Salary
Average Salary: $183,523
Expected Lifetime Earnings: $7,661,718
Let's face it: You're going to be in school for a long time. Like, a very long time. Like, an extremely long time. Unfortunately, colleges and universities in the U.S. can be pretty pricey. Unless your parents are swimming in dough or you're able to earn scholarships, you'll be up to your ears in student loans by the time you can actually call yourself a geriatrician.
However, what separates you from those who pay nearly as much to get a philosophy degree is the aroma of money wafting in from the end of the tunnel. You'll be paid. You'll be paid very well. According to The American Geriatrics Society, the median salary for geriatricians in 2010 was $183,523 (source).
Not bad. Depending on what university you attended, paying off those pesky student loans should be manageable. For those with more self-control (meaning not spending all of your money on Chipotle), it should be a breeze, even. There are also student loan forgiveness incentives for students who are studying to become geriatricians.
Despite the high pay, still remember that geriatricians actually get paid significantly lower than other medical specialties. The amount that geriatricians make seems to be a relatively low number, especially when compared to, say, OBGYN's, whose median salary in 2013 was $243,000 (source). Just something to keep in mind as you're going through medical school.
But who are we kidding? Making over $180,000 is no small number, and with that salary many geriatricians can live a very comfortable life...you know, once they get those student loans in check.