Pilot vs. Doctor, Which Is Better Career? (Must Read)

Becoming a pilot or doctor is a childhood dream for many aspiring students.

Both jobs’ lucrative and adventurous nature is the ideal reward for years of training you’ll spend learning the many skills and concepts of either domain.

But since you have to choose one as a long-term career, how do you do it?

This article will explain it all.

Pilot vs. Doctor, Which is The Better Career?

In short, being a Doctor is a better career choice than being a Pilot since Doctors earn more money.

That being said, neither career is better than the other. The suitability primarily depends on the interests of an individual. For example, a student with a childhood passion for becoming a pilot will be over the moon if they get into the commercial airline academy. Similarly, someone with the life goal of helping people who can’t help themselves will find the medical field a treatment.

The point is, either career you choose, you will have exposure to tons of remarkable opportunities that will contribute to your professional and personal growth.

Similarly, you’ll also be earning enough with either choice; hence you’ll have peace of mind while picking a career as a pilot or a doctor.

Pilot vs. Doctor, Which is The Harder Career? (Must Read)

Both professions are well respected and not necessarily harder or easier than the other. Both require long hours and typically involve shift work. Being a pilot is a given if you are passionate about flying. If you want a better salary becoming a Doctor is a given. If you solely want to help people then go down the medicine route. Either way, both are highly regarded.

That being said while considering their options, many students take into account the difficulty factor of the chosen career, so they have an idea of what they’re getting themselves into, so it’s not an unwanted surprise when it’s too late.

To help you better understand, let’s discuss the career demands of each career separately.

Doctors have daily duties of attending to sick patients, prescribing medical solutions, and monitoring the health of supervised individuals admitted to the hospital ward.

Their work environment can vary depending on the job nature, e.g., doctors can work in a clinical setting such as a hospital and doctor’s office, or a non-clinical setting where they work inside an agency or a government establishment.

Regardless, doctors and physicians often work for long hours where they might even get a call at midnight to get to the hospital due to an emergency quickly.

The intensity of this job also depends on current world circumstances, as we witnessed in the wake of COVID-19.

The healthcare workers were always on the edge of their seats, working 40 plus hours a week, front lining in the face of the pandemic.

On the other hand, pilots have the necessary skills to fly an aircraft or a helicopter.

They have navigation expertise and are often tasked with carrying passengers or cargo across countries or continents.

Naturally, pilots have a hectic schedule where they might have to stay up through the night on longer flights.

Of course, this schedule is forever varying, so sometimes their routine becomes easy too.

Some pilots that work commercially may be in charge of aerial tours and the maintenance of the aircraft itself.

The example of COVID-19 still holds here, but it affected the aerial business the exact opposite.

Since tourism was non-existent for the past two years, commercial and private airlines weren’t working; hence most pilots were sitting at their homes or, in extreme cases, losing jobs.

Pilot vs. Doctor, Which Is Harder To Become?

The saying goes, ‘the higher the effort, the bigger the reward.’ This statement holds in this case, where if you choose to become a doctor or a pilot, you’ll have particular challenges in your way that might be overwhelming to deal with sometimes.

For example, medical students go through strict evaluation for five years in medical school.

Exams every few months, annual assessments, oral quizzes, and training workshops are standard for a student motivated to become a doctor.

Similarly, while becoming a pilot, students go through rough training sessions, combat lessons, and a detailed overview of even the smallest part of an aircraft.

They may also need to work on their communication skills and professional behavior to fit perfectly in a corporate airline setting.

If you choose to become a doctor, you’ll need:

A bachelor’s degree
A five-year medical degree
Three to nine years of internship or residency programs
Specialization in a sub-medical field (optional)
A firm grip over medical subjects such as biology, physical sciences, and healthcare-related domains
A motivated desire to perform well in competitive medical school environments
A license to get your practice started once you’ve completed your study requirements
Solid communication and compassion skills
Patience and organizational skills

Physical endurance

If you choose to become a pilot, you’ll need:

A bachelor’s degree
Flight training with a reputable academy
Reinforced training when required by a particular airline company or government officials
Student pilot certificate, private pilot certificate, instrument rating, commercial pilot certificate, multi-engine rating, airline transport pilot certificate (in this order)
Strong communication and observational skills
Quick reflexes and a solution-oriented approach
Dexterity

Pilot vs. Doctor, Who Earns More?

Doctors earn more than Pilots, with Doctors earning $208,000 per year compared to $160,970 per year, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported some numbers from their May 2020 study revolved around hundreds of occupations, including doctors and pilots. According to the report, airline pilots or flight engineers earn around $160,970 per year (where the highest 10% make up to $208,000).

On the other hand, doctors or physicians earn $208,000 per year, whereas some Anaesthesiologists make up to $271,440.

Although both statistics are staggering and incentive enough to choose either career, we see that doctors earn a lot more than pilots make yearly.

So if you want to make money, you now know the better choice.

Final Thoughts

To conclude this article, let’s do a recap:

Whether you choose to become a pilot or a doctor primarily depends on your current interests.

Still, the answer is evident if you want a logical value difference between the two.

Both professions have a demanding nature, but being a doctor can help you earn more than becoming a pilot. However, the former requires a strenuous studying routine and years out of your life to reward you for your efforts.

Please give it a good thought, and read the many points mentioned in this article thoroughly to have the perfect idea for your future.

We are sure that you’re now well-equipped to make an informed decision about choosing a career as a pilot or a doctor. Good luck!

Related Articles

References