Where Do Surgeons Make The Most Money

Surgeon Salary By State

On Jun 14, 2019

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Surgeons are trained and licensed to operate on patients to repair injuries, alter deformities, and remove certain illnesses or diseases, like tumors. From broken bones to life-threatening brain and heart illnesses, surgeons make life-and-death decisions every day. For that level of education, complex knowledge, and on-the-spot decision making, surgeons are well compensated.

National Surgeon Statistics

Surgeons are classified with physicians in the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2018, the median pay for physicians and surgeons was $208,000. The job outlook for the field is projected to improve by 13 percent between 2016 and 2026, faster than the national average of 13 percent across all occupations.

Top States for Surgeons

The Bureau of Labor Statistics also publishes Occupational Employment Statistics for surgeons. As of May 2018, the states with the highest employment levels for surgeons include California, Ohio, Massachusetts, New York, and Florida. California tops the list with an annual mean wage of $221,490. The top paying states for surgeons include Wyoming, Wisconsin, Utah, South Dakota, and South Carolina, all with annual salaries at or above $208,000.

Surgeon Salary By State

Health eCareers performs an annual salary survey, where healthcare professionals, including physicians and surgeons are asked a variety of questions, including salary focused ones.

[ Read: Health eCareers' Salary Guide 2018-2019 ]

According to our salary calculator, for general surgery & trauma, the averages were:

Alabama: $352,000
Alaska: $326,000
Arizona: $125,000
Arkansas: $295,000
California: $315,000
Colorado: $365,000
Connecticut: $250,000
Florida: $381,000
Georgia: $377,500
Illinois: $350,000
Indiana: $260,000
Iowa: $410,500
Kansas: $300,00
Kentucky: $327,000
Maine: $430,000
Maryland: $337,500
Massachusetts: $302,500
Michigan: $420,000
Minnesota: $500,000
Mississippi: $302,500
Missouri: $287,500
Nebraska: $300,000
Nevada: $297,500
New Hampshire: $450,000
New Jersey: $435,000
New Mexico: $392,000
New York: $245,000
North Dakota: $303,000
Ohio: $355,000
Oklahoma: $437,500
Oregon: $335,000
Pennsylvania: $300,000
South Carolina: $345,000
South Dakota: $280,000
Tennessee: $300,000
Texas: $337,500
Utah: $250,000
Vermont: $295,000
Virginia: $300,000
Washington State: $435,000
West Virginia: $431,500
Wisconsin: $345,000

The following states did not report enough data to gain an average salary: Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Washington, DC, and Wyoming

It's difficult to determine how much value to place on these average salaries. Factors like cost of living affect how far your money will go in any given location.

In addition, estimates can vary widely. For example, BLS 2012 estimates place California as the top-paying state for surgeons, with a mean annual wage of $221,490. Health eCareers' online salary calculator places California at $315,000 for general surgery and trauma.

Incomplete or incorrect data combined with differences in pay scale and job demands at different institutions, hospitals, and corporations mean averages may not provide the most useful insights to the overall value of a surgeon's pay.

Make sure to visit our Physician Career Center and browse our Physician and Surgeon Jobs today.

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Health eCareers Salary Guide 2018-2019