Advanced practice nurses can earn over $150,000 annually, depending on the type of nursing role and level of experience.
Although the pay is high, the required investment of time, school, and money needed to become a doctor is also large. After college, prospective doctors must complete a four-year medical school program, and then 3-7 years of residency training, depending on the medical specialty they wish to practice. Some specialists must also complete additional years of training after residency, called fellowships. Therefore, many doctors begin their careers hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. However, if you can handle the investment, the career can be extremely rewarding, both financially and intrinsically.
Physician assistants must have a bachelor’s degree plus a master’s degree from a physician assisting program. The average salary for full-time physician assistants is about $100,000, but salaries greatly depend on where you reside in the United States.
