How much does a surgeon make?
a year · about $199 an hour
A typical surgeon in the United States makes $414,010 a year, about $199 an hour, about 8.1× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
Surgeons may start by checking charts and visiting patients, then scrub in with nurses and specialists. Between operations, they explain care, update records, and check recovering patients; emergencies can change the plan.
Did you know? To qualify for US general-surgery board certification, residents must keep a record of at least 850 operations they perform as a surgeon during five years of training.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $80,320 and $655,320How do you become one?
In the US, finish college and medical school (MD or DO), then at least five years of general-surgery residency; some add a fellowship. Pass licensing exams and meet state rules; a straight-through path often starts practice around age 30.
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, surgeons’ pay can differ with experience and credentials, their surgical specialty, employer, and location. Full-time hours, overnight shifts, and emergency on-call work can also affect earnings.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in North Dakota ($604,890), lowest in California ($131,990).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $80,320 | $414,010 | $655,320 | about 25,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $604,890 | about 150 |
| Minnesota | $568,150 | about 910 |
| Ohio | $554,220 | about 980 |
| Oklahoma | $553,790 | about 80 |
| New Hampshire | $534,870 | about 220 |
Official definition: All surgeons not listed separately. Excludes “Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons” (29-1022).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physicians-and-surgeons.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291249.htm
- www.absurgery.org/get-certified/general-surgery/training-requirements
- www.chop.edu/news/day-life-surgical-fellow
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY