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The differences between orthopedic surgeons and plastic 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 plastic surgeon. Additionally, a plastic surgeon has an average salary of $172,467, 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 plastic surgeon are patients, patient care, and hand surgery.
| Orthopedic Surgeon | Plastic Surgeon | |
| Yearly salary | $137,571 | $172,467 |
| Hourly rate | $66.14 | $82.92 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 5,046 | 3,906 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| 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.
Plastic surgeons must have skills in hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, organization, communication, and teamwork. This career also requires a bachelor's degree in a premedical major and completion of a four-year M.D. and a surgical residency. Those who choose this career path perform reconstructive plastic surgery in order to restore form and function following illness or trauma and/or perform cosmetic surgery for simple alteration of appearance.
Orthopedic surgeons and plastic surgeons have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Orthopedic Surgeon | Plastic Surgeon | |
| Average salary | $137,571 | $172,467 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $257,000 | Between $87,000 And $339,000 |
| Highest paying City | Brockton, MA | Rockville Centre, NY |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Maine |
| Best paying company | Trinity Health | MaineGeneral Health |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Professional |
There are a few differences between an orthopedic surgeon and a plastic surgeon in terms of educational background:
| Orthopedic Surgeon | Plastic Surgeon | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | New York University | Case Western Reserve University |
Here are the differences between orthopedic surgeons' and plastic surgeons' demographics:
| Orthopedic Surgeon | Plastic Surgeon | |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% | Male, 23.6% Female, 76.4% |
| 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% |