Plastic surgeon vs flight surgeon

The differences between plastic surgeons and flight surgeons can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a plastic surgeon and a flight surgeon. Additionally, a flight surgeon has an average salary of $429,498, which is higher than the $172,467 average annual salary of a plastic surgeon.

The top three skills for a plastic surgeon include patients, patient care and hand surgery. The most important skills for a flight surgeon are primary care, USAF, and medical support.

Plastic surgeon vs flight surgeon overview

	Plastic Surgeon	Flight Surgeon
Yearly salary	$172,467	$429,498
Hourly rate	$82.92	$206.49
Growth rate	7%	7%
Number of jobs	3,906	4,876
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 34%	Doctoral Degree, 41%
Average age	49	49
Years of experience	6	6

Plastic surgeon vs flight surgeon salary

Plastic surgeons and flight surgeons have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Plastic Surgeon	Flight Surgeon
Average salary	$172,467	$429,498
Salary range	Between $87,000 And $339,000	Between $214,000 And $860,000
Highest paying City	Rockville Centre, NY	-
Highest paying state	Maine	-
Best paying company	MaineGeneral Health	-
Best paying industry	Professional	-

Differences between plastic surgeon and flight surgeon education

There are a few differences between a plastic surgeon and a flight surgeon in terms of educational background:

	Plastic Surgeon	Flight Surgeon
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 34%	Doctoral Degree, 41%
Most common major	Nursing	Medicine
Most common college	Case Western Reserve University	Duke University

Plastic surgeon vs flight surgeon demographics

Here are the differences between plastic surgeons' and flight surgeons' demographics:

	Plastic Surgeon	Flight Surgeon
Average age	49	49
Gender ratio	Male, 23.6% Female, 76.4%	Male, 81.9% Female, 18.1%
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%

Differences between plastic surgeon and flight surgeon duties and responsibilities

Plastic surgeon example responsibilities.

Manage insurance authorization and hospital bookings for surgery.
Develop x-rays, foot and ankle therapies, including hydrotherapy, ultrasound and hot wax.
Assist with surgery scheduling, casting/removing, & casting for orthotics.
Check patient in/out, collect co-payments/deductibles that apply for orthotics, enter charges/post payments.
Perform administrative tasks regarding origination paperwork for patients, preoperative paperwork, medical clearance, financing and payment.
Complete knowledge of military and DOD protocols pertaining to network and computer systems.

Flight surgeon example responsibilities.

Attain proficiency in high volume spay/neuter surgeries in order to support the mission of fighting pet overpopulation.
Coordinate with patients and medical staff at civilian and military treatment facilities to schedule medical appointments and retrieve medical documentation.
Collect R/R, IME and QME as they come in thru the billing department without having the case settle.

Plastic surgeon vs flight surgeon skills

Common plastic surgeon skills

Patients, 55%
Patient Care, 9%
Hand Surgery, 6%
Private Practice, 6%
Medical Procedures, 5%
Surgical Procedures, 4%

Common flight surgeon skills

Primary Care, 59%
USAF, 29%
Medical Support, 4%
Physical Exams, 3%
Medical Examinations, 1%
NASA, 1%

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Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Plastic Surgeon
Plastic Surgeon vs Flight Surgeon

Updated January 8, 2025

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