Average Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric is $358,550 per year. The middle 50% earn between $180,610 and $530,700, with 14,100 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates . Data covers 40 states and 48 metro areas.
Pay distribution
Here is how Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $84,170
- 25th
- $180,610
- Median
- $358,550
- 75th
- $530,700
- 90th
- $659,290
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric are among the highest-paid occupations tracked by BLS, well into the top decile of US wages.
The pay band is unusually wide for this occupation. Experience, employer, and specialization can double or even triple an early-career salary, so what orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric earn depends heavily on where they are in their career and who they work for.
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric from 2024 to 2034. Growth is roughly in line with the US average of about 4% across all occupations.
- Projected growth
- +4.1%
- 600 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 400
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave.
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
Entry into this field typically requires a doctoral or professional degree, which helps explain the high wage level and relatively narrow candidate pool.
Where Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric earn the most
Location matters a lot. The gap between top-paying and bottom-paying states is large, so where orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric work can reshape their total compensation. Right now, the top-paying state is Missouri at $842,800, about 135.1% above the national median. At the metro level, Springfield, MO leads with a median of $869,540.
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri | $842,800 | N/A |
| West Virginia | $597,740 | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $572,060 | 290 |
| Montana | $560,820 | N/A |
| Arizona | $558,970 | 110 |
| New Hampshire | $555,670 | 80 |
| Washington | $553,310 | 290 |
| Mississippi | $544,130 | N/A |
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield, MO | $869,540 | N/A |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $726,990 | N/A |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $666,930 | 100 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $576,130 | 180 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $572,910 | 140 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $558,970 | N/A |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $534,820 | 130 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $529,890 | 50 |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Median salary over time
Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2025
- $358,550
BLS did not publish a median for 2000–2024, so those years are omitted.
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Emergency Medicine Physicians
- $335,550
- Dermatologists
- $328,730
- Anesthesiologists
- $391,490
- Physicians, Pathologists
- $312,400
- Surgeons, All Other
- $414,010
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
- $300,080
- Radiologists
- $420,860
- Obstetricians And Gynecologists
- $292,910
Common salary questions for Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.