Surgeons treat illness and injuries by way of surgical procedure. A patient will usually have been referred to a surgeon by their physician, with some notes for the surgeon to review.
Surgeons operate on patients to treat almost any injury, such as; tumors, broken bones, diseases, and corrective or cosmetic procedures. Outside of this, surgeons give advice and explain medical procedures to patients and their families.
Surgery involves cutting into the body to repair, diagnose, or replace parts of the body. Surgeons are in charge of managing the procedures, and work with a team of medical professionals.
There are different areas of specialty that surgeons can specialize in, these include;
- Upper GI
- Plastic surgery
- Oncology
- Thoracic
- Pediatric
- Cardiac
- Ophthalmology
Surgeon Salary
So, how much do surgeons make? The average surgeons’ salary is $255,110. This is for the general surgery occupation, and recorded by looking the median wage.
Median wages are a good way of calculating an average salary. It’s calculated by looking at the midpoint of the recorded occupation salary. Meaning half the workers earned less than this amount, and half earned more than.
A surgeons starting salary is around $94,960. This figure represents the point in which the lowest 10% earn less than. While the top 10% of this surgical profession earn in excess of $208,000, showing how experience and expertise can boost salary considerably.
The salaries for surgeons vary for a number of reasons. These include the industry, size of company, years of experience, level of expertise, and qualifications. A surgeon can typically expect to see their salary steadily increase the longer they are practicing in the same location.
It’s normal for surgeons to not only work irregular hours, but to work marathon shifts covering hours in a single surgery. Emergencies can come in at any time of day or night. So surgeons on call can be called in to operate on a moment’s notice.
Top 5 Paying States
| Flag | State | Employment per 1000 Jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Wyoming | 0.21 | – | – |
 | West Virginia | 0.11 | – | – |
 | South Dakota | 0.67 | – | – |
 | Oregon | 0.37 | – | – |
 | North Dakota | 0.25 | – | – |
Top Paying Industries
| Industry | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Government | 0.02 | – | |
| Diagnostic and Medical Laboratories | 0.03 | – | |
| Physicians Offices | 1.28 | $119.18 | $247,900 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 0.12 | $116.73 | $242,800 |
| Research and Development | 0.01 | $114.45 | $238,060 |
Surgeon Job Description
What do surgeons do? Surgeons care for patients who need an operation. From consulting with the patient and explaining the procedure, to carrying out the operation. They also offer some aftercare, making sure the patient is recovering well and offering any additional advice.
A surgeon needs to be able to put patients at ease. Good communication skills, interpersonal skills, and compassion are assets to a surgeon’s role. Along with being able to work under extreme pressure, and make life-depending decisions.
To embark on a surgeons career there are many years at medical school, qualifications, and further training. There are also regular developments in the medical world, meaning the learning curve never tapers off completely.
Some of the key duties for a surgeon include:
- Meeting with the patient and their families to discuss the impending surgery.
- Taking any necessary tests and x-rays.
- Perform operations with a team of medical professionals.
- Work with nurses and doctors after a surgery as part of patient aftercare.
- Do hospital rounds visiting with patients.
Surgeons are also responsible for training other surgeons, and medical interns. There is a great deal of interaction with other medical professionals, making working relationships an important part of the role.
Surgeons spend most of their time in the operating room. Some surgeries can take many hours without a break. They also have an office where they carry out consultations and patients.
Emergency surgeries will happen. So surgeons spend a lot of time on call, and are required to respond quickly in the case of an emergency. Meaning they often have to sacrifice their home-life, and put work first. This can be stressful if there is not a great deal of support from their family.
Surgeons work with a wide range of tools during a surgical procedure. From scalpels and saws, to more sophisticated electronic tools used in keyhole surgeries. Keeping up with modern technology is an absolute must, with patients often demanding the highest level of medical care.
Surgeon Salary by State
| Flag | State | Employment per 1000 Jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Alabama | 0.096 | $111.29 | $231,480 |
 | Alaska | 0.205 | – | – |
 | Arizona | 0.133 | $118.11 | $245,660 |
 | Arkansas | 0.471 | $110.35 | $229,540 |
 | California | 0.324 | $111.12 | $231,120 |
 | Colorado | 0.472 | $111.87 | $232,680 |
 | Connecticut | 0.496 | $99.35 | $206,650 |
 | Delaware | 0.439 | – | – |
 | Florida | 0.293 | $119.88 | $249,350 |
 | Georgia | 0.282 | $122.73 | $255,280 |
 | Hawaii | – | – | – |
 | Idaho | 0.193 | – | – |
 | Illinois | 0.243 | $117.17 | $243,710 |
 | Indiana | 0.264 | – | – |
 | Iowa | 0.283 | $119.86 | $249,310 |
 | Kansas | 0.206 | $119.46 | $248,470 |
 | Kentucky | 0.45 | $121.14 | $251,970 |
 | Louisiana | 0.251 | $110.84 | $230,550 |
 | Maine | 0.458 | – | – |
 | Maryland | 0.23 | $124.50 | $258,960 |
 | Massachusetts | 0.563 | $123.78 | $257,460 |
 | Michigan | 0.189 | $107.07 | $222,700 |
 | Minnesota | 0.474 | – | – |
 | Mississippi | 0.386 | $125.32 | $260,660 |
 | Missouri | 0.101 | – | – |
 | Montana | 0.273 | $104.05 | $216,410 |
 | Nebraska | 0.241 | – | – |
 | Nevada | 0.282 | $124.93 | $259,850 |
 | New Hampshire | 0.371 | – | – |
 | New Jersey | 0.423 | $124.68 | $259,340 |
 | New Mexico | 0.069 | – | – |
 | New York | 0.271 | $105.22 | $218,860 |
 | North Carolina | 0.373 | – | – |
| North Dakota | 0.25 | – | – |
 | Ohio | 0.312 | $113.61 | $236,320 |
 | Oklahoma | 0.367 | $100.92 | $209,910 |
| Oregon | 0.372 | – | – |
 | Pennsylvania | 0.369 | $113.22 | $235,500 |
 | Rhode Island | 0.444 | $124.98 | $259,950 |
 | South Carolina | 0.189 | $107.94 | $224,510 |
| South Dakota | 0.673 | – | – |
 | Tennessee | 0.256 | $117.58 | $244,570 |
 | Texas | 0.263 | $108.91 | $226,540 |
 | Utah | 0.157 | – | – |
 | Vermont | 0.536 | $92.05 | $191,470 |
 | Virginia | 0.268 | $116.97 | $243,300 |
 | Washington | 0.287 | $115.52 | $240,280 |
| West Virginia | 0.112 | – | – |
 | Wisconsin | 0.279 | $117.03 | $243,420 |
| Wyoming | 0.207 | – | – |
Top paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Employment per 1000 jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth – NH / ME | 0.53 | – | – |
| South Portland / Portland / Biddeford – ME | 0.53 | – | – |
| Pittsfield, MA | 2.05 | – | – |
| Peabody – MA NECTA Division | – | – | – |
| Methuen / Lawrence / Salem, MA / NH – NECTA Division | 0.81 | – | – |
Top paying non-metropolitan areas
| Area | Employment per 1000 jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Texas – non-metropolitan area | – | – | – |
| North Central Tennessee – non-metropolitan area | 0.42 | – | – |
| Eastern South Dakota – non-metropolitan area | – | – | – |
| Eastern Oregon – -non-metropolitan area | – | – | – |
| Other Ohio –non-metropolitan area | 0.14 | – | – |
Surgeon Job Outlook
The outlook for surgeons is very positive. There is an estimated 14% growth between 2016 and 2026. This is faster than the average for all occupations, and is in-line with previous trends.
There are numerous reasons for this growth. The expansion of healthcare industries is a large contributing factor, along with the increase in demand for medical care.
One of the factors that reduce the growth is the introduction of new technology. While new technology is good for the medical field, the machinery is doing some work previously done manually.
The greatest job prospects are for surgeons willing to practice in low-income rural areas. There is a greater demand for surgeons in these areas, presenting some interesting opportunities for surgeons.
