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The differences between surgeons and orthopedic 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 surgeon and an orthopedic surgeon. Additionally, a surgeon has an average salary of $155,553, which is higher than the $137,571 average annual salary of an orthopedic surgeon.
The top three skills for a surgeon include patients, general surgery and healthcare. The most important skills for an orthopedic surgeon are patients, spine, and EMR.
| Surgeon | Orthopedic Surgeon | |
| Yearly salary | $155,553 | $137,571 |
| Hourly rate | $74.79 | $66.14 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 37,918 | 5,046 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A surgeon is a medical professional who conducts surgical procedures on the human body to treat injuries and diseases such as broken bones and cancerous tumors. Surgeons are required to review test results to identify abnormal findings and recommend a plan of treatment to patients. They must manage surgical technicians during the surgery process to ensure all standards of care and safety are followed in the operating room. Surgeons must also address concerns that the patients have about their health and well-being.
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.
Surgeons and orthopedic surgeons have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Surgeon | Orthopedic Surgeon | |
| Average salary | $155,553 | $137,571 |
| Salary range | Between $85,000 And $284,000 | Between $73,000 And $257,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lewiston, ME | Brockton, MA |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Maine |
| Best paying company | MaineGeneral Health | Trinity Health |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a surgeon and an orthopedic surgeon in terms of educational background:
| Surgeon | Orthopedic Surgeon | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Most common major | Medicine | Nursing |
| Most common college | Duke University | New York University |
Here are the differences between surgeons' and orthopedic surgeons' demographics:
| Surgeon | Orthopedic Surgeon | |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.2% Female, 48.8% | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% |
| 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% |