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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.
Table of Content
4.3 Area of work
5.1 Job Scope
5.1.1 Engineers
5.1.2 Doctors
5.2 Top Recruiters
5.2.1 Engineers
5.2.2 Doctors
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 More: Types 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
| 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.
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