As the number of Americans aged 65 or older has increased faster than in any decade in the past 130 years, demand for more complex surgical procedures has grown as surgeons themselves age and retire. The result is an imbalance of market forces that is expected to have serious consequences on the United States’ surgical workforce. In fact, according to a 2024 report by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the country is projected to be short between 10,100 and 19,900 surgeons in 2036 with some subspecialties faring worse than others. As these supply and demand imbalances intensify, locum tenens work emerges as a crucial solution, offering surgeons unprecedented opportunities to capitalize on market needs. In this article, we’re exploring the top surgical specialties by pay and explaining why becoming a locum tenens surgeon is a smart move for the future.
How Much Do Surgeons Make? Highest Paying Surgical Specialties
Surgeons are some of the best paid physicians—according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for all different types of surgeons was $395,717 in 2024. Naturally, there are major differences between surgical specialties when it comes to pay—here are some of the top surgical specialties by pay.
Please note that these pay numbers represent general salary data for each specialty—as a locum tenens provider working assignments full-time throughout the year, you could potentially make even more (although this is highly dependent on the assignment you take, the location of the assignment, your experience, urgency, and other factors).
1. Neurosurgery
Neurosurgeons top the list of highest-paying surgical specialties, with Physicians Thrive’s “2024 Physician Compensation Report” estimating a median annual salary of $788,000 for these specialists.
Neurosurgery is extremely complex—these medical providers perform complicated surgical procedures on the brain and spine in attempts to treat brain tumors, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks, chronic pain, herniated disks, sciatica, epilepsy, and other neurological conditions. Given the risk associated with performing surgery on these parts of the body, it’s no wonder why neurosurgeons are the highest paid types of surgeons.
Apply now for urgent locum tenens neurosurgery positions. Don’t miss out on these immediate opportunities, or reach out to us to stay informed as new positions open.
2. Thoracic Surgery
Next on the list of highest-paid surgical specialties is thoracic surgeons, who according to Physician Thrive’s 2024 report made a median annual salary of $707,000.
Thoracic surgeons perform surgical procedures in a patient’s chest—this includes lung surgery and procedures on a person’s esophagus, trachea, diaphragm, and chest wall. Cardiothoracic surgery is a type of thoracic surgery that focuses primarily on the heart. In general, thoracic surgeons treat conditions such as heart failure, lung cancer, dysphagia, and even perform heart or lung transplants.
3. Orthopedic Surgery
Orthopedic surgeons are the third-highest paid of all different types of surgeons, making a median annual salary of $624,000 according to Physician Thrive’s 2024 report.
Orthopedics is the medical study of the musculoskeletal system, and orthopedic surgeons focus on treating injuries or conditions affecting a person’s bones, muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Some of the more typical types of orthopedic surgeries include ACL surgeries and knee replacement surgeries.
4. Plastic Surgery
The fourth highest-paid of all surgical specialties are plastic surgeons, who make a median annual salary of $571,000 according to Physician Thrive’s “2024 Physician Compensation Report.”
While many might first think of cosmetic procedures when they think of plastic surgery, this medical field is actually quite more complex. Plastic surgeons assist people who have suffered from major injuries, dangerous illnesses, and birth defects, helping them regain function to damaged areas and improving physical appearance. Plastic surgeons typically work on burn cases, cleft lips and palates, complex wounds, facial fractures, cancer reconstruction, and much more.
5. Vascular Surgery
Vascular surgeons earn a median annual salary of $558,000 making them the fifth-highest paid of all different types of surgeons, according to Physician Thrive’s 2024 report.
These critical surgeons work on diagnosing and treating conditions that affect a person’s blood vessels (except for those in a person’s heart and brain). Vascular surgeons treat blood clots, atherosclerosis, deep vein thrombosis, strokes, varicose veins, and a wide range of other conditions related to vascular disease.
6. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Last on the list of the top surgical specialties by pay are oral & maxillofacial surgeons, who make a median annual salary of $557,000 according to Physician Thrive’s 2024 compensation report.
These dental surgeons treat medical challenges affecting a person’s mouth, jaw, face and neck, and typically perform procedures such as dental bone grafts, jaw surgery, sleep apnea surgery, reconstructive surgery, and much more.
Why become a locum tenens surgeon?
As noted previously, these salary figures are a general median, meaning that as a locum tenens surgeon, you could potentially earn even more (depending on factors such as your experience, the location of a job, the length of your assignments, urgency, and much more).
Locum tenens providers work short- or long-term temporary assignments at short-staffed healthcare facilities. Here’s why becoming a locum tenens surgeon is a smart move for the future:
- Flexibility and Control: As a locum tenens surgeon, you have the freedom to choose when and where you work. This flexibility allows you to balance your professional and personal life more effectively.
- Higher Earning Potential: Locum tenens surgeons often command higher pay rates due to the temporary nature of their work and the urgent need to fill positions. This could lead to significantly higher annual earnings compared to permanent positions.
- Diverse Experience: Working in different healthcare settings across various locations exposes you to a wide range of cases, techniques, and technologies, enhancing your skills and making you a more versatile surgeon.
- Address Workforce Shortages: By taking on locum tenens assignments, you directly contribute to alleviating the surgeon shortage in areas of high need, making a significant impact on patient care.
- Avoid Burnout: The ability to take breaks between assignments or choose your workload can help prevent burnout, a common issue among surgeons in permanent positions.
Find Your Next Locum Tenens Surgeon Job with Barton Associates
The surgical field is facing significant challenges with an aging population and a shrinking workforce. However, these challenges present unique opportunities for surgeons willing to embrace locum tenens employment opportunities.
We leverage cutting-edge matching processes to place locum tenens surgeons across a wide range of specialties at facilities that need them the most. Interested in becoming a locum tenens surgeon? Reach out to a recruiter today to get started.
