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The differences between sports medicine specialists and orthopedic surgeons can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become a sports medicine specialist, becoming an orthopedic surgeon takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an orthopedic surgeon has an average salary of $137,571, which is higher than the $76,238 average annual salary of a sports medicine specialist.
The top three skills for a sports medicine specialist include patients, patient care and role model. The most important skills for an orthopedic surgeon are patients, spine, and EMR.
| Sports Medicine Specialist | Orthopedic Surgeon | |
| Yearly salary | $76,238 | $137,571 |
| Hourly rate | $36.65 | $66.14 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 50,403 | 5,046 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Average age | 48 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 6 |
A sports medicine specialist is a health care expert who specializes in diagnosing and treating injuries of athletes. Their responsibilities typically revolve around providing check-ups and consultations, conducting assessments and examinations, developing care and treatment plans, and providing insights to coaches when developing athletic training programs. They may also assist patients by answering inquiries and sharing care advice. A sports medicine specialist typically works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.
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.
Sports medicine specialists and orthopedic surgeons have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Sports Medicine Specialist | Orthopedic Surgeon | |
| Average salary | $76,238 | $137,571 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $199,000 | Between $73,000 And $257,000 |
| Highest paying City | Evanston, IL | Brockton, MA |
| Highest paying state | Illinois | Maine |
| Best paying company | UnityPoint Health | Trinity Health |
| Best paying industry | - | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a sports medicine specialist and an orthopedic surgeon in terms of educational background:
| Sports Medicine Specialist | Orthopedic Surgeon | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Most common major | Kinesiology | Nursing |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | New York University |
Here are the differences between sports medicine specialists' and orthopedic surgeons' demographics:
| Sports Medicine Specialist | Orthopedic Surgeon | |
| Average age | 48 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.5% Female, 40.5% | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 18.6% White, 62.1% 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% |