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The differences between orthopedic surgeons and thoracic 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 thoracic surgeon. Additionally, a thoracic surgeon has an average salary of $437,281, 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 thoracic surgeon are patient care, CME, and lung cancer.
| Orthopedic Surgeon | Thoracic Surgeon | |
| Yearly salary | $137,571 | $437,281 |
| Hourly rate | $66.14 | $210.23 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 5,046 | 3,460 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| 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 Thoracic Surgeon is often grouped with cardiac or heart specialists for cardiothoracic surgery. He/She is a surgeon who specializes in surgery that involves the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other major blood vessels inside the chest as well as surgery of the chest wall. As a thoracic surgeon, your job is to evaluate a patient's medical history and educate him or her about her condition as well as available options. Generally, you are expected to diagnose and treat diseases in the chest, and you'll do it sometimes by working closely with the primary care doctor or other specialists.
Orthopedic surgeons and thoracic surgeons have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Orthopedic Surgeon | Thoracic Surgeon | |
| Average salary | $137,571 | $437,281 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $257,000 | Between $217,000 And $880,000 |
| Highest paying City | Brockton, MA | Minneapolis, MN |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Minnesota |
| Best paying company | Trinity Health | Allina Health |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between an orthopedic surgeon and a thoracic surgeon in terms of educational background:
| Orthopedic Surgeon | Thoracic Surgeon | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | New York University | New York University |
Here are the differences between orthopedic surgeons' and thoracic surgeons' demographics:
| Orthopedic Surgeon | Thoracic Surgeon | |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% | Male, 35.3% Female, 64.7% |
| 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% |