MBBS Fresh Graduate Pay: What You Really Earn Starting Out

When you finish your MBBS, a five-and-a-half-year medical degree in India that qualifies you to practice as a doctor. Also known as Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, it’s the gateway to becoming a licensed physician. The big question isn’t just whether you passed—it’s what you get paid next. Most people assume MBBS graduates jump straight into six-figure salaries. But the truth? MBBS fresh graduate pay in India starts much lower than you think, and it varies wildly depending on where you work, who hires you, and whether you’re in a government hospital or a private clinic.

The government gives you a starting salary between ₹30,000 and ₹50,000 a month if you join as a junior resident in a state-run hospital. That’s after clearing NEET and finishing your internship. Private hospitals? They might offer ₹25,000 to ₹40,000, but often without benefits like housing or health insurance. And if you’re doing a rural posting under government schemes like NRHM, you might get ₹20,000–₹35,000 with free accommodation. The difference isn’t just in pay—it’s in workload, hours, and career path. A doctor in a government hospital might work 12-hour shifts for months straight, but they get job security, pension, and promotion tracks. A private hospital doctor might earn slightly more on paper but has no safety net.

What most don’t tell you is that your first year doesn’t define your career. The real money starts after you clear your NEET PG, the national entrance exam that lets you specialize in fields like surgery, pediatrics, or radiology. Specialization can double or triple your income. A general physician might earn ₹60,000 after three years, but a radiologist or anesthetist with a postgraduate degree can hit ₹1.2 lakh+ within the same timeframe. And if you go abroad—say, to the UK or Australia—your pay jumps again, but that’s a whole different journey involving exams like PLAB or AMC.

There’s also the issue of location. A fresh MBBS grad in Delhi or Mumbai might earn more than one in Bihar or Jharkhand, but the cost of living is twice as high. Meanwhile, doctors in tier-2 cities often get better work-life balance and lower rent, making their take-home pay more meaningful. And don’t forget the side gigs—some fresh graduates pick up part-time shifts at clinics, do teleconsultations, or tutor medical students to pad their income.

So if you’re just starting out, don’t compare yourself to senior consultants or influencers showing off luxury cars. Real MBBS pay grows with experience, specialization, and smart choices—not just the degree on your wall. The next few years are about building skills, not salaries. And if you’re wondering what others in your shoes are doing right now, you’ll find real stories, real numbers, and real advice in the posts below.