SOC 29-1243.00

    Pediatric Surgeons

    Diagnose and perform surgery to treat fetal abnormalities and birth defects, diseases, and injuries in fetuses, premature and newborn infants, children, and adolescents.

    Median pay
    $559,030
    Growth
    +2.0%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    Fewer than 50
    Typical education
    Doctoral or professional degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $215,410
    Median
    $559,030
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $726,660
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    1,190 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Pediatric surgeons diagnose and perform surgeries to treat injuries, diseases, and birth defects in fetuses, infants, children, and adolescents. This highly specialized medical career offers a median annual pay of $559,030.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What pediatric surgeons do

    Job Zone 5: Extensive preparation

    Diagnose and perform surgery to treat fetal abnormalities and birth defects, diseases, and injuries in fetuses, premature and newborn infants, children, and adolescents. Includes all pediatric surgical specialties and subspecialties.

    Most need a graduate degree, such as a master's, PhD, MD or JD.

    What the work is like

    Pediatric surgeons spend their days treating young patients, ranging from unborn fetuses and premature newborns to adolescents. They perform delicate surgical procedures to correct fetal abnormalities, birth defects, and various illnesses or physical injuries. This role requires a strong investigative interest, as surgeons must carefully analyze complex medical cases to determine the best course of action.

    To succeed in this demanding environment, professionals must exhibit high stress tolerance, self-control, and cautiousness. They need exceptional attention to detail when performing intricate operations and must show perseverance and dependability throughout long procedures. Because they work closely with families, nurses, and other medical staff, cooperation is essential. These specialists also rely on intellectual curiosity, self-confidence, and a strong achievement orientation to stay updated on advanced surgical techniques and deliver the highest standard of patient care.

    How to get there

    Entering this career requires extensive preparation and a significant academic commitment. Individuals must earn a doctoral or professional degree, typically by completing a medical school program. The primary college major that leads to this profession is medicine.

    After completing their medical degree, aspiring surgeons must undergo years of specialized residency and fellowship training focused on pediatric surgery. To practice, professionals must meet state-specific regulatory requirements, as some states list a license for this work. Because of the highly complex nature of operating on infants and children, this occupation is classified as requiring the highest level of preparation.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for pediatric surgeons is $559,030. Earnings can vary based on experience and location, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $215,410 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $726,660. There are currently 1,190 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 2 percent, which is as fast as the average for all occupations.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    66 / 100
    Investigative (I) · strongest
    92 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    9 / 100
    Social (S)
    67 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    24 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    49 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code ISR. Compare it with yours

    Skills and strengths

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Dependability
    • Self-Control
    • Cautiousness
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Perseverance
    • Cooperation
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Self-Confidence

    Also called

    Brain Surgeon · Cardiac Surgeon · Cardiothoracic Surgeon · Cardiothoracic Surgery Physician · Cardiovascular Surgeon · Cardiovascular Surgery Physician · Colon and Rectal Surgeon · Colorectal Surgeon · Cosmetic Surgeon · Dermatologist

    Career pathway

    From your interests to pediatric surgeons

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Pediatric Surgeons$559,030 median pay

    3. Majors

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What pediatric surgeons may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work. Showing 12 of 13.

    • Congenital Cardiac Surgery Fellowship Program
    • Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Program
    • Medicine
    • Orthopedic Surgery of the Spine Fellowship Program
    • Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program
    • Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy
    • Pediatric Orthopedics Fellowship Program
    • Pediatric Otolaryngology Fellowship Program
    • Pediatric Surgery Fellowship Program
    • Pediatric Urology Fellowship Program
    • Plastic Surgery Residency Program
    • Plastic Surgery Residency/Fellowship Programs, Other

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    53 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Federal

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

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    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

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    Questions about pediatric surgeons

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What age groups do pediatric surgeons treat?

    These medical specialists treat a wide range of young patients. Their work covers fetuses, premature and newborn infants, children, and adolescents.

    What is the typical educational path for this career?

    You must earn a doctoral or professional degree, such as an MD, by majoring in medicine. This is followed by extensive clinical residency and fellowship training in pediatric surgical specialties.

    Is a license required to practice?

    Yes, some states list a license for this work. Aspiring surgeons must meet their specific state's medical licensing board requirements to practice legally.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.