---
title: "Will AI Replace Orthopedic Surgeons? (2026)"
description: "BLS rates orthopedic surgeons' exposure to AI as moderate. What that means, which parts of the work AI touches, and the 2025–2035 outlook (+4.0%…"
canonical: "https://nuecareer.com/careers/will-ai-replace-orthopedic-surgeons"
last-updated: "2026-10-15T08:19:32.066Z"
---

# Will AI Replace Orthopedic Surgeons? (2026)

**Short answer:** Unlikely. BLS rates the work's exposure to AI as moderate, below the middle of the pack, and still projects employment to grow faster than average.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics places orthopedic surgeons in its moderate AI exposure category, below the middle of the pack: some of the work overlaps with what AI can do, much of it does not. BLS projects employment to change by +4.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 400 openings a year.

| Measure | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BLS relative AI exposure | Moderate | BLS Employment Projections, AI exposure categories |
| NueCareer AI-resilience score | Not scored | NueCareer analysis of O\*NET 31.0 Database |
| Projected employment change | +4.0% | BLS EP 2025–2035 |
| Openings a year | 400 | BLS EP 2025–2035 |
| Median annual wage | $358,550 | BLS OEWS May 2025 |

## Exposure categories

| BLS category | Occupations |
| --- | --- |
| Low | 203 |
| Moderate (this job) | 194 |
| High | 190 |
| Very high | 199 |

Exposure means AI could be or has been used to assist with or complete some of the work. BLS says it does not imply job loss, productivity gains, automation probability or wage effects. Method: https://www.bls.gov/emp/publications/ai-exposure-categories.htm

## What holds up

None rated clearly above the midpoint.

## What AI reaches first

None rated clearly above the midpoint.

## O\*NET 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.

## Related careers less exposed to AI than orthopedic surgeons

- [Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon](https://nuecareer.com/careers/oral-and-maxillofacial-surgeon): BLS exposure Low, median $352,220
- [Prosthodontist](https://nuecareer.com/careers/prosthodontist): BLS exposure Low, median $311,180
- [Anesthesiologist](https://nuecareer.com/careers/anesthesiologist): BLS exposure Low, median $391,490; [Will AI replace anesthesiologists?](https://nuecareer.com/careers/will-ai-replace-anesthesiologists)

## FAQ

**Will AI replace orthopedic surgeons?**

Unlikely. BLS rates the work's exposure to AI as moderate, below the middle of the pack, and still projects employment to grow faster than average. BLS defines exposure as AI being able to assist with or complete some of the work, and says it does not imply job loss, productivity gains or wage effects. BLS projects employment to change by +4.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 400 openings a year.

**How exposed are orthopedic surgeons to AI?**

BLS sorts 786 occupations into four relative categories: low, moderate, high and very high. Orthopedic Surgeons are in the moderate category, alongside 193 other occupations. The categories combine five public measures of where AI could be or already is used, and they compare occupations with each other rather than giving an absolute risk.

**What careers similar to orthopedic surgeons are less exposed to AI?**

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (low exposure, $352,220 median), Prosthodontist (low exposure, $311,180 median), Anesthesiologist (low exposure, $391,490 median). Each is in a lower BLS exposure category than orthopedic surgeons, and most are listed by O\*NET as related to the work.

Full profile: https://nuecareer.com/careers/orthopedic-surgeon.

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This bank includes information from the O\*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). O\*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. NueCareer has transformed the data by joining it to BLS wage and projection data and deriving facet, personality-fit and AI-resilience scores. BLS and BEA data are public domain (17 U.S.C. §105).

O\*NET content is used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). How these figures are sourced and derived: https://nuecareer.com/careers/methodology