MBBS Doctor Salary in India: What You Really Earn After Graduation

When you finish your MBBS, a medical degree that qualifies you to practice as a doctor in India. Also known as Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, it’s the first step into one of the most respected—and often misunderstood—careers in the country. But here’s the real question: how much money do you actually make? Too many people assume MBBS graduates walk straight into six-figure salaries. The truth? It’s not that simple. Your pay depends on where you work, what you specialize in, and whether you’re in a government hospital or running your own clinic.

The starting salary for a fresh MBBS graduate in a government hospital usually lands between ₹30,000 and ₹50,000 a month. That’s after you’ve spent five and a half years in college, one year of mandatory rotating internship, and often another year waiting for a posting. In private hospitals, the pay can be lower at first—sometimes as little as ₹20,000 to ₹35,000—unless you’re hired by a big chain like Apollo or Fortis, which might offer more. But here’s the catch: those numbers don’t include overtime, night shifts, or on-call duties. Most new doctors work way more than 40 hours a week, and those extra hours often come with small bonuses that add up over time.

Then there’s the specialization, the advanced training doctors pursue after MBBS, like MD or MS in fields like surgery, cardiology, or pediatrics. If you go for a specialization, your salary jumps—often doubling or tripling within a few years. A physician with an MD in internal medicine can earn ₹80,000 to ₹1.5 lakh monthly in a good private hospital. Surgeons? Even more. And if you’re in a metro city like Delhi, Mumbai, or Bangalore, the pay is higher than in smaller towns. But don’t forget: the cost of living is higher too. In rural areas, government postings might pay less, but they come with free housing, meals, and sometimes even transport.

Then there’s the path most don’t talk about—starting your own clinic. It’s risky. You need capital, patients, and time. But after 5–7 years, many MBBS doctors who open clinics in tier-2 or tier-3 cities earn more than their peers in big hospitals. A good general practitioner in a small town can make ₹1.5 lakh to ₹3 lakh a month after expenses. And if you build a reputation? That number keeps climbing.

Don’t forget the government jobs, stable, well-protected positions with pensions and benefits, often preferred by doctors who value security over speed. These roles—like in state health services or central government hospitals—offer slower growth but long-term stability. You won’t get rich fast, but you won’t lose your house either.

What’s clear is this: an MBBS degree doesn’t guarantee wealth overnight. It guarantees opportunity. The real money comes later—after experience, after specialization, after you’ve built trust with patients. If you’re thinking about medicine, don’t chase the salary. Chase the skill. The pay will follow.

Below, you’ll find real stories, salary breakdowns, and comparisons that show exactly how Indian doctors earn—across cities, specialties, and career stages.