Anonymous
Post 08/23/2025 19:14     Subject: My carpenter makes $116/hour
Anonymous wrote:For general services. I am a physician and make $124/hour. After 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, $250K post-graduate educational debt, 5 years of post medical school training working 90 hours a week for $50-$70k/year (latter only at the end), and 10 years of additional clinical experience. I am a W2 employee and cannot deduct expenses.

This country is headed for a very very serious physician shortage.


Based on stats I googled, your carpenter is very well compensated compared to the average if that is his take home salary. The average is around $50k.

You, on the other hand, are at the low end of compensation for a physician. Move somewhere crappy like Alaska and you can make a mil per year.
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2025 19:07     Subject: Re:My carpenter makes $116/hour
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:From that, your carpenter has to pay for health insurance, retirement/401k, insurance for his company, overhead costs, various taxes, etc.


He works alone, has no employees. Out of my $124/hr I also have to pay retirement, insurance (health, disability), plus umbrella not included, commuting, taxes, etc. None of which are deductible against income.


My DH is a carpenter/contractor and he charges $150/hour. He has to pay for health, life, liability, vehicle insurance, plus licenses and taxes which are tax deductible. He is highly skilled and his work adds value to your home. So the cost is enhancing the value of your investment. You on the other hand do work that is a pure expense to your customers. If you cure someone, they pay you and are out the money.

I mean, if the doctor contributes to improvement of your health/life, there's also a ROI there.
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2025 19:02     Subject: My carpenter makes $116/hour
Why wouldn't the carpenter deserve the hourly rate? Lawyers charge much more than that for services that can be much less useful.

Also, is the carpenter running his/her own shop, and you are paid by an employer? How much could you make if you opened your own business and billed directly?
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2025 10:00     Subject: My carpenter makes $116/hour
Anonymous wrote:AI will render a lot of current medicine moot. And why pay an MD when a PA provides the same care? Meanwhile my electrician charges $100 an hour if paying by check and $80 for cash. And gets to write off his truck on his taxes. Not that I’m sure he reports everything anyway. And that’s cool with me because he shows up.


AI replacing doctors is not a good thing. But whatever, we’re doomed so who cares if we don’t live as long as our parents.
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2025 09:59     Subject: My carpenter makes $116/hour
The barriers to entry in medicine are much higher than those for carpentry. I get it OP, it’s insane.
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2025 09:50     Subject: My carpenter makes $116/hour
Anonymous wrote:Jesus was a carpenter.


He quit that to become a street corner evangelist at 33 and then was murdered so I’m not sure he’s the best example, career-wise.
Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 21:52     Subject: My carpenter makes $116/hour
Jesus was a carpenter.
Anonymous
Post 08/22/2025 20:56     Subject: My carpenter makes $116/hour
AI will render a lot of current medicine moot. And why pay an MD when a PA provides the same care? Meanwhile my electrician charges $100 an hour if paying by check and $80 for cash. And gets to write off his truck on his taxes. Not that I’m sure he reports everything anyway. And that’s cool with me because he shows up.