Home/Careers/Surgeons
healthcare-clinical

Surgeons

Surgeons are highly trained medical professionals who diagnose conditions and perform operative procedures to treat diseases, injuries, and disorders affecting various parts of the human body. These specialists work in hospitals, surgical centers, and medical clinics, focusing on areas such as the eyes, musculoskeletal system, or pediatric conditions. They provide comprehensive patient care from initial examination through post-operative recovery.

Median Annual Pay
$348,898
Training Time
10-14 years
AI Resilience
🟡AI-Augmented
Education
Post-doctoral training

🎬Career Video

🤖AI Resilience Assessment

AI Resilience Score

Score 5/6: low AI task exposure, strong human advantage provides strong protection from AI displacement (estimated from legacy data)

🟢AI-Resilient

How we calculated this:

AI Exposure
Low+2

11% of tasks can be accelerated by AI

Job Growth
Stable+1

0% projected (2024-2034)

Human Advantage
Strong+2

EPOCH score: 22/25

Total Score5/6
Methodology: v2.0 - GPTs are GPTs / BLS / EPOCH Additive ScoringUpdated: 2026-01-09

📋Key Responsibilities

  • Perform comprehensive examinations of the visual system to determine the nature or extent of ocular disorders.
  • Diagnose or treat injuries, disorders, or diseases of the eye and eye structures including the cornea, sclera, conjunctiva, or eyelids.
  • Provide or direct the provision of postoperative care.
  • Develop or implement plans and procedures for ophthalmologic services.
  • Prescribe or administer topical or systemic medications to treat ophthalmic conditions and to manage pain.
  • Develop treatment plans based on patients' histories and goals, the nature and severity of disorders, and treatment risks and benefits.
  • Perform ophthalmic surgeries such as cataract, glaucoma, refractive, corneal, vitro-retinal, eye muscle, or oculoplastic surgeries.
  • Educate patients about maintenance and promotion of healthy vision.

💡Inside This Career

The surgeon's day begins early, often before dawn, reviewing patient charts and surgical plans in the quiet hours before the operating room comes alive. Once surgery begins, they enter a world of intense focus and precision, where years of training guide their hands through complex procedures that can restore function, save lives, or prevent future complications. Between operations, they move seamlessly from the sterile environment of the OR to patient consultations, explaining procedures to anxious families, discussing treatment options, and providing post-operative care instructions. Each case presents unique challenges, whether they're working on delicate tissue that requires microscopic precision or reconstructing damaged structures that will allow patients to return to active lives.

The surgical schedule varies dramatically depending on the day and specialization. Emergency cases can interrupt planned procedures, requiring quick decision-making and adaptability as trauma patients arrive or complications arise. Surgeons collaborate closely with anesthesiologists, surgical nurses, residents, and other specialists, leading surgical teams through procedures that may last anywhere from thirty minutes to several hours. They also spend considerable time in clinics and offices, examining patients, reviewing imaging studies, and determining whether surgical intervention is the best course of treatment.

Documentation and follow-up care round out the surgeon's responsibilities, as they track patient progress, adjust treatment plans, and coordinate with other healthcare providers. Many surgeons also contribute to medical education, teaching residents and medical students, while staying current with evolving surgical techniques and technologies that continue to advance their field.

📈Career Progression

What does this mean?

This shows how earnings typically grow with experience. Entry level represents starting salaries, while Expert shows top earners (90th percentile). Most workers reach mid-career earnings within 5-10 years. Figures are national averages and vary by location and employer.

1
Entry (10th %ile)
0-2 years experience
$78,000
$70,200 - $85,800
2
Early Career (25th %ile)
2-6 years experience
$120,000
$108,000 - $132,000
3
Mid-Career (Median)
5-15 years experience
$343,990
$309,591 - $378,389
4
Experienced (75th %ile)
10-20 years experience
$515,985
$464,387 - $567,584
5
Expert (90th %ile)
15-30 years experience
$722,379
$650,141 - $794,617

📚Education & Training

Requirements

  • Entry Education: Post-doctoral training
  • Experience: One to two years
  • On-the-job Training: One to two years
  • !License or certification required

Time & Cost

Education Duration
10-14 years (typically 11)
Estimated Education Cost
$216,716 - $429,344
Public (in-state):$216,716
Public (out-of-state):$331,992
Private nonprofit:$429,344
Source: professional association (2024)
Loading location...

Ready to Start Your Career?

Find jobs and training programs for surgeons- Median salary: $349K/year

🔍

Find Jobs

Search positions from LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, and more. Get up to 50 relevant job listings with salary info.

  • Real-time results
  • Export to Excel
📚

Find Training

Discover training programs, certifications, and educational resources to help you get started or advance your career.

  • Local programs
  • DOL verified
Find Training Programs
Training data powered byCareerOneStop- U.S. Department of Labor

💻Technology Skills

Ophthalmology EHR/practice managementOphthalmic imaging systemsDiagnostic equipment softwareE-prescribing toolsMedical billing systemsEHR systems (Epic)Surgical planning/navigation softwareMedical imaging viewers (PACS)Practice management softwareSurgical planning software

Key Abilities

Written Comprehension
Problem Sensitivity
Inductive Reasoning
Near Vision
Oral Comprehension
Oral Expression
Deductive Reasoning
Written Expression
Speech Recognition
Speech Clarity

🏷️Also Known As

SurgeonsClinical OphthalmologistCornea and External Disease PhysicianCornea SpecialistGlaucoma SpecialistMedical Doctor (MD)Neuro-OphthalmologistOculoplastic SpecialistOphthalmic SurgeonOphthalmologist+20 more

📑Surgical Specialties

This career includes 4 specialized roles with different focuses and compensation levels.

🔗Related Careers

Other careers in healthcare-clinical

🔗Data Sources

Last updated: 2026-01-09

Have feedback about this page?

Help us make this page better. Share your experience, correct errors, or suggest improvements.