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The differences between orthopedic surgeons and doctors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a doctor has an average salary of $208,582, which is higher than the $137,571 average annual salary of an orthopedic surgeon.
The top three skills for an orthopedic surgeon include patients, spine and EMR. The most important skills for a doctor are patients, customer service, and emergency medicine.
| Orthopedic Surgeon | Doctor | |
| Yearly salary | $137,571 | $208,582 |
| Hourly rate | $66.14 | $100.28 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 5,046 | 14,571 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 49 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | - |
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.
A doctor is a medical expert who diagnoses and treats illnesses and injuries, often specializing in particular areas. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting initial interviews and examinations, studying a patient's medical history and laboratory results, providing consultations and care advice, prescribing medication, and referring patients to specialists when necessary. They must also coordinate and maintain an active communication line with nurses, administrators, and technicians for a smooth workflow. Moreover, a doctor must educate patients about their health conditions, helping them understand their situation better.
Orthopedic surgeons and doctors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Orthopedic Surgeon | Doctor | |
| Average salary | $137,571 | $208,582 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $257,000 | Between $106,000 And $408,000 |
| Highest paying City | Brockton, MA | Green Bay, WI |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Ohio |
| Best paying company | Trinity Health | Saint Luke's Health System |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an orthopedic surgeon and a doctor in terms of educational background:
| Orthopedic Surgeon | Doctor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Medicine |
| Most common college | New York University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between orthopedic surgeons' and doctors' demographics:
| Orthopedic Surgeon | Doctor | |
| Average age | 49 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% | Male, 45.8% Female, 54.2% |
| 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, 5.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 18.6% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 13% |