Surgeon: career path and pay in the US
Where a Surgeon goes next, what each step typically pays in the United States, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 3 steps, from Surgeon to Senior Surgeon / Chief of Surgery / Medical Director.
Also for the United Kingdom: Surgeon in the UK
The path
Step 1 · 5 to 10 years
Surgeon
$200K to $300K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: MD/DO - US, MBBS/MBChB - UK/EU, Medical License - US, GMC Registration - UK/EU.
Step 2 · 10 to 20 years
Surgeon / Senior Surgeon
$255K to $385K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: MD/DO - US, MBBS/MBChB - UK/EU, Medical License - US, GMC Registration - UK/EU.
Step 3 · 20+ years
Senior Surgeon / Chief of Surgery / Medical Director
$290K to $430K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: MD/DO - US, MBBS/MBChB - UK/EU, Medical License - US, GMC Registration - UK/EU.
Exposure and pay along the path
Exposure to AI, now to later
24% → 24%
Stays level across the path. Lower is better.
Typical pay, now to later
$200K to $300K → $290K to $430K
US estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US. The published figure for Chief of Surgery sat below the previous step, so this band is set 12% above it.
What the work involves
Diagnose and perform surgery to treat and help prevent disorders and diseases of the eye. May also provide vision services for treatment including glasses and contacts.
O*NET does not rate Surgeons, All Other separately; the profile shown is for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric, the nearest rated occupation.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Knowledge areas
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Biology
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
Education people bring
- Doctoral Degree: 20%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate: 14%
- First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.: 14%
Job Zone 5, job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Other paths from here
- Chief of Surgery
- Medical Director
- Healthcare Administrator
- Surgical Educator
More Healthcare paths in the US
Related occupations in O*NET: Pediatric Surgeons, Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric, Cardiologists, Dermatologists, Optometrists.
Your own role
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SourcesSalary bands: Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US, US national averages by job title, retrieved September 2026Skills, knowledge and education: O*NET 31.0 Database
This page includes information from the 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. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CC BY 4.0
Salary estimates by job title from Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale, retrieved September 2026. Each band runs from 20% below to 20% above the reported average, rounded to $5K. Exposure percentages and the skills listed under each step are this app's own editorial ratings, not published data.