Source: SalaryDr General Surgery Residency Salary Data (2026). Median: $71,000/year. Sample: 6 verified submissions. URL: https://www.salarydr.com/residency-salary/general-surgery

General Surgery Residency Salary (2026)

Quick Answer

The median general surgery resident salary is $71,000 per year, based on 6 verified submissions on SalaryDr.

Source: SalaryDr verified data • Updated Mar 2026

Median Salary
$71,000
Average Salary
$71,657
Salary Range
$68,000$75,941
Submissions
6
Satisfaction
😊 4/5
n=6
Would Choose Again
100%
n=6
Avg Hours/Week
72h
n=6

General Surgery Resident Salary by PGY Year

How general surgery resident compensation changes by postgraduate year level.

PGY LevelMedian SalaryReports
PGY-1$70,0002
PGY-2$71,0001
PGY-4$70,0001
PGY-5$75,9411
PGY-7$75,0001

What General Surgery Residents Say

Real insights from verified general surgery residents about their training experience.

Work-Life Balance
12 days on 2 days off
— Verified General Surgery Resident
Work-Life Balance
2-3 weekend calls/month 3 weeks PTO
— Verified General Surgery Resident
Challenges
Surgery is a job where you will always be on the hook for complications for your patients no matter if you are “off” or on vacation. If you don’t want to answer the phone you have to pay someone else to take the calls for you or have nice partners.
— Verified General Surgery Resident

General Surgery Resident Salary by State

Top-paying states for general surgery residents based on verified submissions.

StateMedian SalaryReports
Texas$75,9412

General Surgery Residency Training

Training Length

5 years

Salary Progression

Resident salary increases ~$2,000–$3,000 per PGY year. After completing training, attending salaries are significantly higher.

Frequently Asked Questions: General Surgery Residency Salary

How much do general surgery residents make in 2026?

General Surgery residents earn a median salary of $71,000 per year based on 6 verified submissions on SalaryDr. Salaries range from $68,000 to $75,941 depending on PGY level and location.

How long is general surgery residency?

General Surgery residency training is 5 years. Salary increases with each year of training, typically by $2,000–$3,000 per PGY level.

How much more do general surgery attendings make compared to residents?

General Surgery attending physicians typically earn 3–10x more than residents, depending on the specialty and practice setting.

Are general surgery residents satisfied with their specialty choice?

General Surgery residents rate their career satisfaction at 4/5.0 on average. 100% say they would choose general surgery again if given the choice. They work an average of 72 hours per week.

Explore More General Surgery Data

Browse Residency Salaries by Specialty

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