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Debt can almost feel unavoidable. Some careers, mostly medical, require a lot of debt. For instance, the average doctor in the United States carries over $250,000 in debt.
Although doctors earn over $100,000 a year, the interest on these student loans can eat them alive. Doctors aren’t the only ones suffering from high debt.
For this article, we chose to focus on careers with student debt over $50,000. To keep it fair, not all jobs are medical.
Here are 12 jobs where employees carry the most debt.
Orthodontists
Sure, orthodontists make a lot of money, but at what cost? The average first-year orthodontist holds a whopping $560,000 in student loan debt. This is after a decade or more of school.
But how much do orthodontists make? According to Indeed, orthodontists make about $304,181 a year. On the lower end, it’s $195,663.
Pharmacists
A lot of the jobs on this list take decades of schooling and a lot of money. Pharmacists are no exception. The average pharmacist in 2022 had $170,444 in debt.
Although pharmacists make over $120,000 a year, it still takes time to pay off student loans. After factoring in interest, student loans increase by a lot.
Teachers
To mix it up, teachers also make it on our list. Over half of all public school teachers have taken out student loans for their undergraduate degrees.
On average, teachers owe $58,700. Some owe over $100,000 as private colleges are more expensive. This is tough considering the average starting teacher salary in the U.S. is $44,530.
Veterinarians
Veterinarians also hold a lot of debt. Going to vet school is not cheap. The average graduating vet student in 2022 owed $147,258. This number may go up as prices continue to skyrocket.
It’s very hard to go to veterinarian school while also holding down a job. This is the main reason people take out student loans.
Dentists
The dentists who keep your teeth clean and healthy are up to their necks in debt. According to the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), 2022 senior graduates held an average of $293,900 in school debt.
That isn’t the only surprising statistic. Did you know that 83% of dental graduates left with debt in 2022?
Endodontists
Not a lot of people think about endodontists, but they carry some of the most student debt. Endodontists are also known as root canal doctors. It can take over ten years to become an endodontist.
Endodontists graduate with a jaw-dropping $533,000 student loan debt. Standard repayment plans start at around 10 years. However, it can easily take endodontists 20 to 25 years to completely pay student loans.
Psychiatrists
Most careers that hold a lot of student debt are in the medical field. Don’t let the hefty student loans scare you as psychiatrists make good money. On average, psychiatrists graduate with debt as high as $190,000.
Still, debt higher than $200,000 isn’t uncommon. Psychiatrists though can make as much as $400,000.
Orthopedic Surgeons
Orthopedic surgeons are important. They have risky jobs where they literally hold someone’s life in their hands. Because of this, they go through over a decade of school and hands-on learning.
At the end of their schooling, orthopedic surgeons are left with $190,000 in student loan debt.
Lawyers
Medical professionals aren’t the only ones that take a lot of schooling. To be a lawyer, you must study for at least seven years. This depends on your state.
Still, the average lawyer holds $119,292 in student loan debt. Nearly three-quarters of lawyers graduate with debt. It can take lawyers over 20 years to completely pay their student loans.
Anesthesiologists
Anesthesiologists have an important job. They have to be precise with how much anesthetic they provide patients. It can take 12 to 14 years to become an anesthesiologist.
There is very little free time when studying to be an anesthesiologist. This is why many students take out student loans. On average, anesthesiologists carry $241,600 of student loan debt.
Gynecologists
In the United States, gynecologists easily earn over $200,000 a year. This high-paying job is also filled with debt.
On average, gynecology graduates hold over $200,000 in student loan debt. This high loan can take over twenty years to pay. Monthly payments can exceed $2,000.
Radiologists
Lastly are radiologists. Radiologists require a lot of schooling, training, and exams. It takes around twelve to thirteen years to become a certified radiologist.
Radiologists are in school for years, so you can only imagine how easily students rack up debt. After graduating, radiologists have an average of $241,600 in student loan debt.
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