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Best states for an orthopedic surgeon
Quoted expert
Melissa Matusek
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like orthopedic surgeons are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for orthopedic surgeons aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. We wanted to look at the best states for orthopedic surgeons -- where there are plenty of orthopedic surgeon jobs to go around and orthopedic surgeons get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
The median salary for orthopedic surgeons in Maine is $141,395. Compare that to the median salary in Wyoming of $70,087, which ranked worst for orthopedic surgeons, and you can see how your location is important for your career.Maine is the best state, and South Portland is the city with the highest pay for orthopedic surgeons.
10 best states for orthopedic surgeons in 2025
1. Maine
Total orthopedic surgeon jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $141,395 Lowest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $228,000 Location Quotient: 3.47
2. New Hampshire
Total orthopedic surgeon jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $124,204 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $208,000 Location Quotient: 1.64
3. Massachusetts
Total orthopedic surgeon jobs: 103 Average annual salary: $137,180 Lowest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $224,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
4. West Virginia
Total orthopedic surgeon jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $122,726 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $210,000 Location Quotient: 1.48
5. Wisconsin
Total orthopedic surgeon jobs: 108 Average annual salary: $118,991 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location Quotient: 2
6. Pennsylvania
Total orthopedic surgeon jobs: 162 Average annual salary: $122,107 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location Quotient: 1.43
7. New York
Total orthopedic surgeon jobs: 193 Average annual salary: $126,244 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $213,000 Location Quotient: 1.54
8. Delaware
Total orthopedic surgeon jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $126,079 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $214,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
9. North Dakota
Total orthopedic surgeon jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $108,741 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location Quotient: 2.2
10. Vermont
Total orthopedic surgeon jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $109,105 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location Quotient: 3.07
Orthopedic surgeon jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an orthopedic surgeon
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an orthopedic surgeon
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $141,395 | $87,000 | 1,335,907 | 45 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $124,204 | $73,000 | 1,342,795 | 28 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $137,180 | $83,000 | 6,859,819 | 103 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $122,726 | $71,000 | 1,815,857 | 22 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $118,991 | $69,000 | 5,795,483 | 108 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $122,107 | $71,000 | 12,805,537 | 162 |
| 7 | New York | $126,244 | $74,000 | 19,849,399 | 193 |
| 8 | Delaware | $126,079 | $74,000 | 961,939 | 10 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $108,741 | $64,000 | 755,393 | 20 |
| 10 | Vermont | $109,105 | $63,000 | 623,657 | 23 |
| 11 | Michigan | $114,233 | $65,000 | 9,962,311 | 63 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $125,158 | $73,000 | 9,005,644 | 56 |
| 13 | Tennessee | $109,643 | $62,000 | 6,715,984 | 60 |
| 14 | Alaska | $109,060 | $65,000 | 739,795 | 21 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $110,583 | $63,000 | 3,588,184 | 60 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $123,340 | $73,000 | 1,059,639 | 3 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $107,053 | $60,000 | 4,454,189 | 36 |
| 18 | Louisiana | $110,965 | $63,000 | 4,684,333 | 24 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $102,716 | $57,000 | 10,273,419 | 134 |
| 20 | California | $115,264 | $67,000 | 39,536,653 | 243 |
| 21 | Georgia | $107,656 | $61,000 | 10,429,379 | 76 |
| 22 | Alabama | $102,589 | $57,000 | 4,874,747 | 37 |
| 23 | Indiana | $99,985 | $56,000 | 6,666,818 | 75 |
| 24 | Arizona | $103,402 | $59,000 | 7,016,270 | 55 |
| 25 | Nevada | $99,087 | $56,000 | 2,998,039 | 26 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $98,045 | $56,000 | 2,088,070 | 30 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $103,877 | $58,000 | 5,024,369 | 23 |
| 28 | Maryland | $107,976 | $61,000 | 6,052,177 | 42 |
| 29 | Oregon | $98,036 | $55,000 | 4,142,776 | 64 |
| 30 | Washington | $97,551 | $55,000 | 7,405,743 | 113 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $96,696 | $55,000 | 5,576,606 | 83 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $101,955 | $58,000 | 1,427,538 | 9 |
| 33 | Ohio | $100,001 | $55,000 | 11,658,609 | 52 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $97,704 | $54,000 | 2,984,100 | 16 |
| 35 | Idaho | $100,183 | $57,000 | 1,716,943 | 10 |
| 36 | Kansas | $96,760 | $55,000 | 2,913,123 | 21 |
| 37 | Montana | $95,892 | $56,000 | 1,050,493 | 9 |
| 38 | Virginia | $100,952 | $56,000 | 8,470,020 | 44 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $91,697 | $52,000 | 1,920,076 | 22 |
| 40 | District of Columbia | $102,061 | $57,000 | 693,972 | 2 |
| 41 | Iowa | $93,949 | $53,000 | 3,145,711 | 26 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $94,464 | $53,000 | 3,930,864 | 16 |
| 43 | Florida | $84,766 | $45,000 | 20,984,400 | 187 |
| 44 | Illinois | $92,090 | $51,000 | 12,802,023 | 89 |
| 45 | Texas | $91,810 | $51,000 | 28,304,596 | 134 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $81,692 | $45,000 | 3,004,279 | 24 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $75,861 | $43,000 | 869,666 | 11 |
| 48 | Missouri | $89,616 | $50,000 | 6,113,532 | 38 |
| 49 | Utah | $86,677 | $49,000 | 3,101,833 | 14 |
| 50 | Colorado | $87,001 | $50,000 | 5,607,154 | 24 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $70,087 | $40,000 | 579,315 | 4 |
Highest paying states for orthopedic surgeons
| Rank | State | Avg. Orthopedic Surgeon Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $141,395 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $124,204 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $137,180 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $122,726 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $118,991 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $122,107 |
| 7 | New York | $126,244 |
| 8 | Delaware | $126,079 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $108,741 |
| 10 | Vermont | $109,105 |
| 11 | Michigan | $114,233 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $125,158 |
| 13 | Tennessee | $109,643 |
| 14 | Alaska | $109,060 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $110,583 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $123,340 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $107,053 |
| 18 | Louisiana | $110,965 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $102,716 |
| 20 | California | $115,264 |
| 21 | Georgia | $107,656 |
| 22 | Alabama | $102,589 |
| 23 | Indiana | $99,985 |
| 24 | Arizona | $103,402 |
| 25 | Nevada | $99,087 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $98,045 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $103,877 |
| 28 | Maryland | $107,976 |
| 29 | Oregon | $98,036 |
| 30 | Washington | $97,551 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $96,696 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $101,955 |
| 33 | Ohio | $100,001 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $97,704 |
| 35 | Idaho | $100,183 |
| 36 | Kansas | $96,760 |
| 37 | Montana | $95,892 |
| 38 | Virginia | $100,952 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $91,697 |
| 40 | District of Columbia | $102,061 |
| 41 | Iowa | $93,949 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $94,464 |
| 43 | Florida | $84,766 |
| 44 | Illinois | $92,090 |
| 45 | Texas | $91,810 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $81,692 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $75,861 |
| 48 | Missouri | $89,616 |
| 49 | Utah | $86,677 |
| 50 | Colorado | $87,001 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $70,087 |
Expert opinions on the best states for orthopedic surgeons
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for orthopedic surgeons to find work opportunities?
Melissa Matusek
Director of Marketing and Communications, American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
Positions for foot and ankle surgeons seem to be available across the country, with no particular region presenting more opportunities than others. It all depends on the type of work a foot and ankle surgeon is looking to practice and what type of setting. There are many types of practice settings available in the profession; it's all about preference and lifestyle.
There are medium and large group practices looking to expand across the U.S. and a good option for graduating residents entering practice. Again, it would depend on locality and lifestyle preferences.
Those newly practicing foot and ankle surgeons should also look to rural areas in either health systems or multi-specialty groups. Many residents taking hospital-based/employed positions in these underserved areas can receive excellent compensation packages. These are locations that likely have zero to minimal foot and ankle services but need to expand to serve the growing demand.
Orthopedic surgeon best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025