Some orthopedic subspecialists experienced an increase in compensation during 2010 while others decreased significantly. Spine surgeons are still the highest compensation subspecialists, but this year joint surgeons join them at the top. Here are five points on orthopedic and spine surgeon compensation from MGMA's Physician Compensation and Production Survey: 2011 Report Based on 2010 Data.
1. Spine surgeons and joint specialists were the highest compensated in 2010. Unlike in 2009, when spine and sports medicine physicians earned the top spots as the highest compensated orthopedic subspecialties, spine and joint replacement surgeons received the honor in 2010. Spine surgeons received $760,782, which was about $50,000 higher than the previous year's average, and more than $85,000 greater than joint specialists, who received $675,156 as the second highest compensated subspecialty.
2. Sports medicine and foot and ankle surgeons experienced a compensation decrease. While sports medicine surgeons were among the highest two compensated orthopedic subspecialties last year, they experienced a compensation decrease in 2010, which left them in third place receiving $645,602, an $8,000 decrease from 2009. Foot and ankle surgeons experienced a much more drastic decrease in compensation from $518,463 in 2009 to $493,545 in 2010.
3. Orthopedists almost always faired better in a single-specialty setting. In almost all subspecialties, orthopedic surgeons who practiced in a single-specialty setting were compensated higher than their counterparts in multispecialty practices. The only exception to this rule was orthopedic spine surgeons, who earned $729,917 in a multi-specialty practice as opposed to $627,340 in a single-specialty practice. The spine surgeons in multi-specialty practices were the highest-compensated of all orthopedic subspecialists in both single- and multi-specialty practices.
4. Most orthopedists earned more in the Midwest and South. General orthopedic surgeons, lower and upper extremity specialists and spine surgeons were more highly compensated in the Midwest than anywhere else in the country. Joint surgeons and sports medicine physicians were more highly compensated in the South than in the other regions. The highest compensated orthopedic surgeons were spine surgeons in the Midwest, who received $777,988 in 2010, while the lowest compensated were foot and ankle surgeons in the West who received $423,023.
5. Men still outpace women in compensation. Among general orthopedic surgeons, men received $63,386 more on average than their female counterparts. Data was unavailable for female orthopedic surgeons in most subspecialties. However it was available among hand and sports medicine physicians. While female general orthopedists showed the smallest gap, sports medicine physicians weren't far behind. Female sports medicine physicians received $313,623, compared with their male counterparts who received $382,845, which is a $69,222 difference. Female hand surgeons had a much bigger gap, receiving $158,350 less than men.
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1. Spine surgeons and joint specialists were the highest compensated in 2010. Unlike in 2009, when spine and sports medicine physicians earned the top spots as the highest compensated orthopedic subspecialties, spine and joint replacement surgeons received the honor in 2010. Spine surgeons received $760,782, which was about $50,000 higher than the previous year's average, and more than $85,000 greater than joint specialists, who received $675,156 as the second highest compensated subspecialty.
2. Sports medicine and foot and ankle surgeons experienced a compensation decrease. While sports medicine surgeons were among the highest two compensated orthopedic subspecialties last year, they experienced a compensation decrease in 2010, which left them in third place receiving $645,602, an $8,000 decrease from 2009. Foot and ankle surgeons experienced a much more drastic decrease in compensation from $518,463 in 2009 to $493,545 in 2010.
3. Orthopedists almost always faired better in a single-specialty setting. In almost all subspecialties, orthopedic surgeons who practiced in a single-specialty setting were compensated higher than their counterparts in multispecialty practices. The only exception to this rule was orthopedic spine surgeons, who earned $729,917 in a multi-specialty practice as opposed to $627,340 in a single-specialty practice. The spine surgeons in multi-specialty practices were the highest-compensated of all orthopedic subspecialists in both single- and multi-specialty practices.
4. Most orthopedists earned more in the Midwest and South. General orthopedic surgeons, lower and upper extremity specialists and spine surgeons were more highly compensated in the Midwest than anywhere else in the country. Joint surgeons and sports medicine physicians were more highly compensated in the South than in the other regions. The highest compensated orthopedic surgeons were spine surgeons in the Midwest, who received $777,988 in 2010, while the lowest compensated were foot and ankle surgeons in the West who received $423,023.
5. Men still outpace women in compensation. Among general orthopedic surgeons, men received $63,386 more on average than their female counterparts. Data was unavailable for female orthopedic surgeons in most subspecialties. However it was available among hand and sports medicine physicians. While female general orthopedists showed the smallest gap, sports medicine physicians weren't far behind. Female sports medicine physicians received $313,623, compared with their male counterparts who received $382,845, which is a $69,222 difference. Female hand surgeons had a much bigger gap, receiving $158,350 less than men.
Related Articles on Orthopedic Surgeon Compensation:
12 Statistics on Orthopedic and Spine Surgeon Compensation by Employment Status
Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon Compensation: 5 Things to Know
Orthopedic Trauma Surgeon Compensation: 4 Things to Know