Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric
Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric (SOC 29-1242) earn a median $358,550 a year ($172.38 an hour) in the United States, with 14,100 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Missouri.
What orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric do
Orthopedic surgeons diagnose and perform surgery to treat and prevent rheumatic and other diseases in the musculoskeletal system. The SOC excludes pediatric surgeons, who are counted in their own code. The packet has no task list or education data for this code, so the description rests on the SOC definition and the O*NET alternate titles. Those titles include foot and ankle surgeon, hand surgeon, orthopedic spine surgeon and general orthopedic surgeon, which show that many surgeons concentrate on one region of the body. Work of this kind typically combines evaluating the patient, deciding whether a condition calls for an operation, performing the surgery and following the patient's recovery afterward. The label orthopedic or orthopaedic covers bones, joints and related structures, and diseases such as rheumatic conditions fall within it. The occupation differs from podiatry, which the SOC limits to the foot, and from the physician specialties that treat musculoskeletal disease without operating, since surgery is central here.
Also called: Doctor, Foot and Ankle Surgeon, General Orthopedic Surgeon, General Surgeon, Hand Surgeon.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $40.46 | $86.83 | $172.38 | $255.15 | $316.97 | $179.60 | 14,100 |
| Annual | $84,170 | $180,610 | $358,550 | $530,700 | $659,290 | $373,570 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Missouri | Hourly | $54.97 | $102.84 | $405.19 | $418.05 | $418.05 | $300.03 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $114,340 | $213,900 | $842,800 | $869,540 | $869,540 | $624,070 | ||||
| West Virginia | Hourly | $30.83 | $96.07 | $287.38 | $344.95 | $430.26 | $250.99 | 120 | 0.17 | 1.87 |
| Annual | $64,120 | $199,820 | $597,740 | $717,500 | $894,940 | $522,050 | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $37.89 | $172.38 | $275.03 | $326.83 | # | $257.57 | 290 | 0.10 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $78,800 | $358,550 | $572,060 | $679,800 | # | $535,750 | ||||
| Montana | Hourly | $99.52 | $174.54 | $269.62 | $338.18 | $350.96 | $244.83 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $207,000 | $363,050 | $560,820 | $703,410 | $729,990 | $509,240 | ||||
| Arizona | Hourly | $114.42 | $268.73 | $268.73 | $268.73 | $397.54 | $260.64 | 110 | 0.03 | 0.37 |
| Annual | $237,990 | $558,970 | $558,970 | $558,970 | $826,870 | $542,140 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $37.09 | $53.74 | $199.18 | $277.56 | $297.76 | $175.25 | 1,450 | 0.15 | 1.65 |
| Annual | $77,150 | $111,770 | $414,290 | $577,320 | $619,340 | $364,520 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $110.00 | $181.93 | $227.76 | $251.74 | $262.32 | $222.29 | 580 | 0.06 | 0.64 |
| Annual | $228,800 | $378,410 | $473,750 | $523,610 | $545,620 | $462,360 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $36.30 | $131.96 | $155.59 | $271.26 | $302.44 | $179.15 | 560 | 0.11 | 1.24 |
| Annual | $75,510 | $274,480 | $323,630 | $564,210 | $629,080 | $372,620 | ||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $85.44 | $85.44 | $85.44 | $166.77 | $249.28 | $127.35 | 500 | 0.16 | 1.71 |
| Annual | $177,710 | $177,710 | $177,710 | $346,880 | $518,510 | $264,890 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $32.36 | $39.62 | $155.52 | $182.80 | $308.27 | $144.00 | 500 | 0.09 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $67,300 | $82,410 | $323,480 | $380,230 | $641,190 | $299,520 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Springfield, MO | Hourly | $71.39 | $318.40 | $418.05 | $418.05 | $418.05 | $341.79 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $148,490 | $662,260 | $869,540 | $869,540 | $869,540 | $710,930 | ||||
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | Hourly | $48.22 | $274.05 | $349.52 | $349.52 | $349.52 | $289.59 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $100,300 | $570,020 | $726,990 | $726,990 | $726,990 | $602,360 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $74.64 | $199.23 | $320.64 | $341.19 | $360.31 | $262.79 | 100 | 0.03 | 0.28 |
| Annual | $155,250 | $414,390 | $666,930 | $709,660 | $749,440 | $546,600 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $82.83 | $174.31 | $276.99 | $278.48 | $343.00 | $243.66 | 180 | 0.09 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $172,290 | $362,560 | $576,130 | $579,230 | $713,430 | $506,820 | ||||
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | Hourly | $33.65 | $37.40 | $275.44 | $302.44 | $302.44 | $188.41 | 140 | 0.10 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $69,990 | $77,790 | $572,910 | $629,070 | $629,080 | $391,900 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $42.66 | $65.66 | $164.15 | $253.58 | $295.33 | $167.12 | 1,520 | 0.16 | 1.76 |
| Annual | $88,730 | $136,560 | $341,430 | $527,450 | $614,280 | $347,610 | ||||
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 420 | 0.38 | 4.22 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | # | # | # | # | # | # | 400 | 0.14 | 1.52 |
| Annual | # | # | # | # | # | # | ||||
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Hourly | $38.85 | $48.18 | $98.22 | $220.14 | $220.14 | $120.54 | 230 | 0.15 | 1.65 |
| Annual | $80,810 | $100,210 | $204,290 | $457,880 | $457,890 | $250,720 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $82.83 | $174.31 | $276.99 | $278.48 | $343.00 | $243.66 | 180 | 0.09 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $172,290 | $362,560 | $576,130 | $579,230 | $713,430 | $506,820 | ||||
Top industries employing orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric
Offices of Physicians employ 73.0% of orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric nationally (10,290 jobs) at a median $356,070 a year ($171.19 an hour), followed by Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (4.6%) and Outpatient Care Centers (1.3%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | 10,290 | 73.0% | $356,070 | $171.19 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 650 | 4.6% | $115,620 | $55.59 |
| Outpatient Care Centers NAICS 621400 | 180 | 1.3% | # | # |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (14,100). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Every state, by median wage
40 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Missouri profile | $405.19 | $842,800 | $114,340 | $869,540 | ** | ** | ** |
| 2 | West Virginia profile | $287.38 | $597,740 | $64,120 | $894,940 | 120 | 0.17 | 1.87 |
| 3 | Wisconsin profile | $275.03 | $572,060 | $78,800 | # | 290 | 0.10 | 1.08 |
| 4 | Montana profile | $269.62 | $560,820 | $207,000 | $729,990 | ** | ** | ** |
| 5 | Arizona profile | $268.73 | $558,970 | $237,990 | $826,870 | 110 | 0.03 | 0.37 |
| 6 | New Hampshire profile | $267.15 | $555,670 | $69,970 | $676,240 | 80 | 0.12 | 1.34 |
| 7 | Washington profile | $266.01 | $553,310 | $181,940 | $684,080 | 290 | 0.08 | 0.91 |
| 8 | Mississippi profile | $261.60 | $544,130 | $209,620 | $621,270 | ** | ** | ** |
| 9 | Minnesota profile | $258.57 | $537,830 | $79,080 | # | 320 | 0.11 | 1.19 |
| 10 | Oklahoma profile | $254.84 | $530,070 | $156,300 | $670,540 | 30 | 0.02 | 0.22 |
| 11 | Nebraska profile | $244.12 | $507,770 | $219,210 | $555,800 | 200 | 0.20 | 2.20 |
| 12 | Virginia profile | $230.15 | $478,710 | $151,810 | $623,030 | 170 | 0.04 | 0.46 |
| 13 | Georgia profile | $228.28 | $474,820 | $238,050 | $886,940 | 490 | 0.10 | 1.10 |
| 14 | Florida profile | $227.76 | $473,750 | $228,800 | $545,620 | 580 | 0.06 | 0.64 |
| 15 | Illinois profile | $205.09 | $426,580 | $115,310 | $797,060 | 170 | 0.03 | 0.30 |
| 16 | New York profile | $199.18 | $414,290 | $77,150 | $619,340 | 1,450 | 0.15 | 1.65 |
| 17 | Michigan profile | $198.77 | $413,450 | $81,050 | $732,000 | 200 | 0.05 | 0.50 |
| 18 | Massachusetts profile | $188.60 | $392,300 | $200,220 | $392,380 | ** | ** | ** |
| 19 | Colorado profile | $185.30 | $385,410 | $180,610 | $641,130 | 410 | 0.14 | 1.56 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania profile | $170.20 | $354,020 | $87,640 | $587,790 | 240 | 0.04 | 0.44 |
| 21 | New Jersey profile | $164.15 | $341,430 | $215,640 | $593,680 | 420 | 0.10 | 1.09 |
| 22 | Tennessee profile | $156.50 | $325,520 | $139,100 | $472,540 | 180 | 0.06 | 0.61 |
| 23 | Alabama profile | $156.04 | $324,570 | $114,990 | $387,490 | 380 | 0.18 | 1.97 |
| 24 | North Carolina profile | $155.59 | $323,630 | $75,510 | $629,080 | 560 | 0.11 | 1.24 |
| 25 | Ohio profile | $155.52 | $323,480 | $67,300 | $641,190 | 500 | 0.09 | 0.99 |
| 26 | Kansas profile | $149.82 | $311,630 | $140,160 | $492,460 | ** | ** | ** |
| 27 | Arkansas profile | $126.19 | $262,470 | $155,250 | $621,020 | 350 | 0.27 | 2.94 |
| 28 | California profile | $121.84 | $253,430 | $80,660 | $457,010 | ** | ** | ** |
| 29 | Texas profile | $96.53 | $200,780 | $75,580 | $758,150 | 490 | 0.04 | 0.38 |
| 30 | Iowa profile | $91.06 | $189,410 | $124,510 | $539,990 | 260 | 0.17 | 1.84 |
| 31 | Indiana profile | $85.44 | $177,710 | $177,710 | $518,510 | 500 | 0.16 | 1.71 |
| – | Alaska profile | # | # | # | # | 30 | 0.10 | 1.05 |
| – | Hawaii profile | * | * | * | * | 50 | 0.08 | 0.82 |
| – | Maine profile | * | * | * | * | 150 | 0.23 | 2.53 |
| – | North Dakota profile | # | # | # | # | 40 | 0.09 | 1.00 |
| – | Oregon profile | # | # | # | # | 140 | 0.07 | 0.79 |
| – | South Carolina profile | # | # | # | # | 100 | 0.05 | 0.49 |
| – | South Dakota profile | # | # | # | # | ** | ** | ** |
| – | Utah profile | # | # | # | # | 80 | 0.05 | 0.51 |
| – | Vermont profile | # | # | # | # | 50 | 0.17 | 1.91 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (29-1240), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 29-1242 Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric.
#- Equal to or greater than the top code (BLS publishes no wage above it).
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked. A withheld or top-coded median in that table shows the marker explained above.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 29-1242, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 29-1242.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.