u/Small_Cat_5071

I'm a software security engineer, and my boyfriend is currently in the final year of MBBS at a government medical college (GMC). We're discussing our future together, including buying a house, finances, and long-term planning, so I wanted to understand his expected earnings at different stages of his medical career.

We've discussed this several times, and this is the timeline and salary structure he's expecting. These are approximate figures, not guaranteed salaries.

His expected career timeline:

• April 2027: Complete MBBS.
• July 2027 – July 2028: posting in PHC (rural posting in phc), with an expected monthly salary of ₹69,000. (bonding job)
• August 2028: Appear for NEET PG.
• January 2029 – January 2032: Pursue MS in Gynaecology (assuming he gets a seat and joins around this time), with an expected monthly stipend of ₹1.1 lakh.
• February 2032 – February 2033: Senior Residency (SR), with an expected monthly salary of ₹1.5 lakh.
• After February 2033: Work at two hospitals simultaneously, supposedly earning around ₹1.7 lakh per month from each hospital. He estimates his combined monthly income at approximately ₹2.34 lakh.

I realise that salaries can vary depending on the state, institution, hospital, city, and other factors.

The main reason I'm asking for opinions here is that I want to make sure we're not missing any important details or making assumptions that could cause problems later. Since I'm not from a medical background, I don't know what questions we should be asking, what factors we might be overlooking, or whether his understanding of the career path is actually accurate. I'd rather ask people with real-world experience now than discover years later that we planned our finances around incorrect assumptions.

A little background about my concern:

I work in tech, where I've noticed that it's useful to speak to people already working in the industry rather than relying entirely on what college seniors or classmates say. Actual compensation, hiring conditions, and career progression can be quite different from what students expect.

My boyfriend is a genuinely great person, and I love him. However, I've noticed that he alwaysrelies on information shared by seniors without independently verifying it with people who have already gone through the process and working in industry

For example, he told me that other students in his final year were receiving a stipend, but he and some others weren't. He apparently contacted the college department and was repeatedly told that the matter was being processed, but this went on for around five to six months. Now honestly speaking as someone from engineering and tech, this is unbelievable, i'm not saying that he's lying but im saying that ig he just dont understand how to deal with world or maybe he dont know things

He also made a mistake while filling in a number on an exam form, which resulted in him having to repeat his final year. I understand that mistakes happen, and I'm not bringing this up to insult him. However, these experiences have made me concerned about how carefully he verifies information and handles important administrative matters.

Since we're planning our future together, I want us to make financial decisions based on realistic expectations rather than optimistic assumptions.

I'd really appreciate answers from doctors, especially people who have completed MBBS, MS/MD, and senior residency in India.

1. Are these salary/stipend estimates realistic for someone studying at a government medical college? How much do they vary by state?
2. Is the proposed timeline realistic, particularly the gap between completing MBBS, NEET PG, and joining MS in January 2029?
3. After MS in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and one year of senior residency, is earning ₹2–3 lakh per month a realistic expectation?
4. Is it common for a gynaecologist to work at two hospitals simultaneously, and how realistic is it to earn ₹1.7 lakh from each hospital early in their career?
5. What other expenses, career uncertainties, or delays should we account for when planning finances and buying a house?
6. Most importantly, what would be a sensible and conservative estimate of his monthly income at each stage, rather than the best-case scenario?

I'm not looking down on him or questioning his ability to become a good doctor. I just want to understand the reality of the medical career path because, unlike tech, I don't have firsthand knowledge of how medical salaries, residency, and hospital employment work in India.

I'd be grateful for honest, practical advice from people with actual experience in this field.