
If you choose to subspecialize in trauma, for instance, be prepared for a heavier call schedule. On-call obligations will vary depending on your choice of subspecialty. Orthopedic surgeons work an average of 57 hours a week, which is in line with many other surgical specialties but on the higher end compared to all specialties. Longer residency programs exist as well which include additional research experience. Ortho residency is 5 years, which is standard for most surgical specialties, but longer than many non-surgical specialties. Similarly, it is also one of the more competitive specialties to match into as your USMLE Step 1 score and 1 rep max on bench press will have to exceed 500, which can be a big barrier to entry for prospective applicants.Īll jokes aside, it is ranked #4 on the MSI competitiveness index which means more time and effort spent during medical school to make yourself a competitive applicant. Much like plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery is consistently in the top 3 highest-paid specialties, right in the mix with plastics and neurosurgery. Orthopedic surgeons have an average annual salary of $511,000 and work an average of 57 hours per week, yielding an average hourly wage of $179 per hour.

Number two is orthopedic surgery which focuses on the surgical management of the musculoskeletal system including the extremities, spine, and associated structures. Keep in mind though that if you choose to do microsurgery or handle face trauma, your call obligations can be more taxing. Most surgeries are also non-urgent so call typically isn’t terrible. Plastic surgeons work an average of 52 hours per week which is less than many of the other surgical specialties but middle of the pack when looking at all specialties. Once you begin practicing as a plastic surgeon, however, the lifestyle is often pretty good. So while many of your peers during medical school are already receiving an attending’s salary, you will still be completing your training. The training to become a plastic surgeon is also longer than most specialties at 6-8 years depending on the pathway you take. You will have to commit a great deal of time and effort during medical school to be competitive for plastics, and even then there is no guarantee that you will match. It is currently ranked #2 on the MSI competitiveness index, neck and neck with dermatology in first. That being said, to achieve this compensation you will first have to match into plastic surgery which is no easy feat. Plastic surgeons working in aesthetics will, in general, make more than their reconstructive colleagues. It is important to note that this number includes both reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgeons.

Plastic surgeons have an average annual salary of $526,000 and work an average of 52 hours/week, giving us an hourly wage of approximately $202 per hour. It is often in the top 3 for highest-paid specialties. This should come as no surprise as plastic surgery is known for being one of the more lucrative specialties. Number one on our list is plastic surgery which focuses on the repair, reconstruction, replacement, and alteration of soft tissue. We’ll also discuss factors like competitiveness, on-call responsibilities, and length of training to give you a better understanding of the price you pay to earn that higher hourly wage. We took the average salary for each specialty in 2021 and divided it by the average number of hours worked per week, multiplied by the number of weeks worked in a year, to give us the average hourly wage.

Although this is a good place to start, it overlooks one crucial component: the time that it takes to make that salary. When discussing which specialties make the most money, the conversation usually starts and ends with annual salaries. We all know that some doctors make more money than others, but are they actually making more money per hour? Or are they just working more hours? Premed & Medical Student Annual Scholarship.2020 Medical School Application Updates.
