NEET Doctor Salary: What Doctors Earn After Passing NEET

When you pass the NEET, India’s National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for medical courses. Also known as National Medical Entrance Exam, it’s the only gateway to become a doctor in India. But passing NEET is just the first step—what comes next? How much do doctors actually earn? The answer isn’t simple. A fresh MBBS graduate in a government hospital might start at ₹30,000 a month, while one in a private hospital in Mumbai could earn ₹70,000 or more. And that’s just the beginning.

The real difference shows up after specialization. A general physician, a doctor who treats common illnesses without a specialty might earn ₹6–8 lakh a year early on. But if you become a cardiologist, a specialist in heart diseases, your salary can jump to ₹15–25 lakh within five years. Surgeons, neurologists, and radiologists often earn even more, especially in big cities. Private practice changes everything too—some doctors make more in a single day than they did in a month as interns.

Location matters just as much as specialization. A doctor in rural Uttar Pradesh might earn less but have lower living costs. In Delhi or Bangalore, pay is higher but rent, transport, and lifestyle eat into savings. Government jobs offer stability—fixed pay, pensions, and benefits—but slow promotions. Private hospitals pay more upfront but demand longer hours and no job security. And then there’s the private clinic route—high risk, high reward. Many NEET toppers start in hospitals, then open their own clinics after 5–7 years.

Don’t believe the hype that all doctors are rich. Many spend years in debt from coaching fees, hostel costs, and exam prep. The first three years after MBBS—called internship and housemanship—are often low-paid or unpaid. Even after that, many work 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, for years before seeing real financial gains. But if you stick with it, the earning potential is among the highest in India’s job market.

What you’ll find below are real stories and data-backed insights about how NEET doctors build their careers and incomes. From salary breakdowns by state and hospital type, to how specialization choices affect earnings, to the hidden costs that eat into paychecks—you’ll see what actually happens after you clear NEET. No fluff. No guesswork. Just what you need to plan your future.