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Best states for a general surgeon
Quoted expert
Rajesh Balkrishnan Ph.D.
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It seems like general surgeons are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for general surgeons aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research shows that North Dakota is the best state in the country for general surgeons.
We figured that the best places for general surgeon jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that the West is best for general surgeons, and the Northeast is the worst. Watertown, NY is the best city in the country for general surgeon jobs, where as North Dakota is the best state in the country.
10 best states for general surgeons in 2025
1. North Dakota
Total general surgeon jobs: 129 Average annual salary: $166,789 Lowest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $254,000 Location Quotient: 2.912. Maine
Total general surgeon jobs: 221 Average annual salary: $166,359 Lowest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $252,000 Location Quotient: 3.493. New Hampshire
Total general surgeon jobs: 206 Average annual salary: $168,511 Lowest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $254,000 Location Quotient: 2.474. Connecticut
Total general surgeon jobs: 381 Average annual salary: $179,694 Lowest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $265,000 Location Quotient: 2.415. Delaware
Total general surgeon jobs: 171 Average annual salary: $169,219 Lowest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $257,000 Location Quotient: 2.866. New York
Total general surgeon jobs: 1,789 Average annual salary: $177,149 Lowest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $263,000 Location Quotient: 2.927. Pennsylvania
Total general surgeon jobs: 162 Average annual salary: $167,017 Lowest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $255,000 Location Quotient: 0.298. Wisconsin
Total general surgeon jobs: 121 Average annual salary: $164,146 Lowest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $254,000 Location Quotient: 0.469. Rhode Island
Total general surgeon jobs: 157 Average annual salary: $165,442 Lowest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $252,000 Location Quotient: 2.7110. New Jersey
Total general surgeon jobs: 927 Average annual salary: $168,180 Lowest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $255,000 Location Quotient: 2.45
General surgeon jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a general surgeon
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a general surgeon
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $166,789 | $109,000 | 755,393 | 129 |
| 2 | Maine | $166,359 | $109,000 | 1,335,907 | 221 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $168,511 | $111,000 | 1,342,795 | 206 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $179,694 | $121,000 | 3,588,184 | 381 |
| 5 | Delaware | $169,219 | $111,000 | 961,939 | 171 |
| 6 | New York | $177,149 | $119,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,789 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $167,017 | $109,000 | 12,805,537 | 162 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $164,146 | $105,000 | 5,795,483 | 121 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $165,442 | $108,000 | 1,059,639 | 157 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $168,180 | $110,000 | 9,005,644 | 927 |
| 11 | Michigan | $163,299 | $105,000 | 9,962,311 | 81 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $160,749 | $102,000 | 1,815,857 | 12 |
| 13 | South Dakota | $154,183 | $97,000 | 869,666 | 111 |
| 14 | Illinois | $164,342 | $105,000 | 12,802,023 | 105 |
| 15 | Arkansas | $157,474 | $100,000 | 3,004,279 | 21 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $160,916 | $104,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,076 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $163,236 | $105,000 | 4,684,333 | 18 |
| 18 | Indiana | $153,527 | $96,000 | 6,666,818 | 78 |
| 19 | Alabama | $159,386 | $102,000 | 4,874,747 | 24 |
| 20 | Vermont | $156,381 | $100,000 | 623,657 | 60 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $157,545 | $100,000 | 5,576,606 | 76 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $159,517 | $102,000 | 5,024,369 | 19 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $148,978 | $92,000 | 1,920,076 | 289 |
| 24 | Ohio | $153,336 | $96,000 | 11,658,609 | 62 |
| 25 | Washington | $153,416 | $96,000 | 7,405,743 | 807 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $152,685 | $96,000 | 2,984,100 | 15 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $150,468 | $94,000 | 10,273,419 | 115 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $150,434 | $93,000 | 4,454,189 | 31 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $148,602 | $92,000 | 6,715,984 | 58 |
| 30 | Iowa | $150,795 | $93,000 | 3,145,711 | 23 |
| 31 | Idaho | $145,619 | $89,000 | 1,716,943 | 208 |
| 32 | Georgia | $150,500 | $94,000 | 10,429,379 | 79 |
| 33 | Oregon | $144,529 | $89,000 | 4,142,776 | 573 |
| 34 | Virginia | $157,770 | $100,000 | 8,470,020 | 42 |
| 35 | California | $146,575 | $91,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,214 |
| 36 | Kansas | $148,460 | $92,000 | 2,913,123 | 19 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $145,270 | $90,000 | 2,088,070 | 22 |
| 38 | Montana | $148,620 | $93,000 | 1,050,493 | 7 |
| 39 | Utah | $134,928 | $81,000 | 3,101,833 | 420 |
| 40 | District of Columbia | $145,103 | $90,000 | 693,972 | 161 |
| 41 | Maryland | $151,482 | $95,000 | 6,052,177 | 38 |
| 42 | Alaska | $139,582 | $87,000 | 739,795 | 18 |
| 43 | Texas | $141,406 | $87,000 | 28,304,596 | 169 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $141,171 | $86,000 | 3,930,864 | 19 |
| 45 | Missouri | $143,906 | $88,000 | 6,113,532 | 35 |
| 46 | Florida | $135,861 | $82,000 | 20,984,400 | 165 |
| 47 | Nevada | $131,307 | $79,000 | 2,998,039 | 27 |
| 48 | Arizona | $137,625 | $84,000 | 7,016,270 | 39 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $132,788 | $79,000 | 579,315 | 4 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $131,327 | $78,000 | 1,427,538 | 10 |
| 51 | Colorado | $140,468 | $86,000 | 5,607,154 | 19 |
Highest paying states for general surgeons
| Rank | State | Avg. General Surgeon Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $166,789 |
| 2 | Maine | $166,359 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $168,511 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $179,694 |
| 5 | Delaware | $169,219 |
| 6 | New York | $177,149 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $167,017 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $164,146 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $165,442 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $168,180 |
| 11 | Michigan | $163,299 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $160,749 |
| 13 | South Dakota | $154,183 |
| 14 | Illinois | $164,342 |
| 15 | Arkansas | $157,474 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $160,916 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $163,236 |
| 18 | Indiana | $153,527 |
| 19 | Alabama | $159,386 |
| 20 | Vermont | $156,381 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $157,545 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $159,517 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $148,978 |
| 24 | Ohio | $153,336 |
| 25 | Washington | $153,416 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $152,685 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $150,468 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $150,434 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $148,602 |
| 30 | Iowa | $150,795 |
| 31 | Idaho | $145,619 |
| 32 | Georgia | $150,500 |
| 33 | Oregon | $144,529 |
| 34 | Virginia | $157,770 |
| 35 | California | $146,575 |
| 36 | Kansas | $148,460 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $145,270 |
| 38 | Montana | $148,620 |
| 39 | Utah | $134,928 |
| 40 | District of Columbia | $145,103 |
| 41 | Maryland | $151,482 |
| 42 | Alaska | $139,582 |
| 43 | Texas | $141,406 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $141,171 |
| 45 | Missouri | $143,906 |
| 46 | Florida | $135,861 |
| 47 | Nevada | $131,307 |
| 48 | Arizona | $137,625 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $132,788 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $131,327 |
| 51 | Colorado | $140,468 |
Expert opinions on the best states for general surgeons
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for general surgeons to find work opportunities?
Rajesh Balkrishnan Ph.D.
Professor of Public Health Sciences, Clinical Professor, University of Virginia
Areas close to IT Hubs or where there are many new startups (For example, Northern Virginia or Bay Area)
Areas where health care technology industry is growing (Boston, NJ)
General surgeon best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025