Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric: Career Profile
Diagnose and perform surgery to treat and prevent rheumatic and other diseases in the musculoskeletal system.
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What Tasks Do Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric Do?
Typical responsibilities of orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric span:
- Analyze patient's medical history, medication allergies, physical condition, and examination results to verify operation's necessity and to determine best procedure.
- Conduct research to develop and test surgical techniques that can improve operating procedures and outcomes related to musculoskeletal injuries and diseases.
- Diagnose bodily disorders and orthopedic conditions, and provide treatments, such as medicines and surgeries, in clinics, hospital wards, or operating rooms.
- Diagnose or treat disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
- Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, assistants, specialists, residents, and other medical staff.
- Examine instruments, equipment, and operating room to ensure sterility.
- Examine patient to obtain information on medical condition and surgical risk.
- Follow established surgical techniques during the operation.
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Doctor
- Foot and Ankle Surgeon
- General Orthopedic Surgeon
- General Surgeon
- Hand Surgeon
- Medical Doctor (MD)
- Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Orthopedic Hand Surgeon
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 602,557 orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +12.3% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $126,544 |
| Hourly median | $60.84 |
| 10th percentile | $90,324 |
| 25th percentile | $108,434 |
| 75th percentile | $144,655 |
| 90th percentile | $162,765 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Ohio | $220,390 |
| Nevada | $219,790 |
| New York | $215,630 |
| Massachusetts | $193,200 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $130,821 | 21.2% | 1.47 |
| Great Lakes | $79,746 | 13.5% | 1.04 |
| New England | $63,344 | 5.4% | 1.50 |
| Far Western US | $3,522 | 27.6% | 1.42 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $230,130 | 1,520 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | TN | $216,380 | |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $215,010 | 170 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | MO | $206,400 | |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $180,340 | |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | NC | $163,420 | 50 |
| Rochester, MN | MN | $76,240 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 13,870 | n/a |
| Educational Services | 270 | $80,250 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Medical software: Epic Systems (hot technology)
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
How to Become Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric
The role falls in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Chiropractors (Supplemental)
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (Primary-Short)
- Physician Assistants (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologist Assistants (Supplemental)
- Podiatrists (Primary-Long)
- Anesthesiologists (Primary-Short)
- Cardiologists (Supplemental)
- Dermatologists (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric typically earn programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
2 programs across 1 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-1242.00 (Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric).