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Surgeon Salary | How Much Money Does a Surgeon Make Per Year?

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.

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