Employers advertising orthopedic surgery jobs on PhysEmp are offering an average of $596,000 to $676,000 a year, based on the 36 of 201 active orthopedic listings that disclosed pay. Data pulled October 1, 2026, from live job ads on PhysEmp. Updated quarterly.
Why this is different: these figures come from salaries employers posted in live job ads on PhysEmp this quarter, not from surveys or self-reported pay. They show what employers are offering right now, before bonuses and negotiation.
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Orthopedic surgery pay at a glance
| Specialty | Active listings | Listings with pay | Posted range | Average posted range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orthopedic surgery | 201 | 36 | $350,000 – $1,093,000 | $595,924 – $675,630 |
Orthopedic surgery posts some of the highest pay on PhysEmp, with individual offers reaching $1,093,000.
Orthopedic surgery pay by state
States with at least two orthopedic listings that disclosed pay, ranked by the low end of the average range:
| State | Active listings | Listings with pay | Average posted range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 4 | 4 | $668,750 – $737,500 |
| New York | 17 | 15 | $654,550 – $739,978 |
| California | 5 | 3 | $526,667 – $603,334 |
| New Jersey | 4 | 3 | $416,667 – $566,667 |
Single-listing states (one data point each): Iowa $850,000; Oregon $810,000; Texas $750,000 – $990,000; Colorado $620,000 – $688,000; Missouri $550,000 – $625,000; Hawaii $550,000 – $600,000; Massachusetts $500,000 – $550,000; Florida $450,000; Ohio, Maryland and Vermont $350,000 – $400,000.
New York accounts for 15 of the 36 orthopedic listings that disclose pay, so the national average leans heavily on New York offers.
How orthopedic surgery pay has moved in 2026
| Data pulled | Active listings | Listings with pay | Average posted range |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 1, 2026 | 201 | 36 | $595,924 – $675,630 |
| July 1, 2026 | 239 | 34 | $577,971 – $649,343 |
| April 1, 2026 | 217 | 32 | $563,328 – $624,109 |
Orthopedic posted pay has climbed every quarter this year, up about $33,000 on the low end and $52,000 on the high end since April.
Common questions
How much do orthopedic surgeons make?
Orthopedic surgery jobs posted on PhysEmp in October 2026 offer an average of $596,000 to $676,000 a year, with individual offers ranging from $350,000 to $1,093,000.
Which states pay orthopedic surgeons the most?
Among states with at least two salary disclosures, Illinois and New York post the highest averages, both starting above $654,000. Single listings in Iowa and Oregon topped $800,000.
Is orthopedic surgeon pay rising?
Yes. The average posted range on PhysEmp rose each quarter in 2026, from $563,328 – $624,109 in April to $595,924 – $675,630 in October.
How these numbers are calculated
PhysEmp pulls every active orthopedic surgery job ad on the site at the start of each quarter. Salary figures come only from ads where the employer posted pay. The average posted range is the average of the low and high ends of those posted ranges. Full-time and locum listings are combined. Figures are employer-posted and not independently verified.
Last updated October 2026. Next update January 2027. All specialties in the PhysEmp Salary Report →