How much do surgeons make?
Answer
There is no single surgeon salary: BLS publishes pay for each type. Medians range from $300,080 to $559,030 a year (May 2025).
| Pediatric Surgeons | $559,030 | $215,410 | $726,660 | 1,190 | Doctoral or professional degree | +2.0% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surgeons, All Other | $414,010 | $80,320 | $655,320 | 25,140 | Doctoral or professional degree | +4.0% |
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $358,550 | $84,170 | $659,290 | 14,100 | Doctoral or professional degree | +4.0% |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $300,080 | $100,180 | $489,710 | 8,950 | Doctoral or professional degree | +4.5% |
BLS OEWS, May 2025 (released April 30, 2026); typical education and growth from BLS Employment Projections 2025–35.
How the types of surgeon compare
This page groups four official BLS occupations. Ophthalmologists (8,950 jobs) earn a median of $300,080, and they treat eye disease and perform cataract, glaucoma, retina and refractive surgery. Much of their work is in clinics and outpatient surgery centers with fewer overnight emergencies than other surgeons. Training is a one-year clinical internship plus at least 36 months of ophthalmology residency.
Orthopedic surgeons (14,100 jobs) have a median of $358,550, and they treat bones, joints, ligaments and tendons, from fractures and torn ligaments to joint replacements. Residency is five years, and many add a one-year fellowship in sports medicine, spine, hand or joints.
Pediatric surgeons (1,190 jobs) have the highest median at $559,030, and they are the smallest and longest-trained group. They complete a five-year general surgery residency and a two-year pediatric surgery fellowship, and they must be board certified in general surgery before they can certify in pediatric surgery.
"Surgeons, all other" (25,140 jobs) has a median of $414,010, and it is the largest group. It covers general surgeons and specialties BLS does not list separately, such as vascular, cardiothoracic, colorectal, plastic and neurosurgeons. General surgery residency is five years; the other fields require their own residencies or fellowships on top of medical school. All four paths start with a bachelor's degree and four years of MD or DO school.
Surgeon salary by state
Median annual pay by type
| Alabama | — | $324,570 | — | — |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | — | $239,200+ | — | — |
| Arizona | — | $558,970 | — | — |
| Arkansas | — | $262,470 | — | — |
| California | — | $253,430 | — | — |
| Colorado | — | $385,410 | — | — |
| Connecticut | — | — | — | — |
| Delaware | — | — | — | — |
| District of Columbia | — | — | — | — |
| Florida | — | $473,750 | — | — |
| Georgia | — | $474,820 | — | — |
| Hawaii | — | — | — | — |
| Idaho | — | — | — | — |
| Illinois | — | $426,580 | — | — |
| Indiana | — | $177,710 | — | — |
| Iowa | — | $189,410 | — | — |
| Kansas | — | $311,630 | — | — |
| Kentucky | — | — | — | — |
| Louisiana | — | — | — | — |
| Maine | — | — | — | — |
| Maryland | — | — | — | — |
| Massachusetts | — | $392,300 | — | — |
| Michigan | — | $413,450 | — | — |
| Minnesota | — | $537,830 | — | — |
| Mississippi | — | $544,130 | — | — |
| Missouri | — | $842,800 | — | — |
| Montana | — | $560,820 | — | — |
| Nebraska | — | $507,770 | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | $555,670 | — | — |
| New Jersey | — | $341,430 | — | — |
| New Mexico | — | — | — | — |
| New York | — | $414,290 | — | — |
| North Carolina | — | $323,630 | — | — |
| North Dakota | — | $239,200+ | — | — |
| Ohio | — | $323,480 | — | — |
| Oklahoma | — | $530,070 | — | — |
| Oregon | — | $239,200+ | — | — |
| Pennsylvania | — | $354,020 | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — | — |
| South Carolina | — | $239,200+ | — | — |
| South Dakota | — | $239,200+ | — | — |
| Tennessee | — | $325,520 | — | — |
| Texas | — | $200,780 | — | — |
| Utah | — | $239,200+ | — | — |
| Vermont | — | $239,200+ | — | — |
| Virginia | — | $478,710 | — | — |
| Washington | — | $553,310 | — | — |
| West Virginia | — | $597,740 | — | — |
| Wisconsin | — | $572,060 | — | — |
| Wyoming | — | — | — | — |
Median annual pay by state, BLS OEWS, May 2025. “—” means BLS did not publish the figure. Each occupation’s own page has its full state table with cost-of-living-adjusted pay.
What surgeons do
A surgeon is a physician (MD or DO) who treats disease and injury by operating. The work starts well before the incision: surgeons examine patients in clinic, read scans and lab results, decide whether an operation is the right answer and explain the risks. In the operating room they lead a team of anesthesiologists, surgical nurses, surgical technologists and residents. Afterward they round on patients in the hospital, manage complications and follow recovery in clinic visits.
There is no single surgeon job. A general surgeon may remove an appendix at 2 a.m. and repair a hernia the next morning. An orthopedic surgeon replaces hips and fixes fractures. An ophthalmologist removes cataracts and treats glaucoma, much of it in outpatient surgery centers. A pediatric surgeon operates on newborns and children. Most surgeons work in hospitals, surgery centers and group practices, and nearly all take turns on call for emergencies at night and on weekends.
A typical day
- See patients in clinic, examine them and decide whether surgery is needed
- Review imaging, lab work and referral notes before planning an operation
- Explain the procedure, risks and recovery, and obtain consent
- Perform scheduled and emergency operations while directing the surgical team
- Check on patients after surgery and handle infections, bleeding or other complications
- Dictate operative notes and keep detailed medical records
- Teach residents and medical students in hospitals with training programs
Also called: surgeons, clinical ophthalmologist, cornea specialist, glaucoma specialist, oculoplastic specialist, ophthalmic surgeon, ophthalmologist, ophthalmologist specialist.
How to become a surgeon
Full guideTo become a surgeon, you earn a bachelor's degree, finish 4 years of medical school (MD or DO), pass the USMLE or COMLEX licensing exams and complete a surgical residency of 4 to 5 years or more, then get a state medical license and usually board certification. That is about 12 to 15 years after high school, depending on the specialty.
- Typical time
- 13-15 years
- Fastest: About 12 years after high school
- Minimum education
- MD or DO degree plus an ACGME-accredited surgical residency
- License
- Medical license required in all 50 states and DC; board certification is voluntary but expected by most hospitals
- Typical training cost
- $300K–$411K
- See the guide for what it includes
Read the step-by-step guide to becoming a surgeon: each step with its time and cost, education options, exams, licensing and advancement.
Is it worth it? Training cost against pay
Compare careers- Training time
- 13-15 years
- Typical path in our guide
- Training cost
- $300K–$411K
- Tuition and exam fees, before aid
- Median pay
- $300,080
- $249,100 above the all-jobs median ($50,980)
- Cost vs. one year's pay
- 100–137%
- Training cost as a share of a year at the median
Once qualified, the pay difference over the typical US job at the median ($249,100 a year before tax) would repay the training cost in about 1.2–1.6 years after training ends (13-15 years in our guide). This is a rough guide: it ignores taxes, financial aid, interest, earnings given up while training and how pay changes over a career. How we calculate ROI.
Job outlook for surgeons
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +4.5%
- All occupations +3.5%
- Jobs in 2025
- 9,700
- 10,200 projected for 2035
- Openings each year
- 200
- New jobs plus replacements
- Self-employed
- 5.7%
- Not in the pay figures above
BLS projects ophthalmologist jobs to grow 4.5% from 2025 to 2035, from 9,700 to 10,200, a bit faster than the 3.5% for all occupations, with about 200 openings a year. Across all physicians and surgeons, BLS expects growth of about 4%. An older population drives demand for joint replacements, cataract surgery and cancer operations, and chronic diseases add to it. BLS also notes that a shrinking child population may limit demand for pediatric surgeons. Most openings will come from surgeons retiring or leaving the field rather than new positions.
Outlook shown for ophthalmologists, except pediatric; each type’s growth is in the table at the top.
Related careers and their pay
- Orthopedic Surgeon$358,550
- Cardiologist$496,010
- Dermatologist$328,730
- Optometrist$136,570
- Neurologist$248,560
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- OB-GYN$292,910
- Pediatrician$210,040
Related occupations from O*NET 31.0; median annual pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Surgeon salary FAQ
What is the difference between a surgeon and a physician?
Every surgeon is a physician: both earn an MD or DO and hold a state medical license. The difference is residency. Surgeons train for five years or more in a surgical specialty and treat patients mainly by operating. Other physicians, such as internists, pediatricians and psychiatrists, train in specialties that treat patients mainly with medication, testing and counseling. See our doctor page for the nonsurgical paths.
Do surgeons work long hours?
Yes, in most specialties. Days often start with hospital rounds before 7 a.m., and operations can run late. General surgeons, orthopedic surgeons and trauma surgeons share overnight and weekend call for emergencies. Ophthalmologists and surgeons who work mainly in outpatient surgery centers usually have more predictable hours. Residency is the hardest stretch, with long weeks of in-hospital work and frequent overnight shifts.
What kind of surgeon has the most jobs?
In BLS data, the "surgeons, all other" group is largest with 25,140 jobs, and it includes general surgeons. Orthopedic surgeons follow with 14,100 jobs, then ophthalmologists with 8,950. Pediatric surgery is a very small field with 1,190 jobs, so fellowship spots and positions are limited and often concentrated in children's hospitals in larger cities.
Sources
Data updated October 28, 2026 · Text checked against its sources October 28, 2026
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released April 30, 2026, SOC 29-1241
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035, released September 2026
- O*NET 31.0 Database (29-1241.00), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0; tasks rewritten by Careers and Salaries
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state and metro area, 2024
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, May values
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study and institution data, most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15
- Physicians and Surgeons, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
- You Can Afford Medical School, Association of American Medical Colleges · checked October 28, 2026
- MCAT Scheduling Fees, Association of American Medical Colleges · checked October 28, 2026
- United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), NBME · checked October 28, 2026
- Frequently Asked Questions (COMLEX-USA fees), National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners · checked October 28, 2026
- General Surgery Training Requirements; General Surgery Certification; Qualifying Exam, American Board of Surgery · checked October 28, 2026
- Exam Dates & Fees, American Board of Surgery · checked October 28, 2026
- Part I Frequently Asked Questions, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery · checked October 28, 2026
- Part I Certification Examination, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery · checked October 28, 2026
- Requirements for Certification; Exams, American Board of Ophthalmology · checked October 28, 2026
- License Finder, CareerOneStop, U.S. Department of Labor · checked October 28, 2026
- Pediatric Surgery Training Requirements, American Board of Surgery · checked October 28, 2026
- Part II Oral Examination, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery · checked October 28, 2026
Careers and Salaries is not affiliated with the Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Found an error? Tell us; corrections are listed on the editorial policy page.