Orthopedic surgeon salary
BLS occupation: Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric · Healthcare practitioners · data for May 2025
How much does an orthopedic surgeon make?
- The median orthopedic surgeon salary in the US is $358,550 a year ($172.38 an hour): half of the 14,100 orthopedic surgeons BLS counts earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) is $373,570.
- The middle half earn between $180,610 and $530,700. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $84,170 and the top 10% more than $659,290.
- That is 7.0 times the median for all US workers ($50,980).
- Missouri pays orthopedic surgeons the most (median $842,800), followed by West Virginia ($597,740) and Wisconsin ($572,060). Indiana pays the least ($177,710).
- After adjusting for prices, the pay goes furthest in Missouri, where the median is worth $928,020 in typical US prices, then West Virginia and Mississippi.
- In all 32 metro areas with data, the median orthopedic surgeon salary is enough to rent a typical home without spending more than 30% of income on rent.
- BLS projects the number of orthopedic surgeons to grow 4.0% from 2025 to 2035 (all jobs: 3.5%), with about 400 openings a year. The typical entry education is a doctoral or professional degree.
official From BLS's survey of employers: what orthopedic surgeons are actually paid, not job ads or self-reports. Adjusted figures are derived. How we calculate.
How does your pay compare?
Orthopedic surgeon salary range
Half of orthopedic surgeons earn between $180,610 and $530,700 a year
Yearly pay at each point of the range, US, May 2025. For comparison, the median for all US jobs is $50,980.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Show the numbers
| Yearly pay | |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn under | $84,170 |
| Lowest 25% earn under | $180,610 |
| Median | $358,550 |
| Top 25% earn over | $530,700 |
| Top 10% earn over | $659,290 |
Orthopedic surgeon salary by state
Missouri pays orthopedic surgeons the most; Indiana the least
Median yearly pay by state compared with the US median ($358,550), May 2025. Blue = higher pay.
- 20%+ below US
- 10–20% below
- 3–10% below
- Within 3%
- 3–10% above
- 10–20% above
- 20%+ above US
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.
Show the numbers
| State | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Missouri | $842,800 median |
| West Virginia | $597,740 median |
| Wisconsin | $572,060 median |
| Montana | $560,820 median |
| Arizona | $558,970 median |
| New Hampshire | $555,670 median |
| Washington | $553,310 median |
| Mississippi | $544,130 median |
| Minnesota | $537,830 median |
| Oklahoma | $530,070 median |
| Nebraska | $507,770 median |
| Virginia | $478,710 median |
| Georgia | $474,820 median |
| Florida | $473,750 median |
| Illinois | $426,580 median |
| New York | $414,290 median |
| Michigan | $413,450 median |
| Massachusetts | $392,300 median |
| Colorado | $385,410 median |
| Pennsylvania | $354,020 median |
| New Jersey | $341,430 median |
| Tennessee | $325,520 median |
| Alabama | $324,570 median |
| North Carolina | $323,630 median |
| Ohio | $323,480 median |
| Kansas | $311,630 median |
| Arkansas | $262,470 median |
| California | $253,430 median |
| Texas | $200,780 median |
| Iowa | $189,410 median |
| Indiana | $177,710 median |
Where orthopedic surgeon pay goes furthest
A salary buys more where prices are low. We divide each state's median by its price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, so every figure is in typical US prices. derived
Orthopedic surgeons' pay goes furthest in Missouri once prices are counted
Median pay ÷ the state's price level (BEA, 2024; US = 100), shown in typical US prices. Top 10 states.
US median
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Our calculation.
Show the numbers
| Worth, in US prices | |
|---|---|
| Missouri | $928,020 |
| West Virginia | $667,888 |
| Mississippi | $625,775 |
| Wisconsin | $607,960 |
| Oklahoma | $603,429 |
| Montana | $592,551 |
| Nebraska | $563,544 |
| Arizona | $555,211 |
| Minnesota | $545,350 |
| New Hampshire | $533,452 |
Orthopedic surgeon pay in every state
| State | Median a year | Hourly | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Employed | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | $842,800 | $405.19 | $114,340 | $869,540 | – | $928,020 |
| West Virginia | $597,740 | $287.38 | $64,120 | $894,940 | 120 | $667,888 |
| Wisconsin | $572,060 | $275.03 | $78,800 | – | 290 | $607,960 |
| Montana | $560,820 | $269.63 | $207,000 | $729,990 | – | $592,551 |
| Arizona | $558,970 | $268.74 | $237,990 | $826,870 | 110 | $555,211 |
| New Hampshire | $555,670 | $267.15 | $69,970 | $676,240 | 80 | $533,452 |
| Washington | $553,310 | $266.01 | $181,940 | $684,080 | 290 | $517,049 |
| Mississippi | $544,130 | $261.60 | $209,620 | $621,270 | – | $625,775 |
| Minnesota | $537,830 | $258.57 | $79,080 | – | 320 | $545,350 |
| Oklahoma | $530,070 | $254.84 | $156,300 | $670,540 | 30 | $603,429 |
| Nebraska | $507,770 | $244.12 | $219,210 | $555,800 | 200 | $563,544 |
| Virginia | $478,710 | $230.15 | $151,810 | $623,030 | 170 | $473,483 |
| Georgia | $474,820 | $228.28 | $238,050 | $886,940 | 490 | $493,099 |
| Florida | $473,750 | $227.76 | $228,800 | $545,620 | 580 | $458,110 |
| Illinois | $426,580 | $205.09 | $115,310 | $797,060 | 170 | $426,759 |
| New York | $414,290 | $199.18 | $77,150 | $619,340 | 1,450 | $383,883 |
| Michigan | $413,450 | $198.77 | $81,050 | $732,000 | 200 | $429,706 |
| Massachusetts | $392,300 | $188.61 | $200,220 | $392,380 | – | $370,945 |
| Colorado | $385,410 | $185.29 | $180,610 | $641,130 | 410 | $373,996 |
| Pennsylvania | $354,020 | $170.20 | $87,640 | $587,790 | 240 | $362,830 |
| New Jersey | $341,430 | $164.15 | $215,640 | $593,680 | 420 | $313,800 |
| Tennessee | $325,520 | $156.50 | $139,100 | $472,540 | 180 | $354,327 |
| Alabama | $324,570 | $156.04 | $114,990 | $387,490 | 380 | $365,412 |
| North Carolina | $323,630 | $155.59 | $75,510 | $629,080 | 560 | $343,097 |
| Ohio | $323,480 | $155.52 | $67,300 | $641,190 | 500 | $348,675 |
| Kansas | $311,630 | $149.82 | $140,160 | $492,460 | – | $345,994 |
| Arkansas | $262,470 | $126.19 | $155,250 | $621,020 | 350 | $301,908 |
| California | $253,430 | $121.84 | $80,660 | $457,010 | – | $228,893 |
| Texas | $200,780 | $96.53 | $75,580 | $758,150 | 490 | $206,868 |
| Iowa | $189,410 | $91.06 | $124,510 | $539,990 | 260 | $215,822 |
| Indiana | $177,710 | $85.44 | $177,710 | $518,510 | 500 | $190,412 |
BLS does not publish pay for orthopedic surgeons in 20 states (too few workers to estimate reliably). After cost of living = median ÷ (BEA price level ÷ 100).
Orthopedic surgeon salary by city
Metro areas where BLS publishes orthopedic surgeon pay: 32 of 387. Rent share = typical rent (September 2026, Zillow) × 12 ÷ the median salary; under 30% is affordable by the usual rule.
Highest-paying metro areas
- Springfield, MO $869,540
- Las Vegas, NV $726,990
- Dallas, TX $666,930
- Seattle, WA $576,130
- Charlotte, NC $572,910
- Phoenix, AZ $558,970
- Omaha, NE $534,820
- Allentown, PA $529,890
- Portland, OR $524,350
- Tampa, FL $523,610
Where the pay goes furthest
- Springfield, MO $981,588
- Las Vegas, NV $725,430
- Dallas, TX $646,940
- Charlotte, NC $588,517
- Omaha, NE $581,889
- Phoenix, AZ $541,029
- Allentown, PA $530,060
- Tampa, FL $518,991
- Seattle, WA $518,415
- Portland, OR $497,387
All 32 metro areas
| Metro area | Median a year | Employed | After cost of living | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, MO | $869,540 | – | $981,588 | 2% |
| Las Vegas, NV | $726,990 | – | $725,430 | 3% |
| Dallas, TX | $666,930 | 100 | $646,940 | 3% |
| Seattle, WA | $576,130 | 180 | $518,415 | 5% |
| Charlotte, NC | $572,910 | 140 | $588,517 | 4% |
| Phoenix, AZ | $558,970 | – | $541,029 | 4% |
| Omaha, NE | $534,820 | 130 | $581,889 | 3% |
| Allentown, PA | $529,890 | 50 | $530,060 | 4% |
| Portland, OR | $524,350 | 120 | $497,387 | 4% |
| Tampa, FL | $523,610 | – | $518,991 | 5% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $478,700 | – | $488,764 | 5% |
| Chicago, IL | $446,510 | 50 | $431,015 | 6% |
| Miami, FL | $396,920 | – | $347,703 | 8% |
| Boston, MA | $392,300 | – | $362,348 | 9% |
| Worcester, MA | $391,930 | 60 | $382,285 | 6% |
| Lincoln, NE | $365,830 | 40 | $399,461 | 4% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $341,810 | 130 | $333,298 | 7% |
| New York, NY | $341,430 | 1,520 | $303,323 | 12% |
| Cincinnati, OH | $334,250 | – | $350,477 | 5% |
| Memphis, TN | $325,520 | 60 | $353,139 | 5% |
| Cleveland, OH | $323,480 | 100 | $344,410 | 5% |
| Sacramento, CA | $312,610 | – | $293,063 | 9% |
| Jonesboro, AR | $269,990 | 30 | $314,395 | 5% |
| Lexington, KY | $256,240 | 80 | $275,856 | 7% |
| Boulder, CO | $211,600 | 130 | $201,137 | 12% |
| San Diego, CA | $204,290 | 230 | $182,586 | 17% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $203,890 | – | $179,534 | 17% |
| Houston, TX | $83,160 | 150 | $84,316 | 24% |
| Rochester, NY | $77,150 | 90 | $79,507 | 24% |
| Albany, NY | $75,720 | 30 | $76,050 | 27% |
| Morgantown, WV | $71,800 | 50 | $76,937 | 23% |
| Dayton, OH | $70,610 | 50 | $76,175 | 22% |
What the median orthopedic surgeon salary pays per paycheck
| Period | Before taxes |
|---|---|
| Year | $358,550 |
| Month | $29,879 |
| Every two weeks | $13,790 |
| Week | $6,895 |
| Hour | $172.38 |
Gross pay, 52 weeks a year, 2,080 hours. Hourly to salary calculator.
Becoming an orthopedic surgeon: education and job outlook
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree |
|---|---|
| Work experience needed | None |
| On-the-job training | Internship/residency |
| Projected change in jobs, 2025–35 | +4.0% (all jobs: +3.5%) |
| Openings a year (average) | 400 |
| Self-employed | 5.5% |
official BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35. Openings include workers who retire or change jobs. What the work involves: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Similar jobs
| Job | Median a year | Typical education |
|---|---|---|
| Ultrasound tech | $96,590 | Associate's degree |
| Vet tech | $47,380 | Associate's degree |
| Speech-language pathologist | $97,870 | Master's degree |
| Physician assistant | $135,880 | Master's degree |
| Nurse practitioner | $132,300 | Master's degree |
| Medical lab tech | $62,930 | Bachelor's degree |
| MRI tech | $95,480 | Associate's degree |
| CRNA | $236,590 | Master's degree |
Questions about orthopedic surgeon pay
How much does an orthopedic surgeon make an hour?
The median is $172.38 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $40.46 and the top 10% over $316.97.
How much does an orthopedic surgeon make a month?
About $29,879 a month before taxes at the median salary of $358,550, or $13,790 every two weeks.
What state pays orthopedic surgeons the most?
Missouri, with a median of $842,800. West Virginia ($597,740), Wisconsin ($572,060), Montana ($560,820) and Arizona ($558,970) follow.
Where do orthopedic surgeons make the most after cost of living?
Missouri: its median of $842,800 is worth $928,020 at typical US prices. West Virginia, Mississippi and Wisconsin come next.
How much do entry-level orthopedic surgeons make?
BLS does not report pay by experience. The lowest-paid 10% of orthopedic surgeons earn under $84,170 a year, and the lowest-paid quarter under $180,610, which is a reasonable guide to starting pay.
What education do you need to become an orthopedic surgeon?
BLS lists the typical entry-level education as a doctoral or professional degree. Work experience in a related job: none. On-the-job training: internship/residency.
Sources and limits
- Pay and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation 29-1242 (Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric). Downloaded 2026-10-24.
- OEWS counts wage and salary workers at employers, including tips and commissions but not overtime pay, bonuses that are not tied to production, or benefits. It leaves out the self-employed. BLS does not publish figures above $239,200 a year or for states and metro areas with too few workers.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (US = 100). Rents: Zillow Observed Rent Index, September 2026; Data Provided by Zillow Group.
- Outlook and education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Pay is not broken down by experience, employer or specialty (for example, ER or pediatric nursing); BLS does not publish those splits.