Ortho Surgeons’ Incomes Near Top (written by Biloine Young @ OTW)
How do orthopedic surgeons’ incomes compare to those of other surgical specialities? As it turns out, not too bad.
According to the September 2011 released Physician Compensation and Production Survey: 2011 Report Based on 2010 Data, only a few surgical specialties received more compensation than general orthopedists. On average, general orthopedic surgeons received $539,345 last year, compared to general surgeons who received $368,108.
General orthopedic surgeons received significantly more than breast surgeons, oncology surgeons and primary vascular and thoracic surgeons, according to the survey. Cardiovascular surgeons received slightly more, at $560,659, while paediatric cardiac surgeons received compensation comparable to spine surgeons, at $762,846. The highest compensated surgical specialist was neurological surgeons, who received $767,627.
General orthopedic surgeons who are hospital employees earned more, $526,398, than their counterparts in private practice. General surgeons also received slightly more, $343,999, when employed by a hospital. The compensation of general orthopedic surgeons employed at hospitals exceeded that of bariatric surgeons, colon and rectal surgeons and oncology surgeons. Cardiovascular surgeons received slightly more, at $567,171, with pediatric cardiovascular surgeons exceeding that amount by $100,000. Neurosurgeons received the highest compensation—an average of $701,927.
Female general orthopedic surgeons continued to receive lower compensation than men, earning approximately $434,000 last year, which is $63,000 less than male general orthopedic surgeons. However, female orthopedic surgeons’ compensation exceeded female general surgeons by more than $100,000. Female neurosurgeons received the highest compensation, $654,149, among female surgeons last year.