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SOC 29-1242 · May 2024

General Surgeon Salary

Average General Surgeon pay climbed from $306,220 in 2021 to $365,060 in 2024 — a +19.2% change in 3 years.

Mean annual

$365,060

BLS suppresses the median for this role (top-coded above $239,200). Mean shown above. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024.

Wage trend

2021$306,2204 pts$378,2502024

+19.2% since 2021 · -3.5% YoY

Hourly

$175.51

Outlook

—

US workers

14,160

BLS series

Annual median wage for Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric in All Industries in the United States

Salary range

From entry to top decile

The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for General Surgeons is $83,390 – —.

Percentile distribution

USD · annual

10th

$83,390

25th

$209,730

Median

—

75th

—

90th

—

By experience level

What each tenure band earns

By experience level

Estimated from BLS percentile distribution. Actual progression varies by employer and region.

General Surgeon levelTenureEstimated salaryBLS reference
Entry levelFirst 0–2 years$83,39010th percentile
Early career2–5 years$209,73025th percentile
Mid-career5–10 years—Median
Experienced10+ years—75th percentile
Senior / leadershipTop 10%—90th percentile

Geography

General Surgeon pay by state

State-level OEWS data lands in Phase 2. The grid below shows national geography ready for that ingest — hover any state for context.

National median

$365,060

AK
ME
VT
NH
WA
MT
ND
MN
IL
WI
MI
NY
MA
OR
ID
WY
SD
IA
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
UT
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
AZ
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
DC
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL

Tile-grid layout · 50 states + D.C. · area-uniform, not geographic. State pay differentials populate after Phase 2 OEWS state ingest.

What affects this salary

Pay drivers for General Surgeons

General surgeons (BLS SOC 29-1242, grouped with orthopedic surgeons) perform surgical procedures across abdominal, breast, soft-tissue, and trauma indications. The role requires an MD or DO degree, a 5-year general-surgery residency, and board certification. Trauma, surgical-oncology, and complex-general-surgery fellowships add subspecialty premium. BLS top-codes wages.

The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $83,390 – —. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.

Geography matters. Metropolitan areas in California, New York, Massachusetts, and Washington tend to pay above the national median. Rural and lower-cost states often pay below — though cost-of-living adjustment narrows the real difference.

Credentials compound. Additional certifications, specializations, or advanced degrees consistently push earnings into the 75th and 90th percentile bands. Employer type (hospital vs. private practice, public vs. private sector) also drives meaningful pay variation.

Frequently asked

Questions readers ask

Frequently asked

What is the average General Surgeon salary in the US?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish a median wage for General Surgeons because earnings exceed the $239,200 OEWS top-code threshold. The mean annual wage is $365,060, which represents the average across all General Surgeons surveyed. The 10th-percentile wage — representing entry-level earners — stands at $83,390, while the 25th percentile sits at $209,730. Because the median is suppressed, the mean figure skews upward, reflecting the concentration of very high earners in this specialty. All figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2024 release, SOC 29-1242.
How much does a General Surgeon make per hour?
General Surgeons earn a mean hourly wage of $175.51, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024 survey. This figure represents the average across all General Surgeons in all industries and geographic areas in the United States. Hourly rates vary considerably based on employer type, geographic location, shift differentials, and years of experience. Hourly equivalents for salaried roles are calculated against a standard 2,080-hour work year (40 hours per week × 52 weeks); actual compensated hours may differ. For reference, the annual mean salary for General Surgeons is $365,060. Part-time workers, per-diem positions, and contract roles may fall above or below this figure depending on the agreed pay structure and premium differentials. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 29-1242.
What does a General Surgeon earn at the entry level?
Entry-level General Surgeons — those in the bottom 10% of the wage distribution — typically earn around $83,390 per year, according to BLS OEWS May 2024 data. Workers in the 25th percentile (early-career, typically 1–4 years of experience) earn approximately $209,730 annually. These figures represent all industries and geographic regions nationwide; entry wages in high-cost states such as California, New York, and Massachusetts often run 10–25% above these benchmarks, while rural areas and lower-cost states may pay below them. As credentials, certifications, and clinical or technical experience accumulate, pay scales toward the median of — and beyond. Entry wage estimates are derived from BLS percentile bands and are labeled as estimates; they are not directly published as entry wages by the BLS. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 29-1242.
What is the highest salary a General Surgeon can earn?
The top 10% of General Surgeons earn — or more annually, and the 75th percentile sits at —, according to BLS OEWS May 2024. The highest-paid positions tend to cluster in major metropolitan areas — particularly in California, New York, Massachusetts, and Washington — and in settings that demand advanced credentials, specialized certifications, or leadership responsibilities. Employer type also drives meaningful pay variation: private-sector roles, large hospital systems, and government positions each carry different pay structures. For General Surgeons, moving from the median (—) to the 90th percentile often involves a combination of advanced degrees or board certifications, supervisory responsibilities, and tenure at a high-volume or high-acuity facility. The mean salary of $365,060 sits below the 90th percentile, indicating most very-high earners are outliers. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 29-1242.
How many General Surgeons work in the US?
Approximately 14,160 people work as General Surgeons in the United States, making it a specialized occupation in the US labor market. This employment count is based on the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2024 release, SOC 29-1242. The OEWS program covers non-farm wage and salary workers and excludes the self-employed. Total US employment across all occupations surveyed in the same release was approximately 158 million workers. The General Surgeon field represents roughly 0.01% of total surveyed US employment.

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Source & methodology

Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2024 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 29-1242. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.

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