Orthopedic Surgeon salary: how much does an orthopedic surgeon make?
An orthopedic surgeon in the US earns a median of $358,550 a year, about $172.38 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $84,170 and the top 10% earn over $659,290. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, Missouri, has a median of $842,800.
Orthopedic Surgeon pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does an orthopedic surgeon make an hour?
The median orthopedic surgeon earns $172.38 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $40.46 for the lowest-paid 10% to $316.97 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $84,170 | $40.46 |
| Lower 25% | $180,610 | $86.83 |
| Median (typical) | $358,550 | $172.38 |
| Upper 25% | $530,700 | $255.15 |
| Top 10% | $659,290 | $316.97 |
Orthopedic Surgeon salary by state
Median annual pay for orthopedic surgeons by state, from BLS May 2025 data. “Not published” means BLS did not release a figure for that state, usually because too few employers reported this job there.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $324,570 | $156.04 |
| Alaska | Not published | – |
| Arizona | $558,970 | $268.74 |
| Arkansas | $262,470 | $126.19 |
| California | $253,430 | $121.84 |
| Colorado | $385,410 | $185.29 |
| Connecticut | Not published | – |
| Delaware | Not published | – |
| District of Columbia | Not published | – |
| Florida | $473,750 | $227.76 |
| Georgia | $474,820 | $228.28 |
| Hawaii | Not published | – |
| Idaho | Not published | – |
| Illinois | $426,580 | $205.09 |
| Indiana | $177,710 | $85.44 |
| Iowa | $189,410 | $91.06 |
| Kansas | $311,630 | $149.82 |
| Kentucky | Not published | – |
| Louisiana | Not published | – |
| Maine | Not published | – |
| Maryland | Not published | – |
| Massachusetts | $392,300 | $188.61 |
| Michigan | $413,450 | $198.77 |
| Minnesota | $537,830 | $258.57 |
| Mississippi | $544,130 | $261.60 |
| Missouri | $842,800 | $405.19 |
| Montana | $560,820 | $269.62 |
| Nebraska | $507,770 | $244.12 |
| Nevada | Not published | – |
| New Hampshire | $555,670 | $267.15 |
| New Jersey | $341,430 | $164.15 |
| New Mexico | Not published | – |
| New York | $414,290 | $199.18 |
| North Carolina | $323,630 | $155.59 |
| North Dakota | Not published | – |
| Ohio | $323,480 | $155.52 |
| Oklahoma | $530,070 | $254.84 |
| Oregon | Not published | – |
| Pennsylvania | $354,020 | $170.20 |
| Rhode Island | Not published | – |
| South Carolina | Not published | – |
| South Dakota | Not published | – |
| Tennessee | $325,520 | $156.50 |
| Texas | $200,780 | $96.53 |
| Utah | Not published | – |
| Vermont | Not published | – |
| Virginia | $478,710 | $230.15 |
| Washington | $553,310 | $266.01 |
| West Virginia | $597,740 | $287.38 |
| Wisconsin | $572,060 | $275.03 |
| Wyoming | Not published | – |
Highest-paying states for orthopedic surgeons
- Missouri: $842,800 median
- West Virginia: $597,740 median
- Wisconsin: $572,060 median
- Montana: $560,820 median
- Arizona: $558,970 median
The lowest published medians are in Indiana ($177,710), Iowa ($189,410), Texas ($200,780), California ($253,430), Arkansas ($262,470). The most orthopedic surgeon jobs are in New York (1,450 jobs), Florida (580 jobs), North Carolina (560 jobs), Ohio (500 jobs), Indiana (500 jobs).
How much does an orthopedic surgeon make a month?
At the median salary of $358,550, an orthopedic surgeon earns about $29,879 a month, $13,790 every two weeks or $6,895 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced orthopedic surgeon pay
New orthopedic surgeons typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $84,170 a year and the lowest 25% under $180,610. The top 25% earn over $530,700 and the top 10% over $659,290. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Orthopedic Surgeon salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Orthopedic surgeon | $358,550 |
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Veterinarian | $130,100 |
| Chiropractor | $79,200 |
| Optometrist | $136,570 |
| Psychiatrist | $281,870 |
| Psychologist | $100,580 |
Why surveys show higher pay than BLS
BLS counts only salaried employees and reports the median. The Doximity Physician Compensation Report 2026, based on nearly 23,000 full-time US physicians surveyed during 2025, puts average orthopedic surgery compensation at $696,852, versus the BLS median of $358,550. Surveys of full-time doctors include practice partners and bonuses, so expect higher figures there.
Orthopedic Surgeon take-home pay by state (2026)
2026 federal brackets and standard deduction, Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% plus 0.9% above $200,000 ($250,000 joint), and each state's 2026 income tax. Local income taxes, state disability or paid-leave payroll taxes and other deductions are not included. Estimate only, not tax advice.
Common questions
How much does an orthopedic surgeon make?
The US median is $358,550 a year ($172.38 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does an orthopedic surgeon make an hour?
The median is about $172.38 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $40.46 and the top 10% about $316.97 an hour.
Which state pays orthopedic surgeons the most?
Missouri has the highest median at $842,800, followed by West Virginia ($597,740) and Wisconsin ($572,060).
How much does an orthopedic surgeon make a month?
At the US median of $358,550 a year, about $29,879 a month or $13,790 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level orthopedic surgeon make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $84,170 a year and the lowest 25% under $180,610, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of orthopedic surgeons make?
The top 10% earn over $659,290 a year; the top 25% earn over $530,700.
How much does an orthopedic surgeon make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $253,430 in California, $200,780 in Texas, $473,750 in Florida, $414,290 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 29-1242, “Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.