Orthopedic surgeons in employed settings can see a 49% increase in average salary from early to midcareer, according to Medscape’s Salary Explorer tool.
Nationwide, orthopedic surgeons with one to seven years of experience earn an average of $410,000 annually, Medscape data shows. Salaries rise steadily with experience:
- 8 to 14 years: $530,000
- 15 to 21 years: $640,000
- 22 to 28 years: $610,000
While compensation peaks between 15 and 21 years of experience, surgeons later in their careers still earn more than $200,000 above early career peers.
By comparison, orthopedic surgeons in self-employed settings start higher and peak at $750,000 in midcareer, about $110,000 more than employed peers at the same stage. Even with a late-career dip, self-employed surgeons average $690,000.
Orthopedic surgery also remains the highest-paid physician specialty overall, with compensation consistently outpacing other fields.
