General Surgery Salary Data
Median Salary
$590,000
Average Salary
$573,671
Salary Range
Percentiles
Breakdown
How much does a General Surgeon make?
As of May 24, 2025, a General Surgeon in the United States earns an average of $590,000 per year ($49,167 monthly). Based on an average 57-hour work week, this translates to approximately $192 per hour.
Salary Range and Distribution
Based on 72 verified physician salary submissions, SalaryDr is seeing total compensation ranging from $500,000 to $610,000, with top performers (90th percentile) earning up to $1,025,000 annually. The majority of General Surgery salaries fall between $500,000 (25th percentile) and $610,000 (75th percentile).
Career Growth and Advancement
The salary difference between early-career and experienced General Surgery physicians is significant. Entry-level positions start at $528,038, while those with 13+ years of experience earn an average of $616,838 - a 17% increase. This substantial growth reflects the value of experience and skill development in the field.
Practice Settings and Compensation Structure
Base salary makes up 85% of total compensation ($489,682), with the remainder coming from bonuses, profit sharing, and other incentives.
Job Satisfaction and Work-Life Balance
General Surgery physicians report high career satisfaction, rating their specialty 4.3 out of 5, with 79% saying they would choose this specialty again.
Salary Distribution
Distribution based on 72 verified physician salary submissions.
Median Salary: $590,000
Physician Satisfaction
Would Choose Again
Percentage of General Surgery physicians who would choose this specialty again if starting their career over.
Satisfaction Rating
Average satisfaction rating reported by General Surgery physicians (1-5 scale).
Career Satisfaction
Physicians cite the variety of cases and patient relationships as most rewarding aspects of this specialty.
Primary Challenges
On-call demands, administrative burden, and work-life balance are cited as the top challenges.
Salary Comparison
Location Statistics
Average Salary
$573,671
Median Salary
$590,000
Salary Range
$500,000 - $610,000
National Comparison
National Average
$573,671
Difference
+0% vs National Average
Sample Size
72 local / 72 national reports
Salary by Practice Type
| Practice Type | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|
| Private Practice | $601,653 | 31 submissions |
| Academic | $566,364 | 11 submissions |
| Hospital-employed | $547,436 | 30 submissions |
* Practice types with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.
Salary by Experience Level
| Years of Experience | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|
| 0-2 years | $410,000 | 2 submissions |
| 3-5 years | $492,509 | 8 submissions |
| 6-10 years | $538,603 | 17 submissions |
| 11-15 years | $592,125 | 32 submissions |
| 16+ years | $649,231 | 13 submissions |
* Experience levels with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.
Take-Home Pay Calculator
Subspecialty Comparison
Vascular
Breast
Trauma
Colorectal
Minimally Invasive
| Subspecialty | Average Salary | Sample Size | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vascular | $611,429 | 7 submissions | Treats diseases of blood vessels, including complex arterial reconstructions, aneurysm repairs, and minimally invasive endovascular procedures. |
| Breast | $610,521 | 12 submissions | Specializes in comprehensive breast care, including cancer surgery, oncoplastic techniques, and collaboration with plastic surgery for reconstruction. |
| Trauma | $607,063 | 16 submissions | Provides emergency surgical care for critically injured patients, specializing in acute care surgery and critical care management. Trauma surgeons work in Level I and II trauma centers. |
| Colorectal | $591,200 | 5 submissions | Focuses on disorders of the colon, rectum, and anus, performing both routine and complex procedures for cancer, IBD, and functional disorders. |
| Minimally Invasive | $513,333 | 9 submissions | Utilizes advanced laparoscopic and robotic techniques to perform surgeries through tiny incisions, reducing recovery time and complications. |
* Subspecialties with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.
* Data is aggregated from verified physician submissions.
Related Specialties
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Average Salary: $1,129,167
Based on 12 submissions
Bariatric Surgery
Average Salary: $750,000
Based on 2 submissions
Head and Neck Surgery
Average Salary: $700,000
Based on 2 submissions
* Salary data is updated monthly based on verified physician submissions.
General Surgery Salary by State
Alabama
$580,000/year
2 reports
Arizona
$435,000/year
1 reports
California
$610,000/year
17 reports
Florida
$590,000/year
5 reports
Georgia
$510,000/year
5 reports
Illinois
$460,000/year
4 reports
Iowa
$500,000/year
6 reports
Kansas
$900,000/year
1 reports
Massachusetts
$610,000/year
18 reports
Minnesota
$650,000/year
1 reports
Nevada
$506,000/year
1 reports
New Mexico
$528,000/year
1 reports
New York
$600,000/year
3 reports
Oregon
$515,000/year
1 reports
Pennsylvania
$1,010,000/year
2 reports
South Carolina
$550,000/year
1 reports
Texas
$1,025,000/year
2 reports
Washington
$546,250/year
1 reports
See How Residency Salaries Compare
Planning your career path? Check out our comprehensive residency salary benchmarks to see how PGY compensation compares across different specialties and regions.
View Residency Benchmarks