Despite orthopedic surgeon pay falling by 3% between 2024 and 2025, overall, the specialty has seen a 25.31% pay hike since 2015.
From 2015 to 2025, the inflation rate in the U.S. has risen by 1.7%, according to data from the U.S. Inflation Calculator. Throughout that period, there have been several spikes, reaching a high of 7% in 2021.
However, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ inflation calculator, the average salary for orthopedic surgeons in 2015, $421,000, has the same buying power as $572,253 in 2025.
In 2025, orthopedic surgeons are earning an average salary of $543,000, falling slightly below 2015 earnings, based on current inflation rates.
Here is what orthopedic surgeons would be earning today, adjusted for inflation, each year, from 2015 to 2024:
2015
Wages: $421,000
Buying power today: $572,252.83
2016
Wages: $443,000
Buying power today: $594,000.63
2017
Wages: $489,000
Buying power today: $639,687.69
2018
Wages: $497,000
Buying power today: $636,964.53
2019
Wages: $482,000
Buying power today: $608,304.02
2020
Wages: $511,000
Buying power today: $629,256.32
2021
Wages: $511,000
Buying power today: $620,569.77
2022
Wages: $557,000
Buying power today: $629,358.01
2023
Wages: $573,000
Buying power today: $608,434.95
2024
Wages: $558,000
Buying power today: $574,742.70
