National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Doctors earn a national median of $236,000/year vs Paralegals at $59,200/year. Doctors earn 75% more nationally. The gap is $176,800 per year — or $14,733 per month.
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Doctor
$236,000
national median/year
$19,667/mo • $113/hr
VS
Paralegal
$59,200
national median/year
$4,933/mo • $28/hr
Annual salary gap
$176,800
Doctors earn 75% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $2,004,080.
Best states for Paralegals
vs Doctors
Arkansas+$-168,120
Idaho+$-170,120
Arizona+$-172,120
Iowa+$-172,120
Kansas+$-172,120
Best states for Doctors
vs Paralegals
Alaska+$192,120
Massachusetts+$188,120
Minnesota+$188,120
Wisconsin+$188,120
Connecticut+$184,120
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Doctors earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Doctors is $236,000 versus $59,200 for Paralegals — a difference of $176,800 per year or $14,733 per month.
The national median salary gap between Doctors and Paralegals is $176,800 per year. Doctors earn 75% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $2,004,080.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, Massachusetts pays Doctors the highest median salary at $258,320 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Paralegals the highest median salary at $76,200 per year.
Salary is one factor — Doctors earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Physicians and Surgeons and Paralegals and Legal Assistants both have different educational paths, licensing requirements, and long-term growth projections. Use salary as a starting point, not the only factor.
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, Doctors earn approximately $113 per hour nationally and Paralegals earn approximately $28 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.
Methodology: Salary data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024-2025. Figures represent median annual wages for wage and salary workers. Self-employed excluded. Hourly rates calculated at 2,080 hours per year. State salary figures from same BLS OES dataset. Updated annually.
