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The role of a Trauma Surgeon is both demanding and rewarding, with an average salary of $406,184 per year. This figure represents the compensation for surgeons who specialize in treating traumatic injuries. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the type of medical facility where one is employed.
For those considering this career, it’s essential to understand how location impacts earnings. States like California and New York offer some of the highest salaries for trauma surgeons, reflecting the high demand for medical professionals in urban settings. Additionally, trauma surgeons in metropolitan areas often earn more than their counterparts in rural locations.
With continued advancements in medical technology and an increasing focus on emergency care, the demand for trauma surgeons is likely to rise. This can lead to enhanced salary prospects and career advancement opportunities. As a trauma surgeon, you may also consider roles in teaching hospitals or research positions, which can further elevate your earning potential.
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The average trauma surgeon salary in Minnesota, Maine, and Indiana are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average trauma surgeon salary states are Texas, North Carolina, and California.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $220,017 | $105.78 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $218,490 | $105.04 |
| 3 | Maine | $221,073 | $106.29 |
| 4 | Indiana | $220,074 | $105.80 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $223,447 | $107.43 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $218,186 | $104.90 |
| 7 | Kentucky | $217,995 | $104.81 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $214,917 | $103.33 |
| 9 | Alaska | $217,623 | $104.63 |
| 10 | Michigan | $216,247 | $103.96 |
| 11 | Nebraska | $212,757 | $102.29 |
| 12 | Montana | $217,896 | $104.76 |
| 13 | Tennessee | $210,168 | $101.04 |
| 14 | Kansas | $214,934 | $103.33 |
| 15 | Washington | $212,883 | $102.35 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $210,164 | $101.04 |
| 17 | Vermont | $209,853 | $100.89 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $215,597 | $103.65 |
| 19 | Delaware | $214,979 | $103.36 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $213,086 | $102.45 |
| 21 | Idaho | $209,669 | $100.80 |
| 22 | Louisiana | $210,553 | $101.23 |
| 23 | Georgia | $211,209 | $101.54 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $205,453 | $98.78 |
| 25 | Iowa | $209,875 | $100.90 |
| 26 | Maryland | $216,672 | $104.17 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $209,199 | $100.58 |
| 28 | New York | $208,168 | $100.08 |
| 29 | Ohio | $207,158 | $99.60 |
| 30 | New Jersey | $213,870 | $102.82 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $205,394 | $98.75 |
| 32 | Alabama | $206,929 | $99.49 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $201,901 | $97.07 |
| 34 | Illinois | $203,858 | $98.01 |
| 35 | Oregon | $201,147 | $96.71 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $205,544 | $98.82 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $193,275 | $92.92 |
| 38 | Colorado | $208,682 | $100.33 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $199,136 | $95.74 |
| 40 | Florida | $200,991 | $96.63 |
| 41 | Arizona | $202,169 | $97.20 |
| 42 | Utah | $203,401 | $97.79 |
| 43 | Texas | $197,878 | $95.13 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $191,750 | $92.19 |
| 45 | Nevada | $187,746 | $90.26 |
| 46 | Rhode Island | $203,700 | $97.93 |
| 47 | Missouri | $198,593 | $95.48 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $147,193 | $70.77 |
| 49 | Virginia | $202,824 | $97.51 |
| 50 | California | $192,093 | $92.35 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | $199,173 | $95.76 |
The highest-paying cities for trauma surgeons are Grand Forks, ND, Green Bay, WI, and Bellingham, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Forks, ND | $443,946 | $213.44 |
| 2 | Green Bay, WI | $429,542 | $206.51 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $415,662 | $199.84 |
| 4 | Bangor, ME | $380,191 | $182.78 |
| 5 | Omaha, NE | $374,264 | $179.93 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $356,076 | $171.19 |
| 7 | Des Moines, IA | $349,279 | $167.92 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $344,767 | $165.75 |
| 9 | Wilmington, DE | $344,053 | $165.41 |
| 10 | Hackensack, NJ | $338,364 | $162.68 |
| 11 | Murfreesboro, TN | $325,134 | $156.31 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $322,688 | $155.14 |
| 13 | Ogden, UT | $320,799 | $154.23 |
| 14 | Oklahoma City, OK | $316,927 | $152.37 |
| 15 | Poughkeepsie, NY | $316,074 | $151.96 |
| 16 | Kettering, OH | $313,102 | $150.53 |
| 17 | Huntsville, AL | $310,202 | $149.14 |
| 18 | Reston, VA | $300,069 | $144.26 |
| 19 | Quincy, IL | $296,000 | $142.31 |
| 20 | Santa Fe, NM | $293,476 | $141.09 |
A trauma surgeon's salary ranges from $204,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $806,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $806,000 | $67,167 | $388 |
| 75th Percentile | $582,000 | $48,500 | $280 |
| Average | $406,184 | $33,849 | $195 |
| 25th Percentile | $283,000 | $23,583 | $136 |
| 10th Percentile | $204,000 | $17,000 | $98 |
The highest paying types of trauma surgeons are foot and ankle surgeon, thoracic surgeon, and upper extremity surgeon.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor | $208,582 | $17,382 | $100.28 | 14,571 |
| Neurosurgeon | $365,411 | $30,451 | $175.68 | 2,412 |
| Orthopedic Surgeon | $137,571 | $11,464 | $66.14 | 5,046 |
| Pediatric Surgeon | $417,737 | $34,811 | $200.84 | 35,576 |
| Vascular Surgeon | $324,217 | $27,018 | $155.87 | 20,391 |
| Orthopaedic Surgeon | $233,519 | $19,460 | $112.27 | 3,563 |
Top companies hiring trauma surgeons now:
Trauma surgeon salaries at Trinity Health and OSF HealthCare are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average trauma surgeon salary at companies like Advocate Aurora Health and McLeod Health are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trinity Health | $558,303 | $268.41 |
| 2 | OSF HealthCare | $543,551 | $261.32 |
| 3 | Advocate Aurora Health | $533,426 | $256.45 |
| 4 | McLeod Health | $531,957 | $255.75 |
| 5 | Altru Health System | $514,895 | $247.55 |
| 6 | Sanford Health | $488,368 | $234.79 |
| 7 | Rochester Regional Health | $479,717 | $230.63 |
| 8 | SSM Health | $478,675 | $230.13 |
| 9 | University of Maryland, Baltimore | $475,351 | $228.53 |
| 10 | Wellstar Health System | $469,056 | $225.51 |
| 11 | Pikeville Medical Center | $466,089 | $224.08 |
| 12 | Lee Regional Health System | $437,159 | $210.17 |
| 13 | SCA Health | $430,157 | $206.81 |
| 14 | Alaska Native Medical Center | $427,544 | $205.55 |
| 15 | St John Holdings Inc | $412,263 | $198.20 |
| 16 | Catholic Health Initiatives - Colorado | $412,263 | $198.20 |
| 17 | Curative | $411,862 | $198.01 |
| 18 | Integrity Locums | $407,975 | $196.14 |
| 19 | Provider Solutions & Development | $406,400 | $195.38 |
| 20 | CHRISTUS Health | $404,813 | $194.62 |
The average trauma surgeon salary has risen by $52,533 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average trauma surgeon earned $353,651 annually, but today, they earn $406,184 a year. That works out to a 5% change in pay for trauma surgeons over the last decade.
Compare trauma surgeon salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare trauma surgeon salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $406,000 | $195.28 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $396,000 | $190.54 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $390,000 | $187.32 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $385,000 | $184.96 | -0.4% |
| 2021 | $386,000 | $185.71 | +2.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peacehealth | Trauma Surgeon | Springfield, OR | 06/30/2025 | $497,889 |
| Scpmg | Orthopedist Trauma-Orange County | Irvine, CA | 06/09/2025 | $78,192 |
| Amergis | Trauma ICU | | Lexington, KY | 06/07/2025 | $114,785 |
| Peacehealth | Physician-Trauma Surgeon | Springfield, OR | 05/30/2025 | $497,889 |
| GW Medical Faculty Associates | Trauma and Acute Care Surgeon | Washington, DC | 05/07/2025 | $350,000 |
| Search Our | Trauma and Acute Care Surgeon | Washington, DC | 05/07/2025 | $350,000 |
| Trinity Health Corporation | Trauma Nocturnist-APP | Des Moines, IA | 04/30/2025 | $72,000 |
| Scpmg | Orthopedist Trauma | Los Angeles, CA | 04/28/2025 | $78,192 |
| Nuvance Health | Trauma/Acute Care Surgeon/Surgical Critical Care-Norwalk Hospital, Connecticut (From New | Norwalk, CT | 04/20/2025 | $400,000 |
| BJC | ICU Trauma Surgical ANM | Saint Louis, MO | 03/29/2025 | $84,240 |
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