Should I Choose Orthopedic Surgery? Real Physician Decision Guide (2026) | SalaryDr
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  1. Home
  2. Lifestyle Insights
  3. Orthopedic Surgery
  4. Should I Choose?

Should I Choose Orthopedic Surgery?

Real decision-making data from 11 verified Orthopedic Surgery physicians. Here is what they actually think.

4.1/5
Avg Satisfaction
100%
Would Choose Again
52
Avg Hours/Week
$1.0M
Avg Compensation

The Verdict

100%
of Orthopedic Surgery physicians would choose the specialty again

An overwhelming 100% of Orthopedic Surgery physicians say they would choose the specialty again -- a strong endorsement.

What Physicians Love About Orthopedic Surgery

“Nothing really, I love it. ”
— Orthopedic Surgery Physician
“There is a heavy administrative burden of owning the practice, but I enjoy the challenges of business ownership. I choose to be more hands on in business decisions. ”
— Orthopedic Surgery Physician
“Love every detail about my occupation nothing to change”
— Orthopedic Surgery Physician
“Challenging and engaging work with rewarding results ”
— Orthopedic Surgery Physician

Work-Life Balance Reality in Orthopedic Surgery

52
average hours per week reported by Orthopedic Surgery physicians
“I work 6 days a week. 5 days surgeries, and 1 day (typically Saturday) administrative work. Great balance between work and life considering I am a woman with kids.”
— Orthopedic Surgery Physician
“Mediocre work life balance”
— Orthopedic Surgery Physician
“5 day work week with no call/no weekends. Clinic 4 days and operate 1 day.”
— Orthopedic Surgery Physician

How Orthopedic Surgery Compares

See how Orthopedic Surgery stacks up against other popular specialties.

Orthopedic SurgeryCurrent
Satisfaction:4.1/5
Choose Again:100%
Hours:52
Comp:$1.0M
Pediatrics
Satisfaction:4/5
Choose Again:84%
General Dentist
Satisfaction:3.5/5
Choose Again:83%
Family Medicine
Satisfaction:3.6/5
Choose Again:76%
SpecialtySatisfactionWould Choose Again

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Orthopedic Surgery worth it?

Based on 11 verified physician responses, Orthopedic Surgery physicians report 4.1/5 average satisfaction and 100% say they would choose the specialty again. Average total compensation is $1.0M. Whether it is worth it depends on your priorities, but the data suggests most physicians are satisfied with their choice.

What's the work-life balance like in Orthopedic Surgery?

Orthopedic Surgery physicians work an average of 52 hours per week. One physician shared: "I work 6 days a week. 5 days surgeries, and 1 day (typically Saturday) administrative work. Great balance between work and life considering I am a wom..."

How much do Orthopedic Surgery physicians make?

Based on SalaryDr data, Orthopedic Surgery physicians earn an average total compensation of $1.0M. With an average of 52 hours per week, that translates to roughly $378/hour.

Still deciding? Hear from more Orthopedic Surgery physicians

Explore detailed lifestyle insights or contribute your own experience to help others make their decision.

View Full Orthopedic Surgery InsightsShare Your Experience

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Specialties
  • All Physician Salaries
  • Salaries by City
  • General Surgery
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Cardiology
  • Salaries by State
Tools
  • Salary Comparison
  • Take Home Calculator
  • Offer Analyzer
  • Compare Specialties
  • Salary Negotiation
Salary Data
  • Salary Benchmarks
  • Salary Trends
  • Compensation Analysis
  • Lifestyle Insights
  • Compensation Components
  • Annual Report
Community
  • SalaryDen Forum
  • Latest Discussions
  • Submit Your Salary
  • Share Feedback
  • Salary FAQ
For Dentists
  • All Dentist Salaries
  • Dental Salary Database
  • Dentist Salary by State
  • Submit Dental Salary
  • Dental Calculator
Legal
  • About
  • Methodology
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Community Guidelines
  • DMCA Policy
  • Data Retention
  • Cookie Policy
  • Safe Harbor
  • Data Requests

Follow SalaryDr

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  • Instagram (@salarydr_)
  • X (Twitter) (@salarydr)

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Avg Hours
Avg Comp
Orthopedic SurgeryCurrent4.1/5100%52$1.0M
Pediatrics4/584%46$355K
General Dentist3.5/583%36$364K
Family Medicine3.6/576%44$315K