Best cities for an orthopaedic surgeon
The best cities for orthopaedic surgeons are Cleveland, OH, Louisville, KY, and Fort Wayne, IN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for orthopaedic surgeons vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for orthopaedic surgeons in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an orthopaedic surgeon or considering a move, this list of the best cities for orthopaedic surgeons to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for orthopaedic surgeons. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an orthopaedic surgeon. While the absolute best city for orthopaedic surgeons is Cleveland, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for orthopaedic surgeons in 2024.
If you're looking for an orthopaedic surgeon job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for orthopaedic surgeons in 2025
1. Cleveland, OH
Total orthopaedic surgeon jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $205,585 Lowest 10 percent warn: $108,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $391,000 Location quotient: 2.82 2. Louisville, KY
Total orthopaedic surgeon jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $191,848 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $371,000 Location quotient: 3.82 3. Fort Wayne, IN
Total orthopaedic surgeon jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $186,933 Lowest 10 percent warn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $361,000 Location quotient: 11.54 4. Detroit, MI
Total orthopaedic surgeon jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $221,986 Lowest 10 percent warn: $116,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $422,000 Location quotient: 1.06 5. Indianapolis, IN
Total orthopaedic surgeon jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $179,392 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $349,000 Location quotient: 2.27 6. Pittsburgh, PA
Total orthopaedic surgeon jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $174,386 Lowest 10 percent warn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $330,000 Location quotient: 5.18 7. Toledo, OH
Total orthopaedic surgeon jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $205,152 Lowest 10 percent warn: $106,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $393,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Saint Paul, MN
Total orthopaedic surgeon jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $207,028 Lowest 10 percent warn: $108,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $394,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Columbus, OH
Total orthopaedic surgeon jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $197,285 Lowest 10 percent warn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $379,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Chicago, IL
Total orthopaedic surgeon jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $218,820 Lowest 10 percent warn: $112,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $424,000 Location quotient: 0.23
Best cities for orthopaedic surgeons
- Cleveland, OH
- Louisville, KY
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Detroit, MI
- Indianapolis, IN
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Toledo, OH
- Saint Paul, MN
- Columbus, OH
- Chicago, IL
- (2 orthopaedic surgeon jobs)
- (3 orthopaedic surgeon jobs)
- (3 orthopaedic surgeon jobs)
- (1 orthopaedic surgeon jobs)
- (4 orthopaedic surgeon jobs)
- (7 orthopaedic surgeon jobs)
- (0 orthopaedic surgeon jobs)
- (0 orthopaedic surgeon jobs)
- (0 orthopaedic surgeon jobs)
- (1 orthopaedic surgeon jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an orthopaedic surgeon
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland, OH | $205,585 | $108,000 | 385,809 | 2 |
| 2 | Louisville, KY | $191,848 | $99,000 | 597,337 | 3 |
| 3 | Fort Wayne, IN | $186,933 | $96,000 | 264,488 | 3 |
| 4 | Detroit, MI | $221,986 | $116,000 | 672,795 | 1 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $179,392 | $92,000 | 855,164 | 4 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $174,386 | $91,000 | 303,625 | 7 |
| 7 | Toledo, OH | $205,152 | $106,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 8 | Saint Paul, MN | $207,028 | $108,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | $197,285 | $102,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $218,820 | $112,000 | 2,704,958 | 1 |
| 11 | Minneapolis, MN | $206,589 | $108,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 12 | Milwaukee, WI | $203,811 | $105,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 13 | Madison, WI | $200,916 | $103,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 14 | Cincinnati, OH | $192,044 | $99,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $175,157 | $94,000 | 1,567,872 | 4 |
| 16 | Seattle, WA | $204,263 | $107,000 | 704,352 | 3 |
| 17 | Lexington, KY | $193,474 | $100,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 18 | New Orleans, LA | $192,658 | $103,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $195,795 | $104,000 | 472,522 | - |
| 20 | Saint Louis, MO | $170,741 | $88,000 | 311,404 | 5 |
| 21 | Oklahoma City, OK | $176,786 | $94,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 22 | Wichita, KS | $175,879 | $92,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 23 | Newark, NJ | $199,003 | $108,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 24 | Jersey City, NJ | $198,896 | $108,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 25 | Winston-Salem, NC | $155,876 | $82,000 | 242,203 | 2 |
| 26 | Brookhaven, NY | $198,023 | $108,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 27 | Tulsa, OK | $172,415 | $91,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 28 | Oyster Bay, NY | $197,916 | $108,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 29 | Omaha, NE | $173,011 | $89,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 30 | Lincoln, NE | $170,257 | $88,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 31 | Buffalo, NY | $205,758 | $110,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 32 | Islip, NY | $197,554 | $108,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 33 | New York, NY | $197,506 | $107,000 | 8,537,673 | 7 |
| 34 | Boston, MA | $183,392 | $101,000 | 673,184 | 4 |
| 35 | Anchorage, AK | $183,140 | $104,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 36 | Kansas City, MO | $162,374 | $84,000 | 481,420 | 1 |
| 37 | Hempstead, NY | $197,329 | $107,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 38 | Dallas, TX | $142,146 | $76,000 | 1,317,929 | 6 |
| 39 | Nashville, TN | $155,662 | $81,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 40 | Albuquerque, NM | $163,195 | $88,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 41 | Memphis, TN | $150,187 | $79,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 42 | Scottsdale, AZ | $160,799 | $87,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 43 | Durham, NC | $156,511 | $83,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 44 | Phoenix, AZ | $160,441 | $87,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 45 | Raleigh, NC | $156,415 | $83,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 46 | Greensboro, NC | $156,120 | $82,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 47 | Glendale, AZ | $160,351 | $87,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 48 | Plano, TX | $142,493 | $76,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 49 | Mesa, AZ | $159,584 | $87,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 50 | Portland, OR | $145,743 | $76,000 | 639,863 | 4 |
Highest paying cities for orthopaedic surgeons
| Rank | City | Avg. orthopaedic surgeon salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangor, ME | $223,838 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $218,820 |
| 3 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $209,698 |
| 4 | Rochester, NY | $206,906 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $204,264 |
| 6 | Fargo, ND | $204,248 |
| 7 | Springfield, MA | $184,259 |
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | $179,392 |
| 9 | Cranberry, PA | $175,295 |
| 10 | Saint Louis, MO | $170,742 |
| 11 | Newport News, VA | $158,956 |
| 12 | Winston-Salem, NC | $155,877 |
| 13 | Aberdeen, SD | $151,737 |
| 14 | San Francisco, CA | $145,293 |
| 15 | Dallas, TX | $142,146 |
| 16 | Miami, FL | $117,552 |
Orthopaedic surgeon best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025