- Not all surgeons can perform every surgery. This is why many choose to specialize in one particular part of the human body. For example, cardiac surgeons perform procedures on the human heart and its surrounding vessels and arteries and neurosurgeons specialize in procedures involving the brain, skull and spinal cord. The pay scale of a surgeon can depend greatly on her specialty and the risk associated with the procedures performed in the area of the body she specializes in. For example, there is less risk associated with the removal of an appendix than surgery involving the spinal cord.
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a surgeon's experience, geographic region where he works, years of practice, hours worked, professional reputation and even his personality can affect his basic salary. How much a hospital or other health care institution is willing to pay for a surgeon's services can also depend on how many surgeons with his specialty are operating within the given area. A hospital may pay more for a surgeon with a high-demand specialty.
- A surgeon who is employed by a hospital typically earns less than a surgeon who is self-employed according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A self-employed surgeon still is required to maintain hospital privileges in order to have a space to perform procedures and unlike an employed physician, he must provide for his own health insurance and retirement benefits. These costs can offset the higher wages garnered through self-employment.
- The average basic pay for general surgeons and primary care physicians across the board in 2008 was $186,044 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Surgeons with a specialty earned an average income of $339,738 in 2008. This figure can change through bonuses and other reward programs like tuition reimbursement.
Types of Surgeons
Other Pay Scale Factors
Employment Versus Freelancing
Basic Pay
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