The median pay for Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric is $358,550 a year ($172.38/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 4.0% through 2035, with about 400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
- SOC 29-1242
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric in four numbers
- Median pay
- $358,550a year, or $172.38/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $84KTop 10% $659K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +4.0%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 40015,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202515.5K
- Projected 203516.1K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 15.5K Projected 2035 16.1K - Typical education
- Doctorateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: General Surgeon, Hand Surgeon, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Orthopedic Surgeon, Physician, Surgeon.
Pay
How much do Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric make?
Every orthopedic surgeon, except pediatric in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$358,550
Middle half earn $180,610 to $530,700
- 10th
- $84,170
- 25th
- $180,610
- 75th
- $530,700
- 90th
- $659,290
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $84,170 |
| 25th | $180,610 |
| Median | $358,550 |
| 75th | $530,700 |
| 90th | $659,290 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $358,550
- Median hourly wage
- $172.38/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $373,570
- People employed
- 14,100
Versus all US occupations
At $358,550, Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric earn 603% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $307,570 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $102,760, this is 249% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $659,290 or more while the bottom 10% earn $84,170, a gap of 7.8×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 99% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Missouri pays the most at $842,800, and still leads at $928,020 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Missouri | $842,800 | $928,020 | N/A |
| 2West Virginia | $597,740 | $667,888 | 120 |
| 3Wisconsin | $572,060 | $607,960 | 290 |
| 4Montana | $560,820 | $592,551 | N/A |
| 5Arizona | $558,970 | $555,211 | 110 |
| 6New Hampshire | $555,670 | $533,452 | 80 |
| 7Washington | $553,310 | $517,049 | 290 |
| 8Mississippi | $544,130 | $625,775 | N/A |
| 9Minnesota | $537,830 | $545,350 | 320 |
| 10Oklahoma | $530,070 | $603,429 | 30 |
Job outlook
Is Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +4.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | +4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric to change 4.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 600 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 400 openings are projected each year, 2.6% of the 15,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of physicians and surgeons varies by occupation (see table). An increasing number of older adults, who are more likely than younger people to experience health problems and to need complex care, is expected to drive overall employment growth for physicians and surgeons.
In addition, increasing rates of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, will result in continued reliance on physicians and surgeons by large numbers of people seeking medical care.
Getting in
How to become an Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric
Physicians and surgeons typically need a bachelor’s degree as well as a degree from a medical school, which takes an additional 4 years to complete. Depending on their specialty, they also need 3 to 9 years in internship and residency programs. Subspecialization includes additional training in a fellowship of 1 to 3 years.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Doctoral or professional degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Internship/residency
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does an Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric do?
Diagnose and perform surgery to treat and prevent rheumatic and other diseases in the musculoskeletal system.
Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance. Physicians examine patients; take medical histories; prescribe medications; and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests. They often counsel patients on diet, hygiene, and preventive healthcare. Surgeons operate on patients to treat injuries, such as broken bones; diseases, such as cancerous tumors; and deformities, such as cleft palates.
There are two types of physicians, with similar degrees: M.D. (Medical Doctor) and D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine). Both use the same methods of treatment, including drugs and surgery, but D.O.s place additional emphasis on the body's musculoskeletal system, preventive medicine, and holistic (whole-person) patient care. D.O.s are most likely to be primary care physicians, although they work in all specialties.
Day-to-day tasks
- Analyze patient's medical history, medication allergies, physical condition, and examination results to verify operation's necessity and to determine best procedure.
- Conduct research to develop and test surgical techniques that can improve operating procedures and outcomes related to musculoskeletal injuries and diseases.
- Diagnose bodily disorders and orthopedic conditions, and provide treatments, such as medicines and surgeries, in clinics, hospital wards, or operating rooms.
- Diagnose or treat disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
- Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, assistants, specialists, residents, and other medical staff.
- Examine instruments, equipment, and operating room to ensure sterility.
- Examine patient to obtain information on medical condition and surgical risk.
- Follow established surgical techniques during the operation.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most physicians and surgeons work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week. Many physicians and surgeons work long shifts, which may include irregular and overnight hours or being on call. Physicians and surgeons may travel between their offices and the hospital to care for patients. While on call, a physician may need to address a patient’s concerns over the phone or make an emergency visit to another location, such as a nursing home.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition.
Tools and software
- Medical software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Human resources software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 7 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 5 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Investigative6.5
- Realistic5.1
- Social4.8
- Conventional3.9
- Enterprising2.4
- Artistic1.5
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric
O*NET related occupations
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician
$265,930median a year
Most earn $69K to $452K
+3.4%Doctorate
More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric highlighted
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric$358,550
- Physician Assistant$135,880
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Physical Therapist$102,760
- Dental Hygienist$98,100
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$96,590
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110
- Surgical Technologist$64,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric | $358,550 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 |
| Radiologic Technologist and Technician | $80,110 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within orthopedic surgeon, except pediatric
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric appears on
Questions
Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric: frequently asked questions
How much do Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric make?
Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric earn a median of $358,550 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 603% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $172.38/hr. The middle half earn between $180,610 and $530,700. The top 10% earn $659,290 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric. BLS also lists internship/residency as typical on-the-job training.
Is Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 4.0% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric do?
Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance. A core O*NET task: analyze patient's medical history, medication allergies, physical condition, and examination results to verify operation's necessity and to determine best procedure. Employers most often ask for Medical software, Operating system software.
Which states pay Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric the most?
The highest state medians for Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric are Missouri ($842,800), West Virginia ($597,740), Wisconsin ($572,060) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric?
O*NET scores Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric highest on the Investigative, Realistic and Social interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ISTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.