How much money does a surgeon make per year or per hour? Do surgeons make a good income? What are the education requirements to become a surgeon? These are all great questions, and this article will provide you with an overview of a surgeon’s education requirements and average income level.
Surgeons operate on patients to treat injuries, such as broken bones; diseases, such as cancerous tumors; and deformities, such as cleft palates. An old joke says that there are two types of surgery: major surgery and minor surgery. What’s the difference between the two? Minor surgery is when they cut on you. Major surgery is when they cut on me!
There are many specialties within the surgery professions such as general surgeons, cardiac surgeons, neurosurgery, pediatric surgery, etc. Dr. Ben Carson is a well-known pediatric neurosurgeon, and his life story was featured in the movie Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story.
Education Requirements for a Surgeon
Surgeons have demanding education and training requirements, and once on the job, they can often work exhausting hours. Almost all physicians complete at least 4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, and, depending on their specialty, 3 to 8 years in internship and residency programs.
All states require physicians and surgeons to be licensed; requirements vary by state. To qualify for a license, candidates must graduate from an accredited medical school, complete residency training in their specialty, and pass written and practical exams.
All physicians and surgeons must pass a standardized national licensure examination. M.D.s take the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). D.O.s take the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA). For specific state information about licensing, contact your state’s medical board.
Average Salary for a Surgeon in the United States:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2014, surgeons had an average hourly wage of $115.60 per hour, and an average annual salary of $240,440. These figures are only averages, and some individuals may make more or less. Some of the factors that can affect a surgeon’s salary include job industry type, location, years of experience, the speciality, and so forth.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Offices of Physicians | $119.18 | $247,900 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $106.16 | $220,810 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $64.89 | $134,970 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $116.73 | $242,800 |
Top paying industries:
| Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| State Government (OES Designation) | At least 90 | At least 187,199 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | At least 90 | At least 187,199 |
| Offices of Physicians | $119.18 | $247,900 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $116.73 | $242,800 |
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| California | $111.12 | $231,120 |
| Texas | $108.91 | $226,540 |
| New York | $105.22 | $218,860 |
Top paying states for surgeons:
| Mississippi | 125.32 | 260,660 |
| Rhode Island | 124.98 | 259,950 |
| Georgia | 122.73 | 255,280 |
Lowes Paying States for Surgeons:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics did not provide a complete salary for all states. Rather, they added a footnote, which stated that all states had an average of no less than $90.00 per hour or $187,199 per year for this profession. So that would be the lowest amount for this profession in each state on average.
Surgeon Salary and Wage by State
| State | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Alabama Surgeon Salary | 111.29 | 231,480 |
| Alaska Surgeon Salary | At least $90 | At least 187,199 |
| Arizona Surgeon Salary | 118.11 | 245,660 |
| Arkansas Surgeon Salary | 110.35 | 229,540 |
| California Surgeon Salary | 111.12 | 231,120 |
| Colorado Surgeon Salary | 111.87 | 232,680 |
| Connecticut Surgeon Salary | 99.35 | 206,650 |
| Delaware Surgeon Salary | n/a | n/a |
| District of Columbia Surgeon Salary | 91.40 | 190,110 |
| Florida Surgeon Salary | 119.88 | 249,350 |
| Georgia Surgeon Salary | 122.73 | 255,280 |
| Idaho Surgeon Salary | At least $90 | At least 187,199 |
| Illinois Surgeon Salary | 117.17 | 243,710 |
| Indiana Surgeon Salary | At least $90 | At least 187,199 |
| Iowa Surgeon Salary | 119.86 | 249,310 |
| Kansas Surgeon Salary | 119.46 | 248,470 |
| Kentucky Surgeon Salary | 121.14 | 251,970 |
| Louisiana Surgeon Salary | 110.84 | 230,550 |
| Maine Surgeon Salary | At least $90 | At least 187,199 |
| Maryland Surgeon Salary | 124.50 | 258,960 |
| Massachusetts Surgeon Salary | 123.78 | 257,460 |
| Michigan Surgeon Salary | 107.07 | 222,700 |
| Minnesota Surgeon Salary | At least $90 | At least 187,199 |
| Mississippi Surgeon Salary | 125.32 | 260,660 |
| Missouri Surgeon Salary | At least $90 | At least 187,199 |
| Montana Surgeon Salary | 104.05 | 216,410 |
| Nebraska Surgeon Salary | At least $90 | At least 187,199 |
| Nevada Surgeon Salary | 124.93 | 259,850 |
| New Hampshire Surgeon Salary | At least $90 | At least 187,199 |
| New Jersey Surgeon Salary | 124.68 | 259,340 |
| New Mexico Surgeon Salary | At least $90 | At least 187,199 |
| New York Surgeon Salary | 105.22 | 218,860 |
| North Carolina Surgeon Salary | At least $90 | At least 187,199 |
| North Dakota Surgeon Salary | At least $90 | At least 187,199 |
| Ohio Surgeon Salary | 113.61 | 236,320 |
| Oklahoma Surgeon Salary | 100.92 | 209,910 |
| Oregon Surgeon Salary | At least $90 | At least 187,199 |
| Pennsylvania Surgeon Salary | 113.22 | 235,500 |
| Puerto Rico Surgeon Salary | At least $90 | At least 187,199 |
| Rhode Island Surgeon Salary | 124.98 | 259,950 |
| South Carolina Surgeon Salary | 107.94 | 224,510 |
| South Dakota Surgeon Salary | At least $90 | At least 187,199 |
| Tennessee Surgeon Salary | 117.58 | 244,570 |
| Texas Surgeon Salary | 108.91 | 226,540 |
| Utah Surgeon Salary | n/a | n/a |
| Vermont Surgeon Salary | 92.05 | 191,470 |
| Virginia Surgeon Salary | 116.97 | 243,300 |
| Washington Surgeon Salary | 115.52 | 240,280 |
| West Virginia Surgeon Salary | At least $90 | At least 187,199 |
| Wisconsin Surgeon Salary | 117.03 | 243,420 |
Wyoming Surgeon Salary |
At least $90 | At least 187,199 |
References:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Physicians and Surgeons, on the Internet at bls.gov.