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The differences between physiatrists and orthopedic surgeons can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a physiatrist, becoming an orthopedic surgeon takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a physiatrist has an average salary of $305,616, which is higher than the $137,571 average annual salary of an orthopedic surgeon.
The top three skills for a physiatrist include patients, rehabilitation and physical medicine. The most important skills for an orthopedic surgeon are patients, spine, and EMR.
| Physiatrist | Orthopedic Surgeon | |
| Yearly salary | $305,616 | $137,571 |
| Hourly rate | $146.93 | $66.14 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 10,190 | 5,046 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 24% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Average age | 48 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
Physiatrists must have a bachelor's degree in physical sciences or a related field, a M.D. or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, and 4 to 7 years' internship and residency training specializing in rehab and physical medicine. This position pays annual salaries of around $58K to $370K. It requires skills in empathy, compassion, emotional resilience, monitoring, and strong initiative to work in challenging environments. Physiatrists diagnose illnesses, design plans for treatment, and prescribe various medicines.
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.
Physiatrists and orthopedic surgeons have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Physiatrist | Orthopedic Surgeon | |
| Average salary | $305,616 | $137,571 |
| Salary range | Between $147,000 And $635,000 | Between $73,000 And $257,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | Brockton, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Maine |
| Best paying company | Parkridge Health System | Trinity Health |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a physiatrist and an orthopedic surgeon in terms of educational background:
| Physiatrist | Orthopedic Surgeon | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 24% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Most common major | Medicine | Nursing |
| Most common college | Stanford University | New York University |
Here are the differences between physiatrists' and orthopedic surgeons' demographics:
| Physiatrist | Orthopedic Surgeon | |
| Average age | 48 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.7% Female, 46.3% | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 18.6% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 13% | 12% |