Explore general surgeon salary ranges, OR-day pay, and how locum tenens work changes earning potential.
General surgeons earn between $278,000 and $495,000 annually across major benchmarks, with meaningful variation based on practice setting, procedure volume, call burden, and whether the surgeon works locum tenens assignments.
| Source | What it Measures | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2024 (SOC 29-1243) | Mean annual wage | $278,860 |
| Medscape Physician Compensation Report (2025) | Average total compensation | $423,000 |
| Doximity Physician Compensation Report (2025) | Median total compensation | $461,000 |
| SalaryDr (April 2026) | Median verified compensation | $475,000 |
| ACS Surgeon Compensation Survey (2024) | Median total compensation | $495,000 |
General surgery compensation is driven by procedure volume and call burden. The physicians who control both variables consistently earn at the top of the market.
| Compensation Type | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| W-2 employed (BLS mean, ~2,080 hrs) | ~$134 /hr |
| Locum tenens — lower band | $225 /hr |
| Locum tenens — upper band | $300 /hr |
Sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 29-1243; Barton Associates market data 2025–2026.
General surgery locum premiums are highest in rural and critical access hospitals where the surgeon shortage is most acute and call coverage is hardest to maintain.
General surgery pay is driven by procedure volume, call burden, and regional physician supply. Rural and critical access hospitals consistently pay above urban academic centers for both permanent and locum coverage.
The ACS projects a shortage of 2,100 general surgeons by 2030, concentrated in rural and semi-rural markets. This structural gap is the primary driver of locum demand.
A standard full-time general surgeon performs 4 to 6 OR cases per day, 3 to 4 OR days per week, with clinic days and call responsibilities filling the remainder of the schedule. Call burden is one of the most significant compensation variables — surgeons covering trauma and emergency surgery call command meaningful premiums above elective-only roles.
Locum rates range from $225 to $300 per hour. The four scenarios below use representative rates from within that band.
To exceed $500,000: target trauma and emergency surgery coverage, rural critical access hospitals, and call-heavy assignments at the top of the rate band.
General surgery locum income scales with call burden and setting. Trauma and emergency surgery coverage consistently commands the highest rates.
A $265/hr locum rate versus a $134/hr W-2 equivalent is a meaningful structural advantage. 1099 general surgeons unlock business deductions across licensing, CME, travel, and equipment; higher retirement contributions through a SEP-IRA or Solo 401(k); the Qualified Business Income deduction of up to 20%; and S-corp structuring at higher income levels. Barton partners with Earned to help locum physicians navigate these decisions.
Barton coordinates your job search from start to finish!
We’ll schedule a phone consultation to discuss your interests, goals, and work history to find the right opportunities.
Your Barton rep will submit your information to the facility you want to take an assignment at and work on next steps.
Barton handles licensing, credentialing, and travel arrangements before you arrive so you’re ready on day one.
Most earn between $278,860 (BLS mean) and $495,000 (ACS survey median). Physician-reported benchmarks from Doximity ($461,000) and Medscape ($423,000) reflect total compensation including call pay and productivity bonuses.
W-2 employed general surgeons average approximately $134 per hour based on BLS data. Locum tenens rates range from $225 to $300 per hour, with the top of the band reserved for trauma and emergency surgery coverage.
Yes. Hybrid models combining employed income with regular locum OR days can push total compensation above $547,000. Full-time locum at $285/hr working 14 OR days per month yields approximately $432,540 annually.
Rural and critical access hospital markets consistently pay the highest premiums. States with lower surgeon density — Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota — lead BLS state data.
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