Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric

Salary Overview

Salary exceeds BLS reporting threshold ($239,200/yr). Values shown are based on mean annual wage.

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

What They Do

• Analyze patient's medical history, medication allergies, physical condition, and examination results to verify operation's necessity and to determine best procedure.
• Conduct research to develop and test surgical techniques that can improve operating procedures and outcomes related to musculoskeletal injuries and diseases.
• Diagnose bodily disorders and orthopedic conditions, and provide treatments, such as medicines and surgeries, in clinics, hospital wards, or operating rooms.
• Diagnose or treat disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
• Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, assistants, specialists, residents, and other medical staff.
• Examine instruments, equipment, and operating room to ensure sterility.
• Examine patient to obtain information on medical condition and surgical risk.
• Follow established surgical techniques during the operation.

Tools & Technology

★ = Hot Technology (in-demand)

Education Requirements

Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree

Featured In

A Day in the Life

An orthopedic surgeon's day often begins before dawn with a review of the surgical schedule and pre-operative planning for cases ranging from arthroscopic knee procedures to complex spinal fusions. The morning surgical block typically includes two to four operations, which may involve total hip or knee replacements, rotator cuff repairs, fracture fixation with plates and screws, or ACL reconstruction. Between cases, they consult with anesthesiologists about patient-specific concerns, review intraoperative imaging, and communicate with families in the surgical waiting area about procedure outcomes. After completing surgical cases, the afternoon shifts to clinic, where they evaluate 15 to 25 patients presenting with musculoskeletal complaints ranging from sports injuries and chronic arthritis to complex trauma follow-ups. Clinical assessments involve physical examination, X-ray and MRI review, injection procedures, and casting or splinting for acute fractures. Hospital rounding on post-surgical inpatients occurs either early morning or evening, reviewing recovery progress and coordinating rehabilitation plans with physical therapists. On-call nights and weekends bring emergency department consultations for acute fractures, dislocations, and open injuries requiring urgent surgical intervention, often disrupting planned rest periods.

Work Environment

Orthopedic surgeons divide their time between operating rooms, outpatient clinics, and hospital wards, experiencing a physically demanding and varied work environment throughout the week. Operating rooms for orthopedic surgery are equipped with specialized instruments, power tools for cutting and drilling bone, and advanced imaging like fluoroscopy and even robotic surgical systems. The physical demands of surgery are significant, as procedures often require sustained standing, pushing, pulling, and use of force to reduce dislocations, manipulate fractures, and position implants. Surgical procedures can last from 30 minutes for a simple arthroscopy to eight or more hours for complex trauma reconstruction or spinal deformity correction. The outpatient clinic setting is fast-paced, with high patient volumes requiring efficient evaluation and treatment planning alongside education and communication. On-call responsibilities are a defining feature of the profession, with orthopedic trauma surgeons often managing nighttime emergencies that involve high-energy injuries and complex surgical decision-making. Academic orthopedic surgeons may also have laboratory space for biomechanical research or cadaveric surgical training alongside clinical and operating room environments.

Career Path & Advancement

Becoming an orthopedic surgeon requires completing a four-year undergraduate degree, four years of medical school to earn an MD or DO, followed by a five-year orthopedic surgery residency that is one of the most demanding and competitive in medicine. Many graduates pursue an additional one-year fellowship in a subspecialty such as sports medicine, joint replacement, spine, hand, trauma, foot and ankle, or orthopedic oncology. Board certification through the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery requires passing a comprehensive written examination followed by an oral examination after two years of independent practice. Early career orthopedic surgeons typically join established group practices, hospital-employed positions, or academic medical centers where mentorship and case variety accelerate clinical development. After establishing their reputation and referral base, many surgeons pursue partnership in group practices or develop specialized centers of excellence focused on specific procedures or body regions. Leadership opportunities include department chief positions, medical directorships of orthopedic service lines, and elected roles in professional organizations like the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Some surgeons expand into medical device design and entrepreneurship, developing innovative implants and instruments based on their clinical experience.

Specializations

Sports medicine orthopedic surgeons focus on injuries common to athletes, performing arthroscopic surgeries for meniscal tears, ligament reconstructions, and labral repairs in the shoulder and hip. Joint replacement specialists (arthroplasty surgeons) perform total hip, knee, shoulder, and ankle replacements, often pioneering minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgical techniques. Spine surgeons address conditions from herniated discs and spinal stenosis to complex deformity corrections, scoliosis surgery, and spinal fusion procedures using instrumentation systems. Hand and upper extremity surgeons treat conditions of the wrist, hand, and elbow including carpal tunnel syndrome, tendon repairs, fracture fixation, and microsurgical replantation of amputated digits. Trauma orthopedists specialize in the acute management of fractures and dislocations, often working in level-one trauma centers managing polytrauma patients with multiple musculoskeletal injuries. Foot and ankle surgeons address conditions from bunion correction and Achilles tendon repair to complex ankle fractures and reconstructive procedures for deformity. Orthopedic oncologists manage benign and malignant tumors of bone and soft tissue, performing limb-salvage surgery and coordinating with medical oncologists on multimodal treatment plans.

Pros & Cons

Industry Insight

Robotic-assisted surgery is rapidly expanding in orthopedics, with platforms for total joint replacement providing enhanced precision in implant positioning and the potential for improved patient outcomes and longevity. Patient-specific instrumentation and 3D-printed custom implants are enabling personalized surgical approaches that match treatment to individual anatomy with unprecedented accuracy. Biologic therapies including platelet-rich plasma (PRP), stem cell treatments, and cartilage restoration procedures are creating new non-surgical and minimally invasive treatment options. The shift toward outpatient and ambulatory surgical center settings for procedures like total joint replacements is reducing costs and potentially accelerating patient recovery. Musculoskeletal conditions remain the leading cause of disability worldwide, ensuring sustained demand for orthopedic services despite healthcare market fluctuations. Wearable sensor technology and remote patient monitoring are enabling more precise tracking of post-operative rehabilitation and early detection of complications. Value-based care models and bundled payment programs are changing how orthopedic practices are compensated, emphasizing outcomes and efficiency over procedure volume.