SOC 29-1249.00

    Surgeons, All Other

    All surgeons not listed separately.

    Median pay
    $414,010
    Growth
    +4.0%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    700
    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
    $80,320
    Median
    $414,010
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $655,320
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    25,140 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Surgeons in this specialized category perform complex medical operations, such as brain, cardiac, and reconstructive surgeries. The position offers a median annual pay of $414,010, with earnings reflecting the highly advanced nature of the work.

    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 surgeons, all other do

    All surgeons not listed separately.

    What the work is like

    These medical specialists perform operations that are not classified under other specific surgical categories. Their daily responsibilities involve diagnosing patient illnesses, planning surgical procedures, and operating on patients to correct physical deformities, repair injuries, or treat diseases. This group includes highly specialized professionals such as neurosurgeons, thoracic surgeons, cardiac surgeons, and surgical oncologists.

    To succeed in this role, individuals must possess deep knowledge of medicine and surgery, alongside strong skills in complex problem solving, active listening, and critical thinking. The work demands high attention to detail, stress tolerance, and dependability, as surgeons must make critical decisions under pressure. They work in high-stakes environments, collaborating with other healthcare professionals to ensure patient safety before, during, and after surgical interventions.

    How to get there

    Entering this profession requires a significant commitment to higher education and clinical training. Candidates typically must earn a doctoral or professional degree. Appropriate college majors that lead to this career path include medicine and multiple-pathway medical fellowship programs, which provide the intensive training required for specialized surgical procedures.

    In addition to completing medical school and residency programs, some states list a license for this work. Professionals in this field may also pursue voluntary credentials to demonstrate their expertise, such as the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality certification offered by the National Association for Healthcare Quality.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for these surgeons was $414,010. Earnings can vary significantly based on experience, location, and specialization; the lowest 10 percent of earners make less than $80,320, while the highest 10 percent earn more than $655,320.

    There were 25,140 people employed in this occupation. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 4 percent, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. This growth, along with normal retirement and turnover, is expected to result in approximately 700 job openings each year.

    Also called

    Brain Surgeon · Cardiac Surgeon · Cardiovascular Surgeon · Colorectal Surgeon · Neurological Surgeon · Neurosurgeon · Plastic Surgeon · Reconstructive Surgeon · Surgical Oncologist · Thoracic Surgeon

    Career pathway

    From your interests to surgeons, all other

    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. This career

      • Surgeons, All Other$414,010 median pay

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

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work. Showing 12 of 25.

    • Colon and Rectal Surgery Residency Program
    • Combined Medical Residency/Fellowship Program, General
    • Combined Medical Residency/Fellowship Programs, Other
    • Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program
    • Congenital Cardiac Surgery Fellowship Program
    • General Surgery Residency Program
    • Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Program
    • Medical Residency/Fellowship Programs, Other
    • Medicine
    • Multiple-Pathway Medical Fellowship Programs, Other
    • Neurological Surgery Residency Program
    • Neurological Surgery Residency/Fellowship Programs, Other

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    52 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 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

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

    Questions about surgeons, all other

    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 are some alternative job titles for this career?

    Professionals in this category are known by various specialized titles depending on their focus. These include brain surgeons, cardiac surgeons, cardiovascular surgeons, colorectal surgeons, neurological surgeons, neurosurgeons, plastic surgeons, reconstructive surgeons, surgical oncologists, and thoracic surgeons.

    What is the typical education required to become one of these surgeons?

    To enter this field, individuals must earn a doctoral or professional degree. This is followed by extensive hands-on clinical training through medical residency and fellowship programs focused on medicine or specialized surgical pathways.

    Are there licensing or certification options for this field?

    Yes, some states list a license for this work. Additionally, practitioners can obtain professional certifications, such as the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality credential from the National Association for Healthcare Quality.

    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 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.