Source: SalaryDr salary data for Orthopedic Surgery in California (Academic) (N=3 verified submissions, updated January 19, 2026, data as of 2026-01-19). URL: https://www.salarydr.com
Real compensation data for orthopedic surgeons working in academic settings in California.
$500,000
$430,000
$240,000
$550,000
Based on 3 responses, Academic Orthopedic Surgery physicians in California report the following call schedule patterns:
Average work week: 54 hours
Call schedules vary by practice type within Academic settings. Academic positions may have lighter clinical call but additional responsibilities for teaching and research.
Compare Orthopedic Surgery salaries across different practice settings in California:
Explore city-level salary data for Orthopedic Surgery physicians in California. Note: City pages show all practice settings combined.
The average Orthopedic Surgery salary for Academic settings in California is $430,000, with a median of $500,000. This is based on 3 verified submissions.
Academic physicians in California earn a median of $500,000, compared to $730,000 for all Orthopedic Surgery physicians in California. This represents a -32% lower salary than the state average.
Key factors include years of experience (2 years average in this data), geographic location within California, subspecialty training, and individual productivity metrics. Academic settings may emphasize research and teaching contributions.
Academic Orthopedic Surgery physicians in California earn a median of $500,000, compared to $575,000 nationally for Academic settings. This is -13% below the national average for Academic settings.
Academic Orthopedic Surgery physicians in California work an average of 54 hours per week. Academic positions may include protected time for research and teaching.
Academic settings offer Teaching opportunities, Research funding, Academic prestige. However, physicians should also consider challenges such as Lower compensation and Publish or perish.
Based on our database, we have 3 verified submissions from Orthopedic Surgery physicians in Academic settings in California. This represents approximately 20% of all Orthopedic Surgery submissions from California.
Average Salary
$430,000
Median Salary
$500,000
Salary Range
$240,000 - $550,000
National Average
$590,909
Difference
-27% vs National Average
Sample Size
3 local / 11 national reports
Distribution based on 3 verified physician salary submissions.
Median Salary: $500,000
Average satisfaction rating reported by Orthopedic Surgery physicians (1-5 scale).
Percentage of Orthopedic Surgery physicians who would choose this specialty again.
Physicians cite the variety of cases and patient relationships as most rewarding aspects of this specialty.
On-call demands, administrative burden, and work-life balance are cited as the top challenges.
| Years of Experience | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|
| 0-2 years | $395,000 | 2 submissions |
| 6-10 years | $500,000 | 1 submissions |
* Experience levels with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.