Doctor vs Engineer: Courses, Careers, Job Description, Salary, Scope, Types

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Ahana Bhaduri

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Engineers are skilled professionals who design, analyze, construct, and use machines across different branches of engineering. An Engineer uses Mathematics, Science, and Technology to solve complex problems. A doctor, on the other hand, is a practitioner of medicine. Doctors are trained professionals who are in charge of taking care of an affected patient and helping them recover from the aligning sickness.

Engineering and Medicine both are poles apart in terms of their fields of study but are certainly not mutually exclusive. Various disciplines and techniques of engineering are applied in medicine. Some of the most pursued disciplines for both engineering and medicine are mechanical, electrical, petroleum, civil, biomedical, genetic engineering, dermatology, immunology, neurology, cardiology and paediatrics. 

To become an Engineer, aspiring students can pursue undergraduate and postgraduate Engineering Courses. Admissions to these courses are usually done on the basis of various state and national-level engineering entrance exams. These entrance exams would eventually help candidates get through some of the top Engineering Colleges across the country. On the other hand, in order to become a Doctor, aspiring students can pursue Undergraduate and Postgraduate Medical Courses or MBBS from some of the top Medical Colleges across the country.

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Doctor vs Engineer is the most common question faced by many people. To become an engineer, candidates must qualify for an entrance examination. Candidates can sit for national-level entrance exams such as JEE Main or state-level entrance exams such as WBJEE to pursue engineering courses to become an engineer. On the other hand, to seek admission to medical courses and become a doctor, candidates must qualify for the NEET exam. 

Doctor vs Engineer: Quick Facts

Parameters Doctors Engineers
Eligibility 10+2 with biology as a mandatory subject. Candidate with a diploma is also eligible 10+2 in Maths as a compulsory subject. Candidate with a diploma is also eligible
Qualification Graduation, Master’s degree in medicine or PhD / Doctorate A Bachelor’s or a master’s degree in any discipline of engineering or a PhD / Doctorate
Courses MBBS, BDS, Veterinary Science, and Physiotherapy Mechanical engineering, Chemical engineering, electrical engineering, and petroleum engineering
Job Profile Pediatricians, Physicians, General Surgeons, ENT Specialists, Gynecologists, Cardiologists AE, JE, Superintending Engineer, Project Engineer, etc.
Area of Work Healthcare Electricity boards, Railways, Naval, Education, Information Technology
Average Salary INR 14,00,000- INR 41,00,000 INR 14,00,000- INR 30,00,000

Who is an Engineer

  • A person who is professionally engaged and trained in a specific branch of engineering is known as an Engineer.
  • Engineering holds different branches and sub-branches under it. From Electrical engineering to Mechanical, Chemical engineering, and so on. 
  • Engineering is one of the most pursued professions in the country and is also one of the highest-paying jobs in India.
  • The entry-level salary of an engineer is INR 4,50,000 and increases with experience.

What does an Engineer do

  • An engineer uses the concepts of math, science, and technology to design and construct machines that help improve the productivity and efficiency of human beings.
  • Engineers help design machines that reduce human labour. They also help protect human beings from natural calamities or extreme weather by aiding the design of buildings.
  • Engineers are responsible for solving complex technical problems, and thereby, designing economical solutions for the same.
  • Our day-to-day life processes are surrounded by engineering thus, there are as many engineering fields out there. Candidates can choose to become mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, computer engineers, and so on.

Check: Types of Engineers

Who is a Doctor

  • A doctor is a licensed and trained professional who diagnoses illnesses by examining their patients and providing medical treatment.
  • There are different types of medical specialists covering every cardinal system in the human body.
  • Doctors are one of the highest-paid professions in India and also the fastest-growing as compared to other occupations.
  • The average starting salary of a doctor in India is INR 5,00,000. A doctor's salary varies as per experience, medical field, and gender-wise.

What does a Doctor Do?

  • The job role of a doctor includes examining their patients to treat their illnesses or injuries.
  • Doctors conduct various tests to get rid of the illness/sickness or injuries of a patient.
  • Doctors provide medical treatment by performing medical procedures, analyzing medical histories, and writing prescriptions.
  • For every specific system of the human body, several medical specialists are there, from surgeons to neurologists and so on. Candidates willing to pursue medicine in the future can opt for any field of study depending on their interests.
  • A doctor also collaborated with the nurses in the hospital. A patient's vitals is checked by the nurses that are under the supervision of the doctor. These might include recording the body temperature, body weight, blood pressure, etc.

Know MoreTypes of Doctors in India 

Doctor vs Engineer

Though Medicine and engineering are completely different fields of study, but engineering principles are often used in medicine. New advanced technologies are designed by engineers to diagnose or assess the human body on a deeper level. Examples of this are biomedical engineering and genetic engineering. As the two fields of study are somewhat related, doctors often use machines or software designed by engineers. It expands the scope of engineers and also creates more job opportunities for them.

Educational Requirements

Education requirements of doctors and Engineer are listed below:

Engineer Doctor
Candidates must clear 10+2 with Maths as one of the mandatory subjects Candidates must clear 10+2 in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology
Candidates must qualify for All India entrance tests such as JEE Main or JEE Advanced to be eligible for government colleges. Candidates can also qualify for entrance tests like SRMJEE, VITEEE, or other private college tests Candidates must apply and qualify for the entrance tests like NEET or NEET PG to be eligible for a good college to pursue MBBS
After completing the Bachelor’s degree in the respective stream, candidates need to either quality All India entrance tests such as GATE, State electricity board exams, or exams conducted by the respective MNCs Candidates can also further pursue postgraduate degrees such as MD, or MS (Master of Surgery).

Working Methodology

Doctor Engineer
The job role of a doctor includes examining their patients to treat their illnesses or injuries. They conduct various tests to get rid of the illness/sickness or injuries of a patient Engineers use the concepts of math, science, and technology to design and construct machines that help improve the productivity and efficiency of human beings
Doctors provide medical treatment by performing medical procedures, analyzing medical histories, and writing prescriptions. Engineers help design machines that reduce human labour. They also help protect human beings from natural calamities or extreme weather by aiding the design of buildings.

Area of Work

Depending on the respective stream, Engineers can work as Mechanical Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Chemical Engineers, Software Engineers, and so on. Listed below are the different areas of work of Engineers and Doctors.

Doctor Engineer
Depending on the specialization doctors can work as Physicians, Surgeons, dermatologists, cardiologists, and Chiropractors Mechanical Engineers are involved in manufacturing Energy Systems. They deal with Material Science, and Mechanical Design
Doctors work in healthcare departments, educational institutions, or hospitals Electrical Engineers are responsible for evaluating and developing energy systems, and testing & maintaining electrical products
Different types of doctors specialize in different fields. Different doctors can work examining patients, prescribes medicines, and conducts surgery Chemical Engineers work in the chemical industry and materials, biotechnology, food, and pharmaceuticals
Some doctors conduct seminars and workshops in top medical colleges for aspiring candidates Civil Engineers build roads, bridges, and water systems, railways, airports, buildings

Doctor vs Engineer: Job Scope & Top Recruiters

Job Scope

Tabulated below is the Job scope for both Engineers and Doctors,

Engineers

Job Profile Description Average Annual Salary
Assistant Engineer Just like a Junior Engineer, an Assistant Engineer also works under a senior engineer. Assistant engineers are also found in every branch of engineering. After gaining experience, junior engineers are further promoted to assistant engineers. The difference between the two is their roles and responsibilities. INR 6 L
Junior Engineer A junior engineer is an entry-level professional in the field of engineering. A junior engineer usually works and reports back to a senior engineer. Junior engineers are in almost every branch of engineering like mechanical, civil, electrical, etc. INR 5 L
Executive Engineer The job role of Executive engineers is to assign tasks to the assistant engineers or other engineers in the hierarchy below. An executive engineer is the first point of contact for assistant engineers and guides them whenever necessary. INR 7.50 L
Chief Engineer A chief engineer is the highest designation of an engineer in the engineering department. They overlook an entire engineering department, working alongside other teams. INR 25 L
Project Engineer Every project has a project engineer or a project management engineer. A project engineer overlooks the planning of the specific project. They also coordinate with different teams, collect data, design testing methods to detect the quality of the project and create reports. INR 9 L

Doctors

Job Profile Job Description Average Annual Salary
Neuroscientists Neuroscientists are professionals that deal with neurons and neural circuits. Neuroscientists often study various disciplines like physiology, biochemistry, psychology, and so on. INR 12 L
Cardiologist Professionals trained and skilled in diagnosing, preventing, and treating heart diseases and blood vessels are known as cardiologists. INR 20 L
Surgeon Doctors that perform surgery are called surgeons. The surgery procedures are of course different for every medical specialization. There are more than 200 million surgeries performed by surgeons every year. INR 19 L

Top Recruiters

Some of the top recruiters for both Medical and Engineering fields are tabulated below for your reference,

Engineers

Google Government and Private Banks
Amazon KPMG
Bosch Deloitte
State Electricity Boards Petroleum Industry
Railways ISRO
Apple Flipkart
Indian Defense Service of Engineers DRDO

Doctors

NGO’s Government and Private Hospitals
Dispensaries Army Medical Corps
Indian Navy State Electricity boards

Doctor vs Engineer: FAQs

Ques. Who earns more in India, a doctor or an engineer?

Ans. Both professions earn a reasonable amount of salary. As both fields of study are competitive and do not lack job opportunities, the salary figures are somewhat similar for a doctor as well as an engineer.

Ques. How are the work life of a doctor and an engineer?

Ans. The work life of both professions is equally hectic. It all depends on the job role, engineering, or medical discipline, thus, both are hard to compare.

Ques.Salary comparison between a software engineer at Google and a doctor?

Ans. The salary of a software engineer varies as he/she progresses the career ladder. Salary varies as per the country a software engineer is hired. In India, the average salary of a software engineer in Google earns 18 lacs per annum whereas the salary of a doctor is 14 lacs. The salary constraints are however dependent on various factors.

Ques. Which one is tougher? Medicine or engineering?

Ans. It is unlikely to compare the two. Both are overall difficult fields of study. Also, grasping power, attention span, etc., all play a major role in deciding the difficulty level of the subject. Besides, both medicine and engineering require hard work, long hours of study, and focus.

Ques. Which of the two career choices has better job opportunities abroad?

Ans. Considering the salary packages, a doctor abroad earns more than an engineer. However, job roles, the respective country, experience, etc., must be taken into consideration.

Ques. Is there still a growing demand for engineers and doctors in India?

Ans. Yes, engineering and medicine have been and always will be popular choices among candidates, especially in India. The demand increases due to the several job opportunities for doctors and engineers and the reasonable salary packages. Technological advances have also led to the creation of better job opportunities and will outgrow in the future.

Ques. List some countries that are famous for their engineering and medicine courses. Where should one pursue a medicine or engineering career besides India?

Ans. The top countries to study medicine are the UK, Australia, France, Germany, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, USA whereas the top countries for engineering are the USA, UK, Singapore, Australia, Japan, etc.

Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery [MBBS] : 94 answered questions

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Ques. How much marks should I score in the AIIMS entrance exam to secure an MBBS seat in AIIMS Delhi?

● Top Answer By Muskan Shafi on 30 Mar 24

Ans. AIIMS Delhi doesn’t conduct its own entrance exam for MBBS, instead, it accepts NEET UG for admission to MBBS on an All-India basis. Being the top choice for medical aspirants in India for MBBS, AIIMS Delhi has an extremely high cutoff for all the categories. The marks required for securing a seat for MBBS at AIIMS Delhi vary each year depending on various factors such as the number of seats, the number of candidates appearing, the difficulty level of the exam, and the previous year's cutoffs.  To get a seat for MBBS at AIIMS Delhi, candidates from the general category must aim to score 710+ in NEET UG to be on the safer side for admission. Students from the general category must aim to have an All-India rank within the top 50 to have a sure chance for admission. For reserved categories such as EWS and OBC, candidates must aim to score above 690+ for admission to MBBS at AIIMS Delhi. SC and ST candidates should aim to score 675+ for admission to MBBS at AIIMS Delhi.  Candidates can also check AIIMS Delhi Cutoff in 2023 for MBBS for different categories to get an estimate about the expected cutoff rank in 2024: Category 2023 Closing Cutoff By Rank  General 57 EWS 258 OBC 247 SC 989 ST 1624 General- PwD 1018 OBC- PwD 20882 SC- PwD 77386 ST- PwD 145610Read more
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Ques. How is the life of an MBBS student at KJ Somaiya medical college, Mumbai?

● Top Answer By Raktim Tarafdar on 28 Sept 23

Ans. The life of an MBBS student at KJ Somaiya Medical College, like medical students at most institutions, can be both challenging and rewarding. The lectures at KJ Somaiya typically begin at 8:30 in the morning and go until 5–5:30 in the evening. Typically, lectures last three hours and include a 15-minute break. After lectures, students attend committee meetings, presentations, assignments, or extracurricular activities. Here's an overview of what you can expect during your time as an MBBS student at KJ Somaiya Medical: Academic rigor: You will have to study a wide range of subjects, including anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, microbiology, and clinical medicine. The workload can be intense, and you'll spend a significant amount of time in lectures, labs, and studying. Class strength: The student-faculty ratio is good. And students come from various states which results in a diversity in culture, perspective and language This diversity of thought enriches class discussions and exposes students to a wide range of ideas and viewpoints, fostering a more dynamic and stimulating learning environment. Facilities: College provides you with great amenities. There is stock in libraries. Next to the college is the hostel. The cafeteria is fantastic. You may also find a skating rink, cricket pitch, indoor table tennis facility and football pitch on the site. Private hospital: Because it is a privately funded facility, patients are not in short supply, but there is also not an overcrowding issue. This offers you plenty of time to prepare for your PG while also providing ideal clinical experience. Rather than high fee structure KJ Somaiya Medical college is a good place to pursue MBBS. It would be demanding as well as incredibly rewarding.Read more
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Ques. What is the total MBBS course fees in KMC, Manipal?

● Top Answer By Sonal Mishra, on 30 Sept 23

Ans. For the batch of 2023-24, the first installment is Rs.17.80 Lakhs. The remaining installments add up to Rs. 70,88,500. This includes tuition and other fees.  So, for your medical degree, you’ll be paying around Rs. 88,68,500. This is for Indian students. You will be paying the fees in 5 installments. You’ll also be paying a caution deposit of Rs.10,000 (refundable). For girls’ hostels, the cost is Rs. 1,30,500 per year, and for boys’ hostels, it is Rs. 1,25,500 per year.  This is the total MBBS course fee at KMC Manipal. Read more
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Ques. Which one is the best AIIMS or CMC Vellore for an MBBS?

● Top Answer By Akriti Banerjee on 21 Sept 23

Ans. One of my friends was in a similar dilemma. He considered the following points while making his decision  Most AIIMS undergraduates settle in the US or pursue higher education in top colleges in India while CMC graduates prefer CMC for their higher education only.  Students of CMC are required to do bonds in mission hospitals so their higher education gets delayed. But this instills in them a strong sense of community-oriented healthcare. They tend to work in remote places of India without any personal glory. An AIIMS student can hardly be seen doing community service. AIIMS graduates publish more when compared to CMC graduates. CMC students get better hands-on experience and hence fare better in terms of clinical and Surgical skills. Right from the second year, they start assisting postgraduates in clinical work.  If you are a non-Christian, it will be difficult to go through the entire training without a mission hospital Ultimately, make a choice based on your demographics, preferences, and goals in life. Read more
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Ques. Which academic books do the students of MBBS at AIIMS, Delhi and JIPMER use?

● Top Answer By Akriti Banerjee on 20 Sept 23

Ans. As an MBBS student at JIPMER, I am listing down the academic books followed over here- For Anatomy- Gray's Anatomy, Keith L. Moore, B.D. Chaurasia (before exams), difiore's Atlas of Histology, Langman’s Embryology. For Neuroanat, Snells and Vishram Singh, and Netter’s Atlas. For Physiology- Dr. G.k.Pal’s textbook and Guyton,for reference. For Biochemistry- Harper, Vasudevan, and the college practical manual. For Pharmacology- K. D. Tripathi and Lippincott. You can also read Dr. Gobind Rai Garg sir's book. For Pathology - Robbins, Tejinder Singh (Haematology). For Microbiology - Ananthanarayanan, Dr. Apurb Shastri. For Parasitology- Panikar. For Forensic - V. V. Pillai, Apurba Nandi For Ophthalmology - Parsons and Khurana For ENT - Dhingra For Psm - Parks For Medicine - Davidson, Harrison (only some topics), George Matthew, Kundu and Alagappan (for practical), Sethuraman (clinical examination) For Surgery - Bailey and Love’s Short Practise of Surgery, Manipal textbook, SRB textbook, Das and Makhanlal for practicals For OG - Sheila Balakrishnan and Dutta for Obs, Shaws and Lakshmi Sheshadri for Gynae For Pediatrics - O. P. Ghai (the standard but not all topics are updated), IAP and Nelson for recent topics and reference For Dermat - Dr. Thappa and Neena Khanna For Ortho - Apley, Maheshwari; John Ebenezer for clinics, Dr. Apurv Mehra’s textbook for quick review For Psychiatry - College handouts and George Matthew For Anesthesia - Bailey and Love’s For Pediatric surgery - Bailey and Love’s, Nelson This is the complete list of books that we read as MBBS students at JIPMER.Read more
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Ques. Which is better for ug university college of medical sciences (ucms) or vmmc?

● Top Answer By Akriti Banerjee on 25 Sept 23

Ans. As a student of UCMS, I will try to enlighten you about my college. Location- It is true that UCMS is located in the periphery of Delhi, and its surrounding is not as developed as that of VMMC. Regardless, the location of UCMS offers most of the facilities required for a good college life. You can access Cinepolis, PVR and Big Cinemas from here, reach CP in 20-30 minutes by metro/private vehicle, and catch a metro from Jhilmil metro station to explore Delhi/NCR.  Campus- UCMS has a beautiful campus, the best among Delhi medical colleges. It has a huge central field where you can play cricket, basketball, football, etc. Boys get single seater hostel rooms from the first year itself. The campus has two 24*7 canteens, a book shop from where you can access all your medical books, an ATM, and a post office.The hospital has undergone renovation, and looks new and well managed. Academics- UCMS offers excellent academics. The faculty is skilled and teaches with sincerity. The Histology Lab in the Anatomy department is really good.  Extracurriculars- UCMS has a sports society, a western dance team, a theme choreography team, a dramatics team, a musical society, a literary society and a medical education unit. You can join any of these. According to me, both UCMS and VMMS are good medical colleges. You can choose the latter if location is a concern to you, otherwise, UCMS is a good choice too.Read more
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Ques. What are the pros and cons of doing an MBBS at JIPMER in Puducherry?

● Top Answer By Manjil Sharma on 21 Sept 23

Ans. Here are a few pros and cons of pursuing MBBS from JIPMER Pros- You will meet some highly experienced doctors who will be your professors too. You will be amazed by their nature, their dealing with patience, and their motivating nature. You will start respecting them from the bottom of your hearts. You will be given the opportunity to take part in different procedures in neonatal resuscitation or the Pediatrics department. The residents are very helpful given that you are keen to learn. Pondicherry is a safe place for both boys and girls. You will experience a unique kind of freedom here. Girls stay out till 9-9:30 pm alone and dont face any issues at all. Pondicherry is a clean and pollution-free city that offers fresh breathable air. You will be away from the hustle and bustle of city life and get to experience a slow life. You get a lot of time to ponder upon the challenges life throws at you. Cons North Indians might face language issues to a certain extent. Pondicherry does not have online delivery services like Swiggy, Big Basket, and Food Panda.  There isn't any decent shopping place here. There is only Pothys which is only known for sarees and suits. There is no good bookstore near the campus for fictional books. Overall, studying at JIPMER is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that shouldn't be underestimated at any cost. Read more
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Ques. What is the fee structure of an MBBS at AIIMS Rishikesh?

● Top Answer By Abhinav Mishra on 28 Sept 23

Ans. The fee structure of AIIMS Delhi is mentioned below in tabular format: Academic and other fees Amount (in INR) Hostel and other fees Amount (in INR) Registration fee 25 Hostel rent 990 Caution money 100 Gymkhana fee 220 Tuition fee 1350 Pot fund 1320 Laboratory fee 90 Electricity charges 198 Student union fee 63 Mess security 500 - - Hostel Security 1000 Total  1628 Total 4228 Grand total: INR 5856 In addition to the INR 5856 levied over the course of 5.5 years, the students also have to pay a mess fee of INR 10,000 every three months. Also optional is that. We have the option to avoid mess and prepare our own meals.Read more
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Ques. How is life as an MBBS student in JIPMER?

● Top Answer By Shreyansh Roy Singh on 21 Sept 23

Ans. The life of an MBBS student at JIPMER is quiet and tiring. Yet, they get to learn and experience new things every day. Their daily schedule looks like this  8 am to 11 am: Lectures 11 am to 1 pm: Anatomy dissection hours 1 pm to 2 pm: Lunch break 2 pm to 4:30 pm: Practicals In the evening some prefer playing basketball, football, hockey, table tennis, and badminton while others order just napping or hitting the gym. Some music lovers go to the band room to play out various symphonies and musicals. A few artist students spend their time participating or practicing for fine arts competitions. September brings in a huge crowd of students from different colleges attending Spandan. It’s a 7 day intercollegiate cultural literary and sports extravaganza that makes the monotonous life of JIPMER students a bit vibrant. October witnesses the Jipmer premier league ied teams of girls and boys. There is also Curie Day which is the annual girls' hostel day celebration. The hostel is open for boys as well and girls perform dance and sing. After all this enjoyment, the exams begin and students are reminded of their primary goal.  January is usually spent at home. In February, students go to Pune for the fest at AFMC -‘Silhouettes’. March brings in the tension of the annual university examinations and everybody can be seen surrounded by books. The seniors organize a wonderful Holi celebration- a cultural night followed by gulaal in the morning to ensure that students don’t succumb to the stress. With this the most happening year, the first year comes to an end.  The subsequent years bring in additional tasks such as Research projects, voluntary teaching, quizzing, etc. Read more
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Ques. Which college is better for an MBBS: the MAMC or VMMC?

● Top Answer By Tezal Dahiya on 25 Sept 23

Ans. Usually MAMC is the first choice of aspirants. But, a good number of students choose VMMC over MAMC despite getting really high ranks, and having a Delhi state quota. The reasons for this decision are- VMMC is much newer than MAMC, UCMS and LHMC. Thus, it offers a modern and fully air-conditioned infrastructure. Workload for the first 1-2 years is much lighter. There are only semester-end exams. Despite this, the education quality is top notch.  VMMC offers the benefits of an internal PG quota. The batch strength is smaller. This facilitates better interaction with peers and professors. Safdarjung Hospital has the largest OPD in Asia with a dedicated Specialized Burns Unit. So you’ll get more opportunities to learn during postings and internship. There is an entirely separate Sports Injury Centre as well.  The hostels are air conditioned, and the girls' hostel has no curfew. The library reading room remains open 24*7.  VMMC is located in the heart of South Delhi. The best hangout spots like HKV, Dilli Haat, Promenade are all located at a close distance. SN market and South Ex are just 5 minute drive away. Thus, I would recommend you choose VMMC for your MBBS degree.Read more
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