The top benefits of becoming a doctor

Being a doctor is one of the most sought-after and well-respected professions. While highly competitive, it is arguably worth the commitment. If you have an aptitude for science and a desire to care for others, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we explore why so many international students pursue a medical degree by focusing solely on the benefits of becoming a doctor.

1. Earning a high salary
2. High graduate employment rate and job security
3. Opportunities for travel
4. Career satisfaction

Earning a high salary

One attractive element of becoming a doctor is the salary. Although starting as a doctor, you may not immediately see a financial benefit, consultants and general practitioners can earn three-figure salaries with experience. While medicine requires a lot of dedication and up to 10 years of study, you will earn a good salary and can enjoy a high quality of life. The average salaries for doctors in the UK, Canada, the USA, and Australia are:

• The UK
  • Foundation training with the National Health Service (NHS) – GBP 32,398 to GBP 37,303 per year (Source: NHS)
  • A junior doctor in the NHS - GBP 43,923 to GBP 63,152 per year (Source: NHS)
  • Consultants – GBP 99,532 to GBP 131,964 per year (Source: British Medical Association)
• Canada
  • Junior doctor's average salary – CAD 135,813 per year (Source: Glassdoor)
    • Experienced/senior positions average salary – CAD 233,726 per year (Source: Canadian Government)
• Australia
  • Junior doctor average salary – AUD 70,000 to AUD 90,000 per year (Source: Glassdoor)
    • Specialist doctor's average salary - AUD 110,000 to AUD 160,000 per year (Source: Indeed)
• USA
  • Average medical doctor salary -  USD 165,000 per year (Source: Forbes)
  • Medical specialist average salary - USD 410,000 to USD 550,000 per year (Source: Forbes)

Learn more about what to expect when studying for a degree in medicine. 

High graduate employment rate and job security

Graduates with medical degrees enjoy excellent employment outcomes. Medical graduates have high employment rates in the first year or longer after graduating. The percentage of graduates who find work in popular study destinations or abroad include:

• Australia 
  • Medical graduates enjoy a full-time employment rate of 95.6 per cent and an overall employment rate of 97 per cent. The average full-time employment rate for all subjects is 79 per cent, and the average overall employment rate for all subjects is 88.9 per cent. (Source: Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023)
• Canada
  • A full-time employment rate of 93 per cent for graduates in related health science fields and 86 per cent for medical graduates. (Source: Statistics Canada)
• The UK
  • 94 per cent of medicine and dentistry graduates were in further study or full-time employment six months after graduation.  (Source: HESA Graduate Outcomes 2021/22)
• The USA
  • Jobs for physician specialists will grow by three per cent by 2032, and the unemployment rate is only 0.3% (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). 

As you can see, qualified medical professionals enjoy an above-average employment rate compared to other degrees. As the job market can be competitive, a degree in medicine is a safe, vocational option as medical practitioners are always in need.

Get more information about medical specialisations. 

Opportunities for travel

Qualifying as a doctor can mean international mobility and several options for countries where you can practice medicine. You may need to be accredited by medical professional councils or associations to practice, for example:

• The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in the UK
• Medical Board of Australia 
• Medical Council of Canada
• Irish Medical Council 
• Medical Council of New Zealand
• Board certification in the USA
  • There are over 25 boards that certify medical specialists, including the American Board of Medical Specialties. 

Always check whether board or professional certification is required in your chosen destination. Once you are certified, you can work as a medical professional. Further, the demand for doctors continues to grow with the profession classified on the desired skills list:

• You could qualify for a Health and Care visa in the UK, as both general and specialist medical professionals are classed as desirable skills. 
• In Canada, you may qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program under the express entry system. General practitioners, family physicians and medical technologists are all on the eligible skills occupation list. 
• Many medical specialisations are included on the skilled occupation list in Australia, giving you preferential access to appropriate visas. 
• Ireland has classified medical professionals and practitioners on the Critical Skills Occupation List.
• You could qualify for a Long Term Skill Shortage Work Visa or an Essential Skills Work Visa in New Zealand with some medical specialisations classed on the skill shortage list. 

Remember that there are also options to work for international organisations needing medical professionals, such as the United Nations and Doctors Without Borders (Médecins sans frontières). 

Career satisfaction

Being a doctor or medical professional offers rewards apart from a high salary and good career progression. You can make a positive impact on individuals, communities and society through the work you do. Providing care and assistance, including to those who are vulnerable, means that your skills will always be highly valued. Some of the other satisfying aspects of working as a doctor include:

• Earning the trust and respect of your patients and colleagues. With your position of authority and responsibility, this can be very gratifying, allowing you to take pride in your work, ultimately making a positive impact.
• As a medical professional, you can learn new skills and develop your knowledge formally and informally. It is a dynamic career where no two days are the same.  You may even find yourself moving into another area of medicine as you gain experience.
• You will have the chance to explore new areas of your specialisation, contribute to research and even partner with medical professionals and technicians from other fields to develop new treatments and techniques for treating patients. 
• You’ll have the unique opportunity to learn about communities and society through your work, contributing to discussions and work that addresses important issues. You also have the unique opportunity to save lives, which is extremely rewarding.
• As you grow in your career, you may get to mentor and assist younger professionals as they learn and develop their expertise. Further, as your career progresses, so will your earning potential and the chance to diversify your interest or contribute to other areas of healthcare, such as public health, policy and even midwifery. 

While being a doctor comes with a lot of responsibility, this is balanced by the rewards you can enjoy. You can also do some research to discover more about how to match your study and career path. 

If this article has you interested in studying medicine, you might want to continue your research. Try our guides to choosing where to study abroad, choosing a course and the top reasons to study abroad.