Orthopedic Surgery Salary Data
Median Salary
$795,000
Average Salary
$812,296
Salary Range
Percentiles
Breakdown
How much does an Orthopedic Surgeon make?
As of June 14, 2025, an Orthopedic Surgeon in the United States earns an average of $795,000 per year ($66,250 monthly). Based on an average 55-hour work week, this translates to approximately $285 per hour.
Salary Range and Distribution
Based on 75 verified physician salary submissions, SalaryDr is seeing total compensation ranging from $710,000 to $880,000, with top performers (90th percentile) earning up to $1,328,000 annually. The majority of Orthopedic Surgery salaries fall between $710,000 (25th percentile) and $880,000 (75th percentile).
Career Growth and Advancement
The salary difference between early-career and experienced Orthopedic Surgery physicians is significant. Entry-level positions start at $763,808, while those with 12+ years of experience earn an average of $857,054 - a 12% increase. This substantial growth reflects the value of experience and skill development in the field.
Practice Settings and Compensation Structure
Base salary makes up 83% of total compensation ($672,947), with the remainder coming from bonuses, profit sharing, and other incentives.
Job Satisfaction and Work-Life Balance
Orthopedic Surgery physicians report high career satisfaction, rating their specialty 4.3 out of 5, with 85% saying they would choose this specialty again.
Salary Distribution
Distribution based on 75 verified physician salary submissions.
Median Salary: $795,000
Physician Satisfaction
Would Choose Again
Percentage of Orthopedic Surgery physicians who would choose this specialty again if starting their career over.
Satisfaction Rating
Average satisfaction rating reported by Orthopedic 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
$812,296
Median Salary
$795,000
Salary Range
$710,000 - $880,000
National Comparison
National Average
$812,296
Difference
+0% vs National Average
Sample Size
75 local / 75 national reports
Salary by Practice Type
| Practice Type | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|
| Private Practice | $869,479 | 42 submissions |
| Hospital-employed | $800,178 | 23 submissions |
| Academic | $600,000 | 10 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 | $476,667 | 6 submissions |
| 3-5 years | $752,409 | 10 submissions |
| 6-10 years | $842,111 | 18 submissions |
| 11-15 years | $858,004 | 29 submissions |
| 16+ years | $874,833 | 12 submissions |
* Experience levels with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.
Take-Home Pay Calculator
Subspecialty Comparison
Spine
Sports
Joint
Hand
Trauma
Foot and Ankle
Sports Medicine
| Subspecialty | Average Salary | Sample Size | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spine | $1,018,286 | 7 submissions | Addresses complex spinal disorders through both surgical and non-surgical means, including minimally invasive spine surgery. |
| Sports | $946,000 | 5 submissions | Focuses on specialized sports procedures and treatments within orthopedic surgery, providing expert care in this specific area. |
| Joint | $899,811 | 10 submissions | Focuses on specialized joint procedures and treatments within orthopedic surgery, providing expert care in this specific area. |
| Hand | $810,625 | 8 submissions | Specializes in intricate surgery of the hand, wrist, and upper extremity, including microsurgery and complex reconstruction. |
| Trauma | $797,000 | 5 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. |
| Foot and Ankle | $766,545 | 11 submissions | Focuses on specialized foot and ankle procedures and treatments within orthopedic surgery, providing expert care in this specific area. |
| Sports Medicine | $682,450 | 10 submissions | Treats athletic injuries and conditions, focusing on arthroscopic procedures and accelerated rehabilitation protocols. |
* Subspecialties with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.
* Data is aggregated from verified physician submissions.
Related Specialties
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Average Salary: $1,776,100
Based on 15 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.
Orthopedic Surgery Salary by State
Alabama
$1,002,110/year
2 reports
Arizona
$750,000/year
1 reports
California
$730,000/year
13 reports
Colorado
$770,000/year
6 reports
Florida
$950,000/year
2 reports
Georgia
$690,000/year
3 reports
Illinois
$820,000/year
8 reports
Iowa
$900,000/year
2 reports
Maryland
$800,000/year
2 reports
Massachusetts
$800,000/year
5 reports
Michigan
$485,000/year
2 reports
Minnesota
$825,000/year
1 reports
Missouri
$600,000/year
1 reports
Montana
$1,300,000/year
1 reports
Nevada
$1,300,000/year
2 reports
New York
$1,200,000/year
4 reports
Ohio
$1,328,000/year
1 reports
Oregon
$775,000/year
9 reports
Pennsylvania
$790,000/year
1 reports
South Carolina
$949,500/year
2 reports
Texas
$1,000,000/year
4 reports
Washington
$850,000/year
3 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.
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