Everyone, it seems, aspires at some point in their lives to become a doctor. It's somewhat of a dream job to most people: High pay, respect, prestige, authority.
But for those of us who never made the dream come true, there's some comforting news: Doctor is the most overrated profession there is, according to a website that analyzes careers.
On a list of 12 most overrated jobs compiled by CareerCast.com, doctors -- specifically surgeons, physicians and psychiatrists -- occupy three of the top five spots. Only a corporate executive is more overrated, according to the website.
CareerCast analyzed pay, stress, physical demands and the current and future employment outlook in compiling its list.
Some of the findings are a bit surprising. Corporate senior executives, for example, average just over $160,000 a year in salary -- not bad, certainly, but a far cry from the million-dollar-plus paychecks of top CEOs that make headlines. And stockbrokers, vilified in the current street protests taking place in New York, Atlanta and many other cities, average a little over $67,000 a year, less than some teachers.
"While many of our overrated jobs pay well or carry a certain amount of cachet, they also have a downside," said Tony Lee, publisher of CareerCast.com. "Our most overrated career -- senior corporate executive – earns an average of $161,141 per year, but it holds the top spot as most overrated due to its high stress, shaky stability and consistently long hours that affect family time."
CareerCast's complete list:
1. Corporate executive (senior), average income $161,141.
2. Surgeon, average income $365,258.
3. Physician, average income $192,065.
4. Psychiatrist, average income $160,242.
5. Airplane pilot (commercial), average income $106,153.
6. Attorney, average income $113,211.
7. Architect, average income $73,193.
8. Stockbroker, average income $67,470.
9. Real estate agent, average income $40,357.
10. Photojournalist, average income $40,209.
11. Flight attendant, average income $40,184.
12. Advertising account executive, average income $62,105.
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