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The differences between orthopedic surgeons and hand surgeons can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an orthopedic surgeon and a hand surgeon. Additionally, a hand surgeon has an average salary of $327,249, 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 hand surgeon are patients, EMR, and MRI.
| Orthopedic Surgeon | Hand Surgeon | |
| Yearly salary | $137,571 | $327,249 |
| Hourly rate | $66.14 | $157.33 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 5,046 | 22,502 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 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 hand surgeon is a health professional that is skilled in the field of medicine that deals with problems that relate to the hand, wrist, and forearm. Your job responsibility is to attend to the problems of clients and provide solutions. Most of these problems can be resolved without the need for surgery unless when necessary. Your job is to reduce and get rid of pain and restore movement and function.
Orthopedic surgeons and hand surgeons have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Orthopedic Surgeon | Hand Surgeon | |
| Average salary | $137,571 | $327,249 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $257,000 | Between $171,000 And $625,000 |
| Highest paying City | Brockton, MA | Eau Claire, WI |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Maine |
| Best paying company | Trinity Health | Allina Health |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between an orthopedic surgeon and a hand surgeon in terms of educational background:
| Orthopedic Surgeon | Hand Surgeon | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | New York University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between orthopedic surgeons' and hand surgeons' demographics:
| Orthopedic Surgeon | Hand Surgeon | |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% | Male, 20.9% Female, 79.1% |
| 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% |