General Surgery Work-Life Balance: What Doctors Actually Say
Real insights from 117 verified General Surgery physicians about their work-life balance, career satisfaction, and daily reality.
Verified Physician Data||SalaryDr Research Team
4.1/5
Avg Satisfaction
81%
Would Choose Again
117
Physician Responses
66
Avg Hours/Week
📋 Key Takeaways: General Surgery Lifestyle at a Glance
- •Career Satisfaction: General Surgery physicians report 4.1/5 average satisfaction, with 81% saying they would choose the specialty again.
- •Work Hours: The average General Surgery physician works 66 hours per week.
- •Experience Level: Insights based on physicians with an average of 10 years of experience.
- •Data Source: Based on 117 verified, anonymous physician submissions to SalaryDr.
💚What Do General Surgery Physicians Love About Their Job?
"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."— General Surgery Resident
"Call is horrible. U usually have 2-5 cases added on top of elective "— General Surgery Physician
"Very chaotic schedule "— General Surgery Physician
"(Bariatric surgeon here, I don’t do general surgery). Less call: Currently take the majority of the bariatric call per month. Compensated 700/shift for anything over 10 calls a month. "— General Surgery Physician
"Call is brutal and we're overworked. Private practice so health insurance/retirement etc all comes out of our compensation."— General Surgery Physician
"I love my job and helping people, It’s great. "— General Surgery Physician
"I do 75% bariatrics which adds significant compensation and complexity, these patients are also the most thankful and happy patients "— General Surgery Physician