Source: SalaryDr General Surgery Resident Student Loan Data (2026). Median debt: $350,000. Median salary: $75,000. Debt-to-income: 4.67x. Sample: 23 approved salary reports. Attending median salary: $400,000. URL: https://www.salarydr.com/residency-salary/student-loans/general-surgery
General Surgery Resident Student Loan Debt (2026)
The median general surgery resident carries $350,000 in student loan debt, with a median residency salary of $75,000 (4.67x debt-to-income ratio). Based on a median attending salary of $400,000, estimated payoff is approximately 6 years after training.
Source: SalaryDr self-reported data (23 submissions) • Updated Oct 2026
General Surgery Student Loan Debt by PGY Level
Reported student loan balances by postgraduate year level. Since debt is accumulated before residency, this primarily reflects the composition of respondents at each PGY level.
| PGY Level | Median Debt | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| PGY-1 | $350,000 | 15 |
General Surgery Student Loan Payoff Projection
Estimated time to pay off student loans after completing general surgery training, based on attending salary data from SalaryDr.
Based on the median attending general surgery salary of $400,000, a physician allocating 20% of gross income ($80,000/year) to loan repayment could pay off $350,000 in student loans in approximately 6 years at 6% annual interest.
Assumes 20% of gross attending income allocated to repayment at 6% annual interest. Actual results vary based on repayment strategy, interest rate, tax situation, and lifestyle.
General Surgery Student Debt: Academic vs. Community
Student loan debt comparison by program type for general surgery residents.
Academic
Hybrid
FAQ: General Surgery Student Loan Debt
How much student loan debt do general surgery residents carry?
Based on 23 approved salary reports on SalaryDr, the median general surgery resident carries $350,000 in student loan debt. With a median residency salary of $75,000, the debt-to-income ratio is 4.67x.
How long does it take a general surgery physician to pay off student loans?
Based on a median attending general surgery salary of $400,000 and median debt of $350,000, a general surgery physician allocating 20% of gross income to loan repayment could pay off their loans in approximately 6 years at 6% interest.
Should general surgery residents pursue PSLF?
PSLF may be a good option for general surgery residents training at nonprofit or government hospitals. Residency years count toward the 120 qualifying payments. This is especially valuable if you plan to work at a qualifying employer after training.
Does general surgery residency length affect total debt burden?
While the loan principal is the same regardless of residency length, longer training programs mean more years of interest accruing at resident-level income. During residency, income-driven repayment plan payments typically do not cover accruing interest, so total debt may grow during training.
Student Loan Data for Other Specialties
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