k. If - IF - a doctor chooses to go onto fellowship training, the salary is reduced compared to RD salary, because they are still considered to be in training. However it is well above the resident salary. I have heard of student loans being deferred until after fellowship as well. After a few years out from residency, the average family practice doctor can be making over 150k, and upwards of 300k when fully engaged in the practice. Surgeons make 200k+ after residency, and upwards of 800k if they are specialized such as neurosurgeons and cardiothoracic surgeons.   See 10 other replies