Pediatric Surgeons: Career Overview
Diagnose and perform surgery to treat fetal abnormalities and birth defects, diseases, and injuries in fetuses, premature and newborn infants, children, and adolescents. Includes all pediatric surgical specialties and subspecialties.
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What Do Pediatric Surgeons Take On?
The core tasks performed by pediatric surgeons include:
- 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.
- Consult with patient's other medical care specialists, such as cardiologist and endocrinologist, to determine if surgery is necessary.
- Describe preoperative and postoperative treatments and procedures, such as sedatives, diets, antibiotics, or preparation and treatment of the patient's operative area, to parents or guardians of the patient.
- Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, assistants, specialists, residents, and other medical staff.
- Examine fetuses, infants, children, and adolescents, and diagnose health issues to determine need for intervention, such as surgery.
- Examine instruments, equipment, and operating room to ensure sterility.
- Examine patient to obtain information on medical condition and surgical risk.
Types of Pediatric Surgeons Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Brain Surgeon
- Cardiac Surgeon
- Cardiothoracic Surgeon
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Physician
- Cardiovascular Surgeon
- Cardiovascular Surgery Physician
- Colon and Rectal Surgeon
- Colorectal Surgeon
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 1,188,665 pediatric surgeons working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +10.5% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Pediatric Surgeons Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $71,888 |
| Hourly median | $34.56 |
| 10th percentile | $42,806 |
| 25th percentile | $57,347 |
| 75th percentile | $86,429 |
| 90th percentile | $100,971 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pediatric Surgeons Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Illinois | $89,450 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for pediatric surgeons shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes | $89,450 | 15.0% | 0.77 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $89,450 | 30 |
Industry Breakdown
Most pediatric surgeons are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,040 | n/a |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Medical software: Epic Systems (hot technology)
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
How to Become Pediatric Surgeons
The role falls in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Chiropractors (Supplemental)
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (Primary-Long)
- Physician Assistants (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologist Assistants (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologists (Primary-Short)
- Cardiologists (Primary-Long)
- Dermatologists (Primary-Short)
- Emergency Medicine Physicians (Primary-Long)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring pediatric surgeons commonly pursue programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
2 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes 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: 29-1243.00 (Pediatric Surgeons).
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