SOC 29-1249 · May 2025
General Surgeon Salary
General Surgeons in the US earn a median of $414,010 a year ($179.78 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. The top 10% earn $655,320 or more, 8.2 times the $80,320 at the 10th percentile.
Median annual
$414,010
Half of all General Surgeons in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Hourly
$179.78
Job growth 2025-35
+4%
US workers
25,140
BLS series
Annual median wage for Surgeons, All Other in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for General Surgeons is $80,320 – $655,320.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$80,320
25th
$134,850
Median
$414,010
75th
$511,420
90th
$655,320
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for General Surgeons. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $80,320 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $134,850 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $414,010 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $511,420 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $655,320 |
Geography
General Surgeon pay by state
General Surgeons earn the most in North Dakota ($604,890, +46% against the national median) and the least in California ($131,990). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 36 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$414,010
Highest-paying states for general surgeons
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $604,890 | +46% | 150 |
| Minnesota | $568,150 | +37% | 910 |
| Ohio | $554,220 | +34% | 980 |
| Oklahoma | $553,790 | +34% | 80 |
| New Hampshire | $534,870 | +29% | 220 |
| Georgia | $502,070 | +21% | 300 |
| Washington | $479,460 | +16% | 370 |
| West Virginia | $468,210 | +13% | 240 |
| Indiana | $459,300 | +11% | 420 |
| Vermont | $438,530 | +6% | 160 |
All 36 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | $604,890 | 150 |
| Minnesota | $568,150 | 910 |
| Ohio | $554,220 | 980 |
| Oklahoma | $553,790 | 80 |
| New Hampshire | $534,870 | 220 |
| Georgia | $502,070 | 300 |
| Washington | $479,460 | 370 |
| West Virginia | $468,210 | 240 |
| Indiana | $459,300 | 420 |
| Vermont | $438,530 | 160 |
| Illinois | $438,010 | 620 |
| New Jersey | $437,890 | 680 |
| Florida | $429,990 | 2,260 |
| Wisconsin | $416,000 | 550 |
| Arizona | $415,980 | – |
| Michigan | $412,460 | 440 |
| New York | $410,410 | 4,540 |
| North Carolina | $398,410 | 480 |
| Wyoming | $387,880 | 60 |
| Massachusetts | $387,150 | 770 |
| Tennessee | $373,510 | 490 |
| Iowa | $370,390 | 110 |
| New Mexico | $363,940 | 150 |
| Virginia | $360,510 | 260 |
| Nebraska | $341,410 | 180 |
| Maryland | $328,700 | 520 |
| Nevada | $326,520 | – |
| Louisiana | $304,830 | 140 |
| Arkansas | $254,940 | 280 |
| Texas | $222,820 | 1,710 |
| Idaho | $211,490 | 60 |
| Rhode Island | $199,990 | – |
| Mississippi | $180,420 | 120 |
| Kentucky | $162,160 | 440 |
| Connecticut | $161,680 | 440 |
| California | $131,990 | – |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
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 $80,320 – $655,320. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are North Dakota, Minnesota and Ohio. Pay in North Dakota runs 4.6 times the level in California, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as doctoral or professional degree, and projects about 700 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 4% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average General Surgeon salary in the US?
How much does a General Surgeon make an hour?
How much do General Surgeons make at the low and high end?
Which state pays General Surgeons the most?
Is the average General Surgeon salary higher than the median?
Is General Surgeon a growing career?
Open positions
Open General Surgeon roles hiring now
Browse current General Surgeon listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 29-1249. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.