Every year, hundreds of students contemplate theirfuture career choices. The dilemma runs even deeper for science stream students as they have to decide which field to pursue –engineering or medical.
While making career choices, it is beneficial for students to extensively researchcareer paths,potential jobs,lifestylesand consider all of the relevant factors, such as working circ*mstances,salary packages, job prospects, and educational requirements. Forscience stream students,engineering and medical– bothfieldshave distinct career paths and trajectories that may or may not appeal to them.
If you are also trying to decide what to become – an engineer or a doctor, understanding the differences between thelifestyles of a doctor and an engineer, theirsalaries, and academic requirements will help you decide which of the two careers is right for you. Here, in this blog, we are going to discuss engineer vs doctor careers, salaries, lifestyles, and educational requirements to help you decide the best-suited career for you.
Doctors vs Engineers Overview:
| Parameters | Doctor | Engineer |
| Working Field | Doctors are qualified professionals who practice medicine and diagnose and treat medical conditions to cure the individual’s sickness. | Engineers are professionals who plan, analyse, build and operate machines in various engineering domains. They apply their knowledge of mathematics, science, and technology learned in engineering school to do this task. |
| Eligibility | 12th class or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as mandatory subjects | 12th class or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry and Maths as compulsory subjects |
| Qualification | A master’s or bachelor’s or degree in medicine or PhD/ Doctorate | A master’s or bachelor’s degree in any field of engineering or a PhD/ Doctorate Candidates with a technical diploma are also eligible |
| Courses | UG: MBBS, BDS, BVSC, BHMS, BAMS, BUMS, BSMS and Physiotherapy. | Computer engineering, Mechanical engineering, Chemical engineering, Electrical engineering, Civil engineering, Petroleum Engineering etc. |
| Area of Work | Healthcare Sector | Information Technology, Construction of Roads, Railways, Buildings, Electricity Board, Power Plants etc. |
| Average Salary | INR 7,50,000 – 41,00,000 per year | INR 5,00,000 – 30,00,000 per year |
Doctor vs Engineer – Educational Requirements:
Since the two professions are poles apart, a doctor’s and an engineer’s educational requirements differ. So here we present theeducational requirements for a doctor and engineer.
For Doctors:
- You must have studiedscience with Physics, Chemistry, and Biologyas compulsory subjects inClass 11th & 12th.
- You must qualify for entrance exams likeNEET(UG)and other entrance exams conducted by state government bodies, universities, and colleges.
- After taking admission to theMBBS program, you must complete a 5.5-year Bachelor’s degree, including one year of internship. You can start practising as a physician after completing your MBBS.
- For post-graduation programs like MD/MS, you must qualify respective entrance exams like NEET(PG), & INI CET.
- You must complete your master’s degree to pursue the doctoral program (PhD); however, for some subjects, M.Phil is required for a PhD.
Overall, it can take upto six to eighteen years for some specialisations to complete.
For Engineers:
- You must have studied science withPhysics, Chemistry, and Mathematicsas compulsory subjects inClass 11th & 12th.
- You need to qualify for entrance exams like JEE Main & Advanced and other entrance exams conducted by state government bodies, universities, and private colleges.
- After taking admission to the B.E./B.Tech programs, you must complete a four-year Bachelor’s degree.
- After completing the Bachelor’s degree, you’ll become an engineer and seek jobs in various organisations/industries.
- Depending on the specialisation, you may need to pursue a master’s degree, including M.E/M.Tech., MBA, M.Sc., PG Diploma programs, etc.
Overall, it can take three to four years for an engineer to complete their bachelor’s degree, with an additional couple of years if they choose to specialise in a particular field.
Doctors vs Engineers – Career Responsibilities:
While making career decisions, it is reasonable to weigh your career responsibilities to make wise choices. Here we have outlined a few job responsibilities of an engineer and doctor for you.
Career Responsibilities of a Doctor:
Examining, diagnosing, and treating patients are the primaryresponsibilities of a doctor. In addition, they also counsel patients about the necessary measures to improve or maintain their health. You can also study different specialities like dermatology, neurology, cardiology, etc. Typical career responsibilities of a doctor include
- Diagnose illnesses and prescribe the necessary treatment
- Prescribe required lab tests and analyse the results
- Conducting minor/major surgeries
- Obtaining relevant data about the patient’s family and medical history
- Administrating treatment and explaining its procedure to patients
- Observing early signs and symptoms of various illnesses for quicker diagnosis.
- Referring critical patients to specialists
Career Responsibilities of an Engineer:
Designing, developing, and testing new machines, buildings, technology, equipment, and systemsare the primaryresponsibilities of an engineer. They are also responsible for modifying and changing the current system, machine, or engine for improvement. You can study engineering in different specialities like mechanical, civil, electrical, etc. Job responsibilities vary depending on your field of specialisation. However, for your reference, the typical career responsibilities of an engineer include
- Creating project estimates and defining budgets
- Specifying project requirements
- Defining testing procedures
- Meeting project deadlines
- Keeping project progress and budgets on track
- Writing project technical reports for customers and stakeholders
- Keeping track of the project’s progress and documenting it
Doctors vs Engineers – Jobs & Scope
For Engineers:
| Job Profile(s) | Job Description | Average Salary (Tentative) |
| Chief Engineer | The highest position for an engineer in the engineering department is the Chief Engineer. They collaborate with other teams while overseeing a complete engineering department. | INR 25 Lakh |
| Project Engineer | Every engineering department has a project engineer or a project management engineer. A project engineer overlooks the project’s planning and collaborates with other teams, gathers data, develop testing procedures to assess the project’s quality, and creates reports. | INR 9 Lakh |
| Executive Engineer | Executive engineers’ primary responsibility is to delegate work to other engineers in the hierarchy below, such as assistant engineers. When assistant engineers need guidance, an executive engineer is their initial point of contact. | INR 7.50 Lakh |
| Junior Engineer | A Junior Engineer is an entry-level professional in the engineering industry. Typically, a junior engineer assists a senior engineer. Junior engineers can be found in virtually every area of engineering, including mechanical, civil, and electrical. | INR 5 Lakh |
| Assistant Engineer | An Assistant Engineer reports to a Senior Engineer just like a Junior Engineer. Every field of engineering also employs assistant engineers. Junior engineers who gain experience are then promoted to assistant engineers. Their respective responsibilities and roles define the difference between the two. | INR 6 Lakh |
For Doctors:
| Job Profile(s) | Job Description | Average Salary (Tentative) |
| General Physician | General Physician is an entry-level position after MBBS when the candidate has not specialised in any specific field. | INR 7 lakh |
| Neuroscientists | These doctors specialise in the treatment of nervous system disorders. Neuroscientists must be knowledgeable in physiology, biochemistry, and psychiatry, among other medical specialities. | INR 12 Lakh |
| Cardiologists | These doctors specialise in treatingtheheart and blood vascular conditions. It is one of the most sought-after areas of medical research and offers excellent incentives. | INR 20 Lakh |
| Surgeon | These doctors specialise in performing surgeries to treat various illnesses. More than 200 million surgical procedures are performed annually by surgeons. | INR 19 Lakh |
Doctors vs Engineers – Lifestyle:
Both engineers and doctors have different lifestyles and work environments.
Doctors usually work in hospitals, private clinics, or physician offices. Some even work in government offices, private institutes, and non-profit organizations. They usually work indoors and in rapid-moving situations where they must keep themselves on their toes to make critical decisions. Their work timings typically extend 40+ hours per week.In addition, they often have to do night shifts and work on weekends and holidays.
Engineerswork both– indoor and outdoor office settings, factories, laboratories, construction sites, etc., depending on their work and job profile. They usually work with a team to coordinate project development and completion. Based on their job profile, they may have to use high-risk equipment and wear safety gear, but that won’t be the case with all. Engineers typically work regular business hours, i.e. 40 hours per week. However, it can be extended based on the projects, and they need to work overtime, on weekends, or through holidays to meet particular deadlines.
Doctors vs Engineers – Salary:
While computing the averageengineer’s or doctor’s salary,it’s hard to determine the exact number; hence we’ll go with estimates over here.Please consider that salary depends on both fields’ specialisation, location, and experience.
An average doctor would make about ₹ 7,50,000 per annum, while experienced specialists would make about ₹ 41,00,000 per annum.
An average engineer would make about ₹ 5,00,000 per annum, while experienced specialists would make about ₹ 30,00,000 per annum.
Both fields encompass add-on benefits from employers like accommodation facilities, travel allowances, relocation assistance, life insurance, etc., based on their job profile, experience, location, and specialization.
These are the basic details about lifestyle, job responsibilities, educational requirements, and salaries of a doctor and engineer. Furthermore, while making career decisions, it is important to consider that both occupations are high-in-demand, and earning opportunities increase yearly.
So if you want to become a doctor or an engineer, prepare with the most-trusted and result-dominating institute to make yourself future-ready and acecompetitive examslikeJEE or NEETto accomplish all your dreams. Reach out to us with your queries, concerns, or doubts, and we’ll gladly assist you.
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