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The differences between general surgeons and orthopedic surgeons can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a general surgeon and an orthopedic surgeon. Additionally, a general surgeon has an average salary of $223,321, which is higher than the $137,571 average annual salary of an orthopedic surgeon.
The top three skills for a general surgeon include patients, EMR and medical education. The most important skills for an orthopedic surgeon are patients, spine, and EMR.
| General Surgeon | Orthopedic Surgeon | |
| Yearly salary | $223,321 | $137,571 |
| Hourly rate | $107.37 | $66.14 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 45,174 | 5,046 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
The General Surgeon's role is to perform operations to treat or prevent diseases, repair damage caused by injuries, and improve the functions of the human body through the use of different surgical instruments. They also assess patients and explain different diagnostic tests that are performed.
An orthopedic surgeon specializes in performing surgeries to treat different issues concerning a patient's musculoskeletal system. Their responsibilities primarily revolve around conducting extensive examinations on a patient to determine their condition, analyzing their medical records, coordinating with nurses and other specialists to ensure the accuracy of treatments, and maintaining a thorough record of information. Records include appointments, comments, and results. There are also instances when a surgeon must refer patients to therapists and provide advice for post-surgery care. Furthermore, it is essential to monitor a patient's condition before and after surgery.
General surgeons and orthopedic surgeons have different pay scales, as shown below.
| General Surgeon | Orthopedic Surgeon | |
| Average salary | $223,321 | $137,571 |
| Salary range | Between $121,000 And $411,000 | Between $73,000 And $257,000 |
| Highest paying City | Watertown, NY | Brockton, MA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Maine |
| Best paying company | Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County | Trinity Health |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a general surgeon and an orthopedic surgeon in terms of educational background:
| General Surgeon | Orthopedic Surgeon | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Most common major | Medicine | Nursing |
| Most common college | Duke University | New York University |
Here are the differences between general surgeons' and orthopedic surgeons' demographics:
| General Surgeon | Orthopedic Surgeon | |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.9% Female, 46.1% | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 5.0% Asian, 12.7% White, 76.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 1.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 5.0% Asian, 12.7% White, 76.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |